![]() ![]() A remarkably strong building whose framework was made of railroad trestle timbers, it was rented to the Observatory on generous terms. In 1937, Henry Teague, operator of the Mount Washington Cog Railway, erected a structure exclusively for the Observatory. The noteworthy weather, and the capable recording of such a weather extreme, helped secure a long-term place on the mountain for the Observatory.Īs the 1930’s progressed, so did the Observatory. That year was a momentous one, as Apsaw a truly remarkable event, the clocking of a world record wind of 231 miles per hour. While the original concept was to operate the weather station for only one year, the success of the work there led Dodge, Brooks, and others to continue operations for another year. Washington Auto Road free use of the summit Stage Office was provided to the expedition. While Dodge’s responsibilities at Pinkham Notch meant that he would serve as valley liaison, and not spend much time at the summit, Monahan was joined there by Salvatore Pagliuca, an electrical engineer, and Alexander McKenzie, an experienced radio technician. A significant factor in the timing of the project was the occurrence of the International Polar Year, a world-wide effort to observe and better understand geophysical phenomena of the high latitudes and at high altitudes. Goldthwait, president of the New Hampshire Academy of Science, who encouraged the Academy’s financial support of the project. Also of assistance was Dartmouth professor James W. They were assisted in the planning by Charles Brooks of Harvard University and Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, Massachusetts, who was the founder of the American Meteorological Society. The realization of that project was delayed, but in 1932, Dodge and Monahan made it happen. Dodge visited Monahan on the peak, and the notion of a full winter’s occupation of the summit was born. Monahan had spent a week in December 1926 on the summit, taking weather observations. The information was relayed to the valley via telegraph and was used to help create weather forecasts for the region.įollowing that first successful winter, the U.S.Army Signal Service maintained a weather station on Mount Washington year-round into 1887, and in summer only through 1892.Īlex McKenzie and Joe Dodge in the Observatory’s radio room.īoth Dodge and Monahan were familiar with the 19 th century pioneers who had spent time on the summit, and found inspiration in their good work. The winter was a harsh one, but daily observations of the mountain’s weather were made by the hardy crew. Army Signal Service, our nation’s first weather service. The expedition was housed in a Mount Washington Cog Railway building, graciously lent by the Railway, and included three other crew members, one of whom was a soldier detailed to the endeavor by the U.S. A private expedition was led by Dartmouth professor Charles H. It was then that the mountain’s summit was first occupied for scientific purposes. The Mount Washington Observatory was founded in 1932, but the history of weather observation on Mount Washington goes back to the winter of 1870-1871. The founding crew, 1932-1933: McKenzie, Monahan, Dodge, Pagliuca. ![]()
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