Thanks to the effort of Herman A. Fischer,Sr. the first observatory at Wheaton College was acquired for roughly $2,000 from L. F. Culver in October of1890. With the 800 pound telescope, the 16-foot dome was carried fromHarvey, Illinois, by two teams of horses. Officially the AlumniObservatory, due to financial support from alums, it was commonly known as the "Lemon," thanks to itspeculiar shape and bright color. The Lemon was eventually replaced in1972 and it was sold to Honey Rock for $525. The current observatoryand cause for the removal of the Lemon was built that same year on theroof of Armerding Hall, where it housed a new 12-inch telescope and acustom 8-inch Newtonian reflector telescope, which was given to thecollege by H.S. Miller of Naperville. The Meyer Science Center now features a state-of-the-art observatory on its roof. |
