Historic Convention Photos 1926-1948

1925 Stellarfane Gathering

No, Stellarfane is not a typo - the 'r' had not been dropped yet. There was a club gathering with several outside guests in mid-June of 1925, and this event seems to be the forerunner of the first convention. Photos, newspaper articles and a bit of history are on our Stellarfane Gatherings page in the early history section.

1926 Stellafane Convention
The First Stellafane Convention   1926-Jul-3

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

1926 Stellafane Convention The 6-inch Springfield telescope and people in front of Stellafane. The 6-inch Springfield telescope and people in front of Stellafane.	1926 Stellafane Convention Group photo in front of Stellafane. Second from left, Albert Ingalls. Fourth from right, Russell Porter. Inchef's hat to right of door, Everett Redfield. To left of door, John M. Pierce. Group photo in front of Stellafane. Second from left, Albert Ingalls. Fourth from right, Russell Porter. Inchef's hat to right of door, Everett Redfield. To left of door, John M. Pierce.	1926 Stellafane Convention People examining telescope on Breezy Hill. People examining telescope on Breezy Hill.
1926 Stellafane Convention The first gathering of telescope makers at Stellafane. Russell Porter is seated in front, and Albert Ingalls (wearing glasses) is seated at the center. To the right of Porter seated on the step is Alfonso Ibarguen (Obituary). The first gathering of telescope makers at Stellafane. Russell Porter is seated in front, and Albert Ingalls (wearing glasses) is seated at the center. To the right of Porter seated on the step is Alfonso Ibarguen (Obituary).	1926 Stellafane Convention Front of Stellafane with visitors at the first gathering of telescope makers at Stellafane. Front of Stellafane with visitors at the first gathering of telescope makers at Stellafane.	1926 Stellafane Convention The first gathering of telescope makers at Stellafane. Russell Porter is seated in front, and Albert Ingalls (wearing glasses) is seated at the center. The first gathering of telescope makers at Stellafane. Russell Porter is seated in front, and Albert Ingalls (wearing glasses) is seated at the center.
1926 Stellafane Convention Outdoor gathering of people listening to John M. Pierce giving a talk. Outdoor gathering of people listening to John M. Pierce giving a talk.	1926 Stellafane Convention Visitors at the 1926 Stellafane Convention. Visitors at the 1926 Stellafane Convention.	1926 Stellafane Convention Group photo of visitors. Albert Ingalls (far right), Russell Porter (second from right), Frank Whitney (standing second from left). Group photo of visitors. Albert Ingalls (far right), Russell Porter (second from right), Frank Whitney (standing second from left).
	1926 Stellafane Convention Small group of visitors eating at the first convention. Small group of visitors eating at the first convention.

1927 Stellafane Convention

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

1927 Stellafane Convention Group photo of visitors. Two Springfield Telescopes visible. Second from right: Henry Prescott. Group photo of visitors. Two Springfield Telescopes visible. Second from right: Henry Prescott.	1927 Stellafane Convention Man looking through telescope on Breezy Hill. Man looking through telescope on Breezy Hill.
	1927 Stellafane Convention Dinner gathering in front of Stellafane. Dinner gathering in front of Stellafane.	1927 Stellafane Convention Group photo in front of Stellafane. Springfield telescope in foreground. Henry Prescott, extreme right. Group photo in front of Stellafane. Springfield telescope in foreground. Henry Prescott, extreme right.

1929 Stellafane Convention

Photos by Matt Considine, STM, of negatives pasted into the Club Secretary's report on a page suggesting they are from the 1929 Convention. Each expanded photo has several frames, only one of which is shown in the thumbnail.

1929 Stellafane Convention Frames 47 - 51 Frames 47 - 51	1929 Stellafane Convention Frames 5 - 7 Frames 5 - 7	1929 Stellafane Convention Frames 8 - 10 Frames 8 - 10
1929 Stellafane Convention Frames 11-14 Frames 11-14		1929 Stellafane Convention Frames 15 - 17 Frames 15 - 17

1920s Stellafane Conventions
Photos from the Conventions of the 20s, Exact Years Uncertain

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

192? Stellafane Convention Two men seated on stone wall during convention. Two men seated on stone wall during convention.

192? Stellafane Convention Albert Ingalls (left) and Russell Porter standing beside the 6-inch Springfield telescope. Albert Ingalls (left) and Russell Porter standing beside the 6-inch Springfield telescope.

1932 Stellafane Convention

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

1932 Stellafane Convention Cars parked in field at Stellafane, probably during 1932 Convention. Cars parked in field at Stellafane, probably during 1932 Convention.	1932 Stellafane Convention People watching a mirror grinding demonstration on the stone wall in front of Stellafane. People watching a mirror grinding demonstration on the stone wall in front of Stellafane.	1932 Stellafane Convention Group photo in front of Stellafane. Group photo in front of Stellafane.
1932 Stellafane Convention People watching a mirror grinding demonstration on the stone wall in front of Stellafane. People watching a mirror grinding demonstration on the stone wall in front of Stellafane.	1932 Stellafane Convention People gathered in front of Stellafane. People gathered in front of Stellafane.	1932 Stellafane Convention People gathered under tarp in front of Stellafane. People gathered under tarp in front of Stellafane.
1932 Stellafane Convention People in front of Stellafane. People in front of Stellafane.	1932 Stellafane Convention People in front of Stellafane near stone wall. People in front of Stellafane near stone wall.	1932 Stellafane Convention People gathered in front of Stellafane under tarp. Note platform on tower. People gathered in front of Stellafane under tarp. Note platform on tower.
	1932 Stellafane Convention Group photo in front of Stellafane. Group photo in front of Stellafane.

1934 Stellafane Convention

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

1934 Stellafane Convention Group photo of attendees at 1934 Stellafane Convention. Group photo of attendees at 1934 Stellafane Convention.

1936 Stellafane Convention

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

1936 Stellafane Convention Group photo of attendees at convention, on the west side of the Porter turret telescope. Group photo of attendees at convention, on the west side of the Porter turret telescope.	1936 Stellafane Convention Large Springield mounted telescope at convention. Note eyepiece just above pier, and counterweight lower right. Large Springield mounted telescope at convention. Note eyepiece just above pier, and counterweight lower right.	1936 Stellafane Convention Joseph B. Johnson, STM member, in his car. Joseph B. Johnson, STM member, in his car.
1936 Stellafane Convention People and telescope at the 1936 Convention. People and telescope at the 1936 Convention.	1936 Stellafane Convention A gathering of Conventioneers in 1936. Porter is in the white shirt on the right. A gathering of Conventioneers in 1936. Porter is in the white shirt on the right.	1936 Stellafane Convention Porter turret telescope and Stellafane with trees in foreground (from the northwest). Porter turret telescope and Stellafane with trees in foreground (from the northwest).
1936 Stellafane Convention Russell Porter (center, facing camera with hearing aide) and other people in front of the Porter Turret Telescope. Russell Porter (center, facing camera with hearing aide) and other people in front of the Porter Turret Telescope.	1936 Stellafane Convention Porter turret telescope with people in front (from the west). Porter turret telescope with people in front (from the west).	1936 Stellafane Convention People examining telescopes at the 1936 Convention. People examining telescopes at the 1936 Convention.
1936 Stellafane Convention Large Springfield mounted telescope on display in front of the clubhouse. Large Springfield mounted telescope on display in front of the clubhouse.	1936 Stellafane Convention Porter looking through telescope at Stellafane. Porter looking through telescope at Stellafane.

1937 Stellafane Convention

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

1937 Stellafane Convention The "Allentown Group" in front of the Porter Turret. It appears this photo was printed in mirror reverse, as the view is looking north and the door is on the wrong side of the telescope building. The "Allentown Group" in front of the Porter Turret. It appears this photo was printed in mirror reverse, as the view is looking north and the door is on the wrong side of the telescope building.

1937 Stellafane Convention Russell Porter (in white hat) in a crowd of conventioneers in front of the clubhouse after dark. Russell Porter (in white hat) in a crowd of conventioneers in front of the clubhouse after dark.

1937 Stellafane Convention Albert "Unk" Ingalls, Editor from Scientific American and Russell W. Porter, founder of the Springfield Telescope Makers. Albert "Unk" Ingalls, Editor from Scientific American and Russell W. Porter, founder of the Springfield Telescope Makers.

1939 Stellafane Convention

Photo and movie from Marjorie Alsing. She was at Stellafane when she was 12 weeks old in 1939, confirmed by the minutes of the club secretary, referring to her as 'baby Alsing'.

1937 Stellafane Convention Mr. Herrick, Charlotte Alsing, Russell Porter, and Carl Alsing Mr. Herrick, Charlotte Alsing, Russell Porter, and Carl Alsing

This is the oldest known movie of the Stellafane Convention, in color, shot by Carl Alsing of Wilbrahm, MA. No audio track, just projector noise. The video shows a title screen with 'Circa 1940', but subsequent reseach shows it was made at the 1939 convention - see comment above about 'baby Alsing'.

1930s Stellafane Conventions
Photos from the Conventions of the 30s, Exact Years Uncertain

Photos from the Stellafane Archives.

19?? Stellafane Convention People at an early convention. People at an early convention.

19?? Stellafane Convention Front of Stellafane with visitors during a late 1930s Convention. Front of Stellafane with visitors during a late 1930s Convention.

1941 Stellafane Convention

Photos courtesy of Matt Considine, STM. Photos by Bob Gorson of Philadelphia taken 1941-Aug-02 & -03.

1941 Stellafane Convention Jesse Metzger and Bob Gorson standing behind a large alt-az mounted scope. Jesse Metzger and Bob Gorson standing behind a large alt-az mounted scope.	1941 Stellafane Convention Conventioneers in front of the clubhouse. Conventioneers in front of the clubhouse.	1941 Stellafane Convention Group with telescope on Breezy Hill. Russell Porter in white hat. Group with telescope on Breezy Hill. Russell Porter in white hat.
1941 Stellafane Convention Jesse Metzger looking through large alt-az scope. Jesse Metzger looking through large alt-az scope.		1941 Stellafane Convention Silhouette photo taken at dawn on Sunday morning. A classic pipe-mount scope Silhouette photo taken at dawn on Sunday morning. A classic pipe-mount scope

Video below courtesy of Bob Gorson and Matt Considine, STM. Emil Klein of Philadelphia, member and past president of the ATM of the Franklin Institute and Amateur Astronomers of the Franklin Institute (AAFI) shot the 8mm movie.

Russell Porter can be seen in this video in many scenes; he is wearing a wide-brimmed white hat, and has a large black hearing aid on his left chest pocket.

Wally Everest, Pittsfield, MA, appears at 2:04, blowing smoke toward the camera.

Albert Ingalls, Scientific AmericanEditor, can be seen at 3:36  in the video by the clubhouse door, and later briefly at 4:08.

The long distance views from a height at the end of the movie were likely taken from Mt. Ascutney (3,143 feet). The CCC built an auto road most of the way to the summit in the 1930's. It can be seen in the distance in several earlier scenes.

No Conventions 1942-1945, 1947, 1949-1953