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West Saanich Rd.(unpaved) with old car parked; dome visible in background
A picture taken prior to 1921 showing a car on the left side of what is currently named West Saanich Road. The Observatory dome is in the background.The vehicle registration number, 4124, indicates that the car belonged to the photographer Edgar…
Observatory Hill road, view of tire tracks going up the hill
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, view of tire tracks going up the hill past rock cliff
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, view of tire tracks going up hill towards a cut in the road
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, view of shoulder and edge of road bed
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, view of hairpin turn from outer edge
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, view of hairpin turn from inside edge, showing rock edging detail
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, general view through an open area
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, detailed view of shoulder showing edge of road bed
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road, excellent detailed view of road bed and deep edging
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Observatory Hill road with , detailed view of edging
A picture of the road going up Observatory Hill. The Province of British Columbia paid for the road as their contribution to the telescope project. The Province also gave $10,000 for the purchase of the site
Site preparation, clearing rock
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, clearing rock, water tower in background
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, men clearing rock with picks shovels and wheelbarrows
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, wheelbarrow on planks in foreground, Prospect Lake visible
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, view of broken rock and crude wooden forms started
Once there was a road to the top of Observatory Hill, construction on the telescope began. The first task is to prepare the site by removing trees and leveling the area.
Site preparation, broken rock being cleared by hand, water tower in background
Machines used during construction were steam-powered. This water tower was used to keep a supply of water on hand.
Steam water pump drawing water from well on West Saanich Rd.
The water used during construction was obtained from a well drilled on the site. This proved to be more practical than hauling water up the hill.
Pier, assembling steel frame work, showing crane tower and partially formed pier
A picture showing the massive concrete pier under construction. The lower part of the north pier has been poured and the metal frame of the form for the upper part is visible
Pier, pile of steel for pier frame work, showing crane tower and top of pier
A picture showing the massive concrete pier under construction. The lower part of the north pier has been poured and the metal frame of the form for the upper part is visible. The structure for raising the metal frame pieces is to the left. This was…
Pier, front view of lower half cemented, with wood forms, top half showing steel work
A picture showing the massive concrete pier under construction. The lower part of the north pier has been poured and the metal frame of the form for the upper part is visible.
Pier, edge view of cement with wood forms in place, water tower and crane tower
A picture showing the massive concrete pier under construction. The lower part of the north pier has been poured and the metal frame of the form for the upper part is visible. The water tower is visible in the backgroud
Pier, edge view of cement with wood forms in place, men mixing cement
Men mixing cement are visible in this picture. The bucjets of concrete needed to be raised up and poured into the finished forms.
Pier, excellent view showing wood forms, steel structure, rock pile, and cement shute
In this picture ths shute used to move concrete into the completed forms.
Pier, lower half cement, upper half with wood forms, dome perimeter forms started
In this picture the lower parts of both the north and south piers (combined in one piece) is completed and the forms for both piers appears to be completed. The water tower is visible in the background
Pier, lower half cement, upper half with wood forms, dome perimeter forms, other side
In this picture the lower parts of both the north and south piers (combined in one piece) is completed and the forms for both piers appears to be completed.
Pier, closeup of cement arch way
This picture provides a good view of the archway between the two pieres. This archway is a notable feature when one is inside the completed telescope and dome.
Pier, finished, low viewpoint showing dome perimeter form
A picture of the completed piers. Visible is the large concrete pad on which the pier structure sits. This is hidden below the floor in the completed building.
Pier, finished, elevated viewpoint showing pier on cement pad, workmen on pier
A picture of the completed piers with three men that gives a sense of the scale. The concrete floor of the building is also completed in this picture.
Pier, finished, distant view with tall ladder leaning against pier
A distant view of the completed piers. A long long ladded is standing against the pier.
Site preparation for Director's House on Little Saanich Mountain
A picture of the construction of what would become the Director's house on Observatory Hill. The north pier of the telescope is visible in the background
Director's House finished
A picture of the completed house with the almost completed dome in the background. The landscaping at the front of the house is underway
Director's House finished
A picture of the completed house with the completed dome in the background. The landscaping at the front of the house is closer to being completed
Director's House finished
A picture of the completed house with the completed dome in the background. The landscaping at the front of the house is completed
Interior of Director's House, furnished
A picture of the interior of the Director's House furnished.
Group photo of Dome assembly work crew in Victoria
A group image of the dome assembly crew. Note that the two engineers, one holding the blueprints, are clean compared to the workers. This picture was taken inside the dome.
Dome steel structure assembled, but without outer covering; crane, pier and water tower visible
A picture of the steel structure of the dome mostly completed. The cement pier is visible inside the dome, and a crane and the water tower are also visible.
Dome steel structure assembled, but without outer covering; view from distant outdoor staircase
A picture of dome with the steel structured assembled. The stairs with handrails indicate this was taken from the back of the Director's House.
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed. There appears to be snow on the ground around the bottom of the dome.
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed. There appears to be snow on the ground around the bottom of the dome. Note the man standing on top of the dome.
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed. There appears to be snow on the ground around the bottom of the dome.
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed. The road up Observatory Hill is visible.
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed. There appears to be snow on the ground around the bottom of the dome.
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the steel structure completed and the lower half of the outer paneling completed. A man is standing on theground in front of the dome
Dome steel structure assembled
A picture of the dome with the lower paneling more or less completed. The inner stairs that lead to the observing floor are clearly visible. There are two men visible, one standing on what will be the observing floor, and a second on a small…
Dome room being covered by workmen on scaffolds, opening visible in lower half to move equipment
A picture of the partially covered upper dome with a man standing on scafolding. The large opening in the lower half of the dome is where they brought the pieces of the telescope into the dome.
Polar axis and team of horses at hairpin turn on the Observatory Hill road
A picture of the polar axis and a team of horses at the hairpin curve on Observatory Hill road. It appears the teams of horses are being given a break before the next part of the ascent.
Polar axis and team of horses travelling up the Observatory Hill road
A picture of the polar axis being hauled by a team of 12 horses. It is near the top of the hill, at the Director's House. The mostly completed dome is visible through the trees. Is the person standing in front of the dome J.S. Plaskett waiting for…