The setting is the year 1926, at the University of Indiana’s Kirkwood observatory. . .

Named after Daniel Kirkwood, Indiana University’s observatory for exploring the darkest places of space was beginning to fail to meet the needs of its students and staff due to the encroaching light pollution and failing older equipment. At IU’s astronomy department was assistant professor Wilbur A Cogshall. There was a spyglass used here at the time designed by him, a 15in reflective telescope.

Observing Through the Skylight

This was a neat place left over from another time. A time when the study of astronomy was budding. I was surprised to see it still standing. I’n still not sure how I heard about it. Either sleuthing on abandoned Indiana websites or panning google maps. Either way, it wasn’t hard to find and the weather was perfect. A rainy, fall day. A lot of it had collapsed in on itself on the second floor. We parked in a church parking lot and walked across the road to a patch of woods. I wasn’t even sure this thing would be there. The woods were thick for November. But inside, away from the eyes of passers by, was housed the observatory.

A quiet glimpse into the past.

We could hear water dripping, echoing off the walls. A cool breeze brushed through us and out of the empty space. The cause was the partially collapsed roof.

Some blogs I’ve read that talk about the observatory say they felt an eeriness in this place. I did not. Maybe it was the fall foliage and the daylight seeping through the cracks. I honestly felt fascinated by the structure from its original purpose with the mechanics of how the dome opened for the telescope, to the art spray painted all over it. Well, if you can consider “ladies night to die” spray painted on the walls of the second floor art.

Watch your step

The bottom floor was dark and the wood had splintered and collapsed all around so we stayed back from that. The light that came through, like capturing light in a telescope or camera told of more graffitied walls and late nights spent drinking.

Funding was secured to build a new observatory

In 1936, professor Cogshall was able to help secure funding to build Knightridge Observatory. This one would be farther away from the light pollution and have up to date equipment to view the stars. This telescope was set up to capture pictures of the moon, meteor showers and other objects in space. the observatory was completed in 1937.

The observatory was sparsely decorated during its use.

The below picture shows the 24 in reflecting telescope used at Knightridge. The building looked to be made just for observing the stars unlike Kirkwood which had many off shoot rooms for other studies.

The telescope used was later removed in the 1960s and the observatory was no longer in use.

I supposed with the city growth bringing more light pollution as well as aging equipment, this observatory too was left behind. The 24in telescope was removed in the 60s and is in use at the NJAA Observatory in Voorhees State Park, New Jersey. Knightridge Space Observatory was demolished in 2020 and a pile of bricks remain, if not then the space it occupied will be bought and cleared for suburbia.

Further reading and sources

A Guide to the Hoosier State

Indiana university, 1820-1904; historical sketch, development of the course of instruction, bibliography

Necrology

Observatories and Instruments

Historical Observatories