The Founders: Everett Hamilton Redfield

"[7/8/1943] Funeral Services Wednesday for Everett Redfield.

SPRINGFIELD - Everett Hamilton Redfield, 87, for many years a resident of Springfield, died on July 5 at the Bellows Falls Inn after a long illness. Mr. Redfield was born on Dec. 17, 1855, in North Springfield, the son of Leonard and Martha Cook Redfield. He had been a member of the Masons and the Eastern Star for 50 years and had been employed at the Jones & Lamson Machine company plant for a half century. He was a charter member of the Springfield Telescope Makers.

Mr. Redfield had many friends in Springfield, but perhaps he will be best remembered by members of the Amateur Telescope Makers' group, who looked forward to seeing him in his chef's cap and apron as he presided over the Stellafane kitchen when amateur telescope makers and scientists from all over the United States met for their annual convention. Mr. Redfield's recitation of his poem, "A Trip to the Planet Mars," was an annual feature of the convention.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon at the Davis Memorial chapel, with the Rev. C. O. Simpson, pastor of the First Congregational church, officiating. Burial was in Pine Grove cemetery in North Springfield. Bearers were members of the Telescope Makers and the Masons : Joseph B. Johnson, Ellsworth S. Johnson, John Herrick, Ralph Baker, Robert Finn and Roy Lyon.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Julia Wheeler, a niece, Miss Helen Wheeler, and a nephew, Dr. A. R. Wheeler, all of Springfield, Mass.; and another niece, Miss Agnes Sanders, of Winchester, Mass.

Source : “Springfield Reporter”, 7/8/1943

Records : 1920, 1930 census, dc

Notes: Cause of death Cachexia & 2nd degree(?) Anemia (3 mos) due to Carcinoma of rectum (2 yrs)

Club Activities

Cook and poet

It is noted that Everett Redfield was not just the primary cook for the club, but also a poet. This is one of his poems, as transcribed by Roy Lyon:

THE TELESCOPE MAKERS DREAM

I dreamed that the Springfield Telescope Club
Took a trip to the planet Mars,
And established ourselves on a mountain top
From which to view the stars.

That we carried a monster telescope-
A 'scope of most wonderful power,
And watched the stars and worlds roll by
For many countless hours.

And the sights we saw in realms beyond
The vision of this worlds eyes,
Were a ceaseless wonder and endless source
Of pleasure and surprise.

When the people of Mars inquired who we were,
And where was the land of our birth,
We turned that telescope around
'Till it pointed at the earth.
And told them to look and see for themselves
The land from whence we came,
And if all went well we hoped to return
To our native land again.

And when they had looked to their heart's content,
And examined the whole world o'er,
They said such a wonderful telescope
They had never seen before.

They saw great cities and towns on the land,
And ships that sail on the sea,
And questioned us closely of all that they saw
And wondered that such things could be.

Then a wise old Professor said "Tell me I pray,
What are those black bugs that I see
That run 'round so lively and in such great droves,
They're a new kind of insect to me."

"Please tell me their names and habits of life,
For we have no such insects on Mars".
Mr. Fullam spoke up and said, "My dear sir,
Those insects are Henry Ford cars".

We dwelt with those people a year and a day
And found them a people of worth,
But then we were homesick and thought it was time,
That we should return to the earth.
We bade them farewell and they wished us bon voyage,
And left them with sincere regret,
We felt well repaid with discoveries made,
And their kindness we'll never forget.

Of our journey to earth I have nothing to tell -
I felt a hard bump on my head,
I suddenly woke 'twas the end of my dream,
I found I had rolled out of bed.

EVERETT H. REDFIELD RJL

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