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Road Trip March 2009 Lick Observatory, California Crossley, Hamilton and more...

This site is part of our visit to Lick Observatory. Click the left turn sign to get back to the start page or the U-turn sign to get back to the road trips page.

The Crossley Reflector

There is one more telescope here, that we haven't talked about yet: The Crossley Reflector is actually even older than the Great Lick Refractor. It was originally constructed in 1879, but wasn't was moved to Lick Observatory until 1896. Between 1896 and 1910 it was completely rebuit on site, to the extent that no original telescope parts remain. Like the Lick Refractor, Crossley doesn't use any computers and until this day, the telescope must be slewed by hand. It still supports the observatory's search for extra-solar planets. Unfortunately, it is not open for visitors, but Wikipedia has a little bit of information about it.

The Naming of Mount Hamilton

All the telescopes here are named after the people who financed them. But then there is Mount Hamilton, which is named after the Reverent Laurentine Hamilton. A bust and a plaque in the observatory tell the story:

In the late summer of 1861, William H. Brewer, director of field work for the California State Geological Survey, invited his long-time friend, the Reverent Laurentine Hamilton, to accompany him on a mountain-climbing expedition. Their goal was a peak judged to be the highest in the Diablo Range, thirteen miles east of San Jose. After an arduous mule ride, the party hiked the last three miles on foot. Brewer and his assistant, Charles F. Hoffman, carried heavy surveying instruments and soon fell behind. "As we neared the summit, "Brewer later recalled, "Mr. Hamilton pushed on ahead of us, and reaching it, swung his hat in the air and shouted back to us: 'first on top - for this is the highest point.'" Sometime later that year, Brewer or Hoffman suggested that the mountain be called Hamilton, in honor of the Reverent Hamilton and the name was thereupon adopted.

Who was Laurentine Hamilton? In 1892, the following tribute was written by the Reverent's son, Edward Hamilton and published in the San Francisco Examiner: The Rev. L. Hamilton was born near Seneca Lake in Western New York, was graduated from Hamilton College in the Class of '49, entered the Presbyterian ministry, came to California in 1856 and assumed charge of the church at Columbia, Tuolumne county, "the queen of the southern mines." From Columbia, he removed to San Jose in 1859 and to Oakland five years later. At Oakland, he became estranged from the Presbyterian Church and established the Independent Church, where on Easter Sunday morning 1882, just as he said, "We know not what matter is ..." he dropped in his pulpit among the lilies of the platform and died as he had wished to die, in harness. Such is an outline of the life history of the courageous, brainy, kindly man from whom California's most famous mountain took its name.

Jeanne Meadows Bicycling Memorial

There is more to Mount Hamilton than only astronomy. The Mount Hamilton Classic is a very popular annual amateur bicycle race, leading across the mountain. In 2008, Mount Hamilton was also part of the Tour of California. On top of the mountain we found a little memorial, dedicated to a very courageous bicycling woman.

The plaque at the bench reads: This bench is dedicated to the memory of a very inspiring woman. Wife, mother of five, respected educator and cyclist, Jeanne R. Meadows did everything to the best of her considerable ability. By her example, she inspired others to do things they would otherwise never have attempted, such as bicycling to the top of this beautiful mountain. At 65, she climbed it six times. One of the guides by which she lived is also appropriate to the University of California and to Lick Observatory: "Just because something is difficult to do doesn't mean it isn't worth doing." Presented by the Almaden Cycle Touring Club, 1993. The pictures above show the bench dedicated to Jeanne R. Meadows and a part of the road she climbed six times. To the right is a Google-Earth image of the area.

Laurie Hatch Pictures

We usually take pretty good pictures, but here is a professional photographer who makes our pictures looking really amateurish. Check out his Gallery.

And with that, we have reached the end of this trip. Click the links below to move on. Thank you for taking the ride with us!

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