This coming Tuesday, we will celebrate Founding Day, for re-establishing scientific work on Mount Washington began on October 15, 1932.
A weather station had been on the summit in the late 1800s, but it was decommissioned in 1892, and so it took the efforts of Joe Dodge and Bob Monahan, and observers Alex McKenzie and Sal Pagliuca, to return to the highest peak in the Northeast to establish Mount Washington Observatory.
We often focus on those four individuals when we consider the Observatory’s founding, but many others also played critical roles.
Charles F. Brooks of the American Meteorological Society and Blue Hill Observatory, and James Goldthwait of Dartmouth College and the New Hampshire Academy of Science, provided expertise, instruments, training, and funding.
Elliot Libby of the Mount Washington Summit Road Company allowed use of the road and of the summit Stage Office. Henry Teague of the Mount Washington Cog Railway provided coal and many services, including those of Charles Buckner, Marshfield caretaker, who performed weather observations at the western base of the mountain.
Many others helped make that first winter a success, opening the way for 92 years of service in science, research, education, and public safety.
While many things have changed since 1932, a broad network of support remains essential to the Observatory’s success. Our connection with our summit partners is as important as ever. And most significant is the support of our members, who share our interest in Mount Washington’s fascinating environment.
Thank you very much for all that you do to advance our work. We genuinely couldn’t do it without you. Please find details below about our Founding Day celebration. I would love to see you there!
Sincerely,
