November 1978, five months after starting our project with chain saws, hand saws and hatchets, we had most of the hill cleared.	Denny Jefferson doing a loggermans job.	The Hill in April 1979 ready for the next phase. I had to climb a large maple tree to get this picture.

One of our fund-raising methods was taking out and selling firewood from the "back 40". Unfortunately, the driver was overconfident of his trucks ability to haul a heavy load out during a wet December. He was only buried up to his transmission. We eventually got him out by hitching him to a bigger truck. The mud was flying everywhere.	Our first attempt at digging a pier for the scope. The following year, we paid a local farmer to level out the hill, which covered up this hole to nowhere.	The next attempt was a success. We ended up hauling almost 1/2 ton of gravel and sand up to the hill by hand. This was followed by hundreds of pounds of concrete and water. Dan Rothstein and Doug Caprette align the reinforing bars, dump in rocks and mix the concrete by hand during this 2 week project.

The completed pier inspected by Norm Oberle (left) and Roy Anderson (right) during a local astronomy convention. Norm was a well-known amateur astronomer and telescope builder in the area. Both Norm and Carl were long-time members of the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association. Norm was honored for his outstanding contribution to amateur astronomy at the October 1996 Hidden Hollow astronomy convention.	We finally start building the observatory in September 1981. One of Ian Cooper's friends, Bernie, was a local carpenter who helped foreman the job. With his help, we became an organized group, putting up all 4 walls in one weekend.	One of the walls going up.

Tar papering the roof.	Earl Paullin cleans and paints the inside of the tube as Skip Westphal (sans shirt) looks on. Thanks to Skip for getting the slides on this page scanned.	Denny Jefferson cleans the mirror surface before hoisting the 80 pound monstrosity in its holding cell into the tube.

The observatory before the paint job.	The completed observatory from the maple tree in 1983 after a paint job.	Dan Rothstein hangs one of several signs that have graced the entrance. Several have been clobbered by snow plows, obnoxious teenagers and a cement truck. Ian Cooper and Bob Petti observe the hanging.

We put so much junk into the observatory, that a separate storage shed was needed. Construction engineer Rick Trembour and helper Bob Modic did most of the work.	The next major project was putting in electricity. A 700 foot trench was cut from Keith's house up to the observatory and we laid the cable by hand.	The following year we ran the electric from the observatory to the storage shed. Kim Himes videotapes her husband Don and Bruce Nielsen digging the trench.

Another project was to pour a concrete floor in the building. We had previously installed a wooden floor which rotted out due to the humid conditions. This dump truck, hauling a load of sand, was trying to cross over a narrow land bridge to take sand up to the hill.	After pouring the concrete floor, we installed a wooden floor over it. This time, it's not rotting.	The scope in its current state. Much of the gearing and paint job was contributed by Don Himes.

Red lights are used to light the observatory at night to preserve our night vision.

Club members enjoying the fruits of their labors. This was an "all-nighter" in March 1990. The 30 second photo was taken in early morning twilight.