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Roger,<BR>
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Great story! Brings back memories of some of the clubs I started in.<BR>
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Fred<BR>
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From: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:51:22 +0000<BR>Subject: [LVAS] Early astronomy and other<BR><BR>
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Las Vegas Astronomical Society,<BR> <BR>We are attempting to archive the early days of astronomy in this area of North Carolina. I wrote this last night and just thought I would forward for you to read also...when you might get time. <BR> <BR>Pretty interesting...maybe, maybe not. <BR> <BR>Enjoy...Roger <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>CCAS<BR> <BR>An interesting story, not just about astronomy, but mostly other. Hope you enjoy.<BR> <BR>I hope you liked seeing the first program from 1992 of "The Regional Gathering Of Amateur Astronomers". <BR><BR>We need to talk with Fred Simmons and see if we can get this old sign which is located at the old grass airport. It is located about a hundred yards off Hwy 226 N, just south of Polkville. Fred provided us with our first dark site at the end of the grassy runway. <BR> <BR>Fred is now well into his 90's. During one period, Fred also assisted us in our first meeting room at the Lutheran Church in Shelby, just N of the First Baptist. Does anyone remember those meetings? <BR> <BR>Fred was one of the very few architects in the 50's, and 60's in this area. He continued for many years later, probably through the 80's.<BR> <BR>I remember that Fred did the drawing for the new Burns and Crest High Schools in about 1961? Cad systems were not used during those days.<BR> <BR>Holland and Associates received the bid. Seems as if Fred received about $50,000 ( I can't be for sure of this) for his proposed work. <BR> <BR>Hey, this was an "astronomical sum" for Cleveland County in 1961 or very close to that year. The average yearly wage in this area was about $5,000, and in many cases far less. It was mostly a farming community and most of the industry was very low paying textile companies. <BR> <BR>Construction of the new schools began in about 1965 and they opened for business in the fall of 1967. This was really the first integration of blacks and whites in the county school system. There was never any problems that I ever remember. <BR> <BR>Everyone got along well as we all lived in the same community. I don't remember any problesm, fights, drugs or anything else. For me this was just an idealic small community that was a great place to grow up. Polkville was very close to the first big scope in the 60's. It was a home fabricated 12.5-inch f/7 monster, with a EQ mount that weighed more than a Volkwagon. <BR> <BR>The Burns gym in Lawndale collapsed the following year after a snow storm. There was much controversy over this. Who was responsible? There was a lot of finder pointing, but to my knowledge the exact cause was never discovered or "revealed". <BR> <BR>They immediately supported the Crest gym and rebuilt the structure in the top and side areas. A complete rebuild was required for the Burns Gym as well as some areas in close proximity to the collapsed section. The entire roof feel in and blew bricks right through the outer walls. Fortunately it occurred during the night.<BR> <BR>Fred's daughter, Rika and I were very good friends from the first grade through high school graduation. She was a very pretty girl and I sure liked her a lot. She moved to Wisconsin. I saw her a few years ago. Wow! Why would anyone want to move to Wisconsin and be a "Cheese head"? <BR> <BR>Fred always had a small airplane or two. During my elementary years he had a vintage yellow bi-plane that he flew everywhere. In 1963 he would bring Rika to school in a brand new Studebaker Avanti. A very high priced and extraordinary car for the year. It had a fiberglass body just like a Corvette, with a high performance engine and low restriction dual exhaust, with very unique wheels. It was gold, and man was it ever beautiful. <BR> <BR>If you have never seen an Avanti...google it, and take a look. Studebaker was in business through 1966 in South Bend Indiana. Studebaker was my Dad's favorite car. They were actually far advanced...too much for their time.<BR><BR>I also would like to tell you about cleaning my first tiny 50 mm refractor telescope when I was about 8 or 9 years old. I loved things to be clean, so I unscrewed the lens and washed it in the sink. I then rinsed and dried it, screwed everything together and it worked great. I don't have to tell you that I don't clean refractors using this procedure anymore. In almost 15 years I have never cleaned or touched my Vixen 4-inch. I am totally frightened of them. Really!<BR> <BR>This e-mail is of concern to me as it indicates I must be one of the elders in regard to Astronomy for this area of North Carolina. <BR> <BR>Supplemental information to the Las Vegas Group.<BR> <BR>Just sent this earlier to the local group and thought that you might enjoy reading. I never thought that Debbie and I would be 56 years old. I also never thought a group of astronomers would be listening to me talkin' about astronomy events and stuff in the early 60's...wow. <BR> <BR>Please see an attached picture of Debbie and I as "very old folks". Debbie does not look nearly as old as me, but she is actually one month older. She really hates this. Ha!Ha! to Debbie. <BR> <BR>I try to keep the local group entertained as you might can tell, seeing as how I seen to remember the old days so well. <BR> <BR>Fred, I just got back from a very difficult and fairly cold bicycle ride with one of my friends. I sure am "tarred". My friend and partner of almost 15 years is a a surgeon and he worked all night delivering babies. He was even more "tarred".<BR> <BR>Tomorrow PM is going to be a group ride and I'm sure everyone will be "tarred" at the end of this one....including my internist MD. Doctors get just as "tarred" or worse. <BR> <BR>Thanks for letting me write and send this to you. It is a little about astronomy, but hope that you enjoy reading. <BR> <BR>Roger <BR><BR><BR> <BR><BR>
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<BR>From: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>To: jdire@gardner-webb.edu; trenglish@gtcc.edu; dolive@gardner-webb.edu; frankb@celestialwonders.com; jbcustom@darrcam.com; steve.davis@fascontrols.com; dherndon@carolina.rr.com; actionshooting@carolina.rr.com; pdwebb53@sc.rr.com; reskridge1@carolina.rr.com; tjafj@bellsouth.net; drivester@hotmail.com; bclapper@carolina.rr.com; barre.spencer@duke-energy.com; judyhoff@carolina.rr.com; dbrook@bellsouth.net<BR>Subject: The First Regional Gathering<BR>Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:35:35 +0000<BR><BR>
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All,<BR> <BR>Was just looking through some of my files and found the first "RGAA" program. The date, 23 January 1993. As indicated we just celebrated the 18th year.<BR> <BR>Schedule of Events<BR> <BR>9:00 Setup, swap table and displays<BR>9:45 Welcome<BR>10:00 <EM>Light Pollution Efforts of M.A.C</EM> - Paul Webb<BR>10:30 <EM>Astrophotography</EM> - Ron Manley <BR>11:00 Breaks/Displays<BR>11:20 <EM>Solar Observing </EM>- Gayle Riggsbee<BR>12:20 Lunch <BR>1:00 <EM>An Observer's Log </EM>- Roger Ivester<BR>1:15 <EM>Deep-Sky Observing </EM>- Tom Lorenzin<BR>2:00 Breaks/Display<BR>2:20 Prize Drawings<BR>2:30 <EM>Telescopes I've Known and Loved </EM>- Bob Ariel<BR>2:45 <EM>Optimizing Observing Skills </EM>- Bill Henson<BR>3:00 <EM>Plans For the Williams Observatory </EM>- Tom English<BR>3:20 Final Announcements<BR>3:30 Williams Observatory Ipen House<BR> <BR> After meeting: observing session to be held at a local dark site.<BR> Program moderated by Ken Vassey <BR> <BR>There has been some talk as of recent about putting together a history of the CCAS. Does anyone have anything to add or could possibly contribute to the endeavor?<BR> <BR>Ken Vassey had some meetings at CCC, and then Paul Webb posted an ad in the Shelby Star about starting an astronomy club. This was about 1985. Astronomy was about to break lose! <BR> <BR>My first meeting was at the old Shelby Courthouse, now the museum, with Paul presiding as President.<BR> <BR>My son Brad and I were charter members. Our dark site was at the western end of the Polkville Airport. <BR> <BR>During Spring Fest in Shelby, we raffled tickets for a Snapper push mower to make money to buy the 16-inch Club scope. This scope was a Meade DS-16A, without the EQ mount. It was mounted on a home fabricated Dobsonian mount. We also accepted donations. I think the cost of the scope was $500 dollars. <BR> <BR>Interesting, the mount that the 12.5-inch Komorowski scope is mounted on is a DS-16A mount...or the mount that the 16-inch club scope would have come with.<BR> <BR>Can anyone provide anymore history or information?<BR> <BR>The Charlotte Club has a paragraph or two of every year since 1959. It includes the President and something of interest that happened during each year.<BR> <BR>Roger<BR> <BR> <BR> <BR><BR><FONT face=Arial> <BR><FONT size=4></FONT> </FONT><BR><FONT face=Arial></FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial></FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial></FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial></FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial></FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial></FONT> <BR><FONT face=Arial> <BR><BR> <BR></FONT><EM><FONT face=Arial><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT>The moon and stars to govern the night..... Psalm 136:9</EM><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>
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