The Observatory remained essentially unchanged since its enlargement in 1905. However, in 1922 gas and electricity were installed and a concrete floor was put in the basement. The Clark Equatorial telescope with a ten-inch aperture and 12 1/2 foot focal length continued to be used, as did the meridian circle transit. By the mid 1920's, a solar projecting screen and a direct vision spectroscope had been provided for the large telescope. Also, a camera had been purchased for making lantern slides.

Changes in the Astronomy Faculty

In 1927, Assistant Professor John Steiner Gold, Class of 1918, replaced Professor Harry Schiedy Everett as Director of the Observatory. Dr. Everett, who received a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell in 1912 and who first began teaching at the university as an Instructor in Mathematics in 1915, was Director of The Observatory from 1923 to 1927. In 1924, he had been promoted to Professor of Applied Mathematics and Astronomy after passing through the ranks of assistant professor and associate professor.

Astronomy Courses in 1945

The building contained one recitation room and an office for the Director of the Observatory, which was located in the east room next to the College Inn. The College Inn is to the left in the photograph. In 1945, two courses were offered in astronomy, Astronomy 101 and 102, “Descriptive Astronomy.” Gold taught both of them as well as courses in mathematics, including “The Teaching of Mathematics in Secondary Schools.”