The Names Behind the Observatories: Part 1

April 2014  :  Mark Sweberg

hode Islanders are fortunate in having four observatories available for our use and enjoyment.  Each has scheduled open public viewing nights, and often opens their domes for special celestial events at other times.  

Crisscrossing the state from North to South are: Seagrave Memorial Observatory in North Scituate, Brown University’s Ladd Observatory in Providence, CCRI’s Margaret Jacoby Observatory located in Warwick, and Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown’s Ninigret Park.

Each takes its name from a prominent person associated with the facility, and each is fittingly named in their honor. Let’s take a brief look at the people behind the names of the observatories, and acknowledge their place in the history of astronomy in Rhode Island.

Seagrave Observatory in North Scituate is owned and operated by The Skyscrapers, Inc., The Amateur Astronomical Society of Rhode Island, and is named after astronomer Frank Evans Seagrave (1860–1934). 

Mr. Seagrave developed an early interest in astronomy, and by age 15, was granted the privilege of access to the Harvard College Observatory.  His father purchased an 8 ¼-inch Alvan Clark refracting telescope as a gift for his 16th birthday, and an observatory was built for it in 1878 at the family house at 119 Benefit Street in Providence.  

By 1914, Seagrave despaired of his Providence location due to the city’s coal dust and installation of gas lamps and subsequent air and light pollution. After a search in New England for a spot to relocate the observatory, he chose a plateau in the deep and dark woods of North Scituate at 47 Peeptoad Road, to build it.  Here, and elsewhere, Seagrave conducted much important research, and by the time of his death in 1934, had contributed a great deal of new knowledge to the field.

When The Skyscrapers Astronomy club was founded in 1932, Seagrave became an honorary member. After Seagrave’s death, his observatory was listed for sale.  The Skyscrapers, which incorporated in 1936, purchased Seagrave Memorial Observatory that year, and has operated it ever since.

Historic Ladd Observatory, a Brown University facility at the corner of Doyle Avenue and Hope Street in Providence, opened in 1891. 

Earlier, Brown was desirous of developing its physics and astronomy curricula and actively recruited prominent astronomer Winslow Upton in 1884.  The reticent Upton agreed to join the Brown faculty under the stipulation that a telescope be provided for his and students’ use.  

When the University was slow in its response and an observatory was not forthcoming, Professor Upton threatened to leave.  Facing the loss of such a prestigious faculty member was a bitter pill to swallow, and the administration faced a conundrum until a timely benefactor stepped in to fund the $50,000 needed to construct an observatory.

Governor Herbert W. Ladd (1843-1913) was a two-term chief executive from 1889-1890 and 1891-1892. A popular and public-spirited leader, Ladd attended the 120th annual commencement of Brown University in 1889, and announced that he would fund construction of an observatory. This announcement was received with the wildest enthusiasm. Never before had there been such a gratifying surprise to the students, alumni, and friends of the University than his timely gift.

Fittingly enough, Brown’s historic observatory bears its benefactor’s name. 

As we’ve briefly seen, Seagrave and Ladd Observatories are both venerable institutions, with much history to their pedigree.  Rhode Island’s other two observatories, Margaret M. Jacoby and Frosty Drew, are of more recent vintage. 

Next month, we’ll examine the naming tradition of these two newcomers to the astronomy scene in Rhode Island.

Till then, visit Seagrave and Ladd, as generations of Rhode Islanders have done before you, and keep looking up!