3. West face of DU's historic Chamberlin Observatory at night, providing a first glimpse of the great refractor (phot by Nick Long, 2011 April).
MORE HISTORY: Nonetheless, the genteel Howe had a personal reason for staying at DU . The astronomer had suffered two coronary hemorrhages before his twenty- first birthday, and he felt the need to escape what he called the rigors of the Eastern climate. Also, in 1884, Howe married Fannie Shattuck, the Dean's daughter, eventually raising their four sons in their Fillmore Street home. Howe appears to never have regretted his decision to stay in Colorado. After sixteen years in Denver, Howe wrote, The cool dry mountain air acts as a tonic, and brings health to the body, while the mind gains vigor and elasticity.
The restorative powers of the cool mountain air also accounted for Humphrey Chamberlin's presence in Denver. A field telegrapher in the Civil War, Chamberlin had come to Colorado in 1880 to hunt and regain his health. Showing an almost uncanny judgement in buying real estate, Chamberlin quickly amassed a fortune and became one of Denver's wealthiest citizens.
It was Chamberlin's interest in astronomy that brought him in contact with Howe. Aware of Dr. Howe's reputation, Chamberlin offered to finance the building of a telescope for the University of Denver. On March 5, 1888, Chamberlin wrote Howe: Will you kindly send me by return mail your views of the telescope. Let me know what you would like, to do good work... I am not clear yet what I will be able to put into this gift, but my wish is to do well what we do.
Howe replied that a twenty-inch refractor would be suitable. The estimated cost of such a telescope and building was $56,000, no small sum before the turn of the century. Chamberlin Observatory would hold the largest refractor between the Alleghenies and the Sierras. The design called for a 20 inch aperture refractor with a 26 foot 8 inch focal length. The pier for the telescope was to be isolated from the building and stabilized below on bedrock. A small, student observatory was to be built near the main facility, housing a 6 inch refractor.
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