30. Our first view of the central sandstone pyramid of stone that forms the telescope pier. The sub-basement floor is about 10 feet below grade outside, and the main mass rises from that level to the base of the telescope 2 stories above. This pier is estimated to contain about 85 tons of stone. Dr. Howe was allegedly concerned that beer wagons travelling past the observatory might shake the telescope, and so designed a very massive pier structure. The smaller pier near the window rises to main floor level, and allegedly hosted a seismograph earlier this century, which has subsequently disappeared.
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