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 John K. Moulton, a mathematics
professor, local historian and Greater Portland Landmarks guide at the
Observatory for eight summers, was so intrigued by the signal
tower's story that he wrote a book about it! The Portland Observatory: The
Building, The Builder, The Maritime Scene, first published in 1987 eventually saw three printings, the last in 1996 just as the
Observatory restoration project was beginning.
John was a member of the Portland Observatory Restoration Trust, the private
organization that worked with the City of Portland and Greater Portland Landmarks to restore the signal
tower. He brought invaluable historical insight and contagious
enthusiasm to the project. Captain Moody and His Observatory incorporates information
from the restoration and the papers of Lemuel Moody, who built the Observatory in 1807.
"My aim, other than the intellectual pleasure of doing it, was to give
Portland a history of a long-neglected building," Moulton said. "One
hundred years from now, I figure people will want to know about the
reconstruction along with everything else."
Priced at $19.95, Captain Moody and His Observatory may be purchased at
Greater Portland Landmarks, 165 State St., Portland 1-207-774-5561), and at local book stores.
Excerpts from
Captain Moody and His Observatory:
The lantern being lowered to the ground
for reconstruction.
Photo by Tim Byrne.
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"JANUARY 20 1999, dawned bright and clear in Portland,
Maine. The previous few days had been a wintry dose of snow, sleet, and
freezing rain. So the benign beginning of this day was encouraging,
especially to those involved in the task of lifting the "lantern" from the
observatory and depositing it in one piece. A 130-foot crane gently lifted
the entire lantern (or cupola) and set it on the ground (fig. 1). The
procedure took a couple of hours and was blessed with pleasant, almost
spring-like weather. The task was accomplished with deliberate care. The
same lantern structure had been laboriously built, high in the air, by
toiling men 192 years earlier. The Observatory had served its purpose well
since 1807, but now had been declared unsafe. Major repairs were needed
lest it crumble to a heap on Munjoy Hill. It was, after all, approaching
the two-century mark..."
Excerpt from Captain Moody and His Observatory,
page 13 |
"THOUSANDS OF VISITORS climbed to the top of the tower in the summer of
1994. Captain Lemuel Moody and his proprietors would probably be surprised
to learn that after 187 year the Monument was still upright and still
could be climbed by authorized personnel. Standing atop Mount Joy Hill,
the building has been exposed to gales, rain, snow, fog, lightning, all of
nature's forces conspiring to exert their fury. And lest we forget-bugs,
insects, little creatures that get in the wood and eat their fill, and
breed hidden from view. A combination of moisture and insects threatened
the building, making it unsafe for the public. It was closed in November.
This was not the first such closing. In the fall of 1923, the tower was
closed to visitors after 116 years of continuous service. In 1939, after
careful examination of the structure, extensive repairs were made. The
eight corner posts were found to be sound. (Since then, about fifteen feet
of one post have been replaced by a new section, joined to the original by
a scarf joint.) The Observatory was reshingled; a center post was
installed; some of the beams under the floors were replaced; the walls and
ceiling under the sixth floor were replaced. Six thousand dollars of Works
Progress Administration funds financed the job."
Excerpt from Captain Moody and His Observatory,
page 69 |
The structure was held together
by
internal bracing prior to restoration.
Photo by Tim Byrne. |
Scaffolding and debris netting
Photo by Tim Byrne.
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"The reconstruction required an elaborate scaffolding
to be erected. This extended to the sixth floor and required 220 pipe
frames, 550 planks, 180 outriggers, and 250 tubes and couplers. The work
was done by Woodward Thomsen, contractor. Erection of the scaffolding
began on December 11, 1998, and was completed on January 8, 1999.
Once this task was done, green debris netting was installed, enabling
reconstruction work to proceed regardless of the weather. (The green was
sufficiently dark so the netting appear to be black.) Al floors and
stairs (except for those leading to the lantern) were left in place. A
stout fence surrounded the base..."
Excerpt from Captain Moody and His Observatory,
page 77 |
About the Author:
John K. Moulton was a mathematics professor with degrees from
Harvard University and Bowdoin College (an honorary doctorate). He wrote histories of Peaks Island and other islands in Portland Harbor.
While serving as a guide in the Portland Observatory during the summers of
1986 through 1994, he published The Portland Observatory: the Building,
the Builder, the Maritime Scene.
Since then, important original documents
have come to light, and the Observatory has undergone extensive
restoration.
Mr. Moulton believed that Captain Moody and His Observatory, his last book, would give Portland's citizens a complete record
of this unique structure. The Portland Observatory (1807) was designated a National Historic Landmark and a National Civil Engineering Landmark in 2006. |
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