In December of this year, NASA will try to launch the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This project has suffered from delays, technical problems, and budget woes. In that respect, it is typical of Big Science endeavors. A century ago, the world's largest telescope was under construction in greater Boston and going through the same … Continue reading Engineering, Then and Now: Peter Schwamb and the Construction of the Mount Wilson Telescope

For the late nineteenth century, the Arlington Advocate is a rich source of information on the Schwambs, their businesses, and their workers. The Advocate reported on visits to the Charles Schwamb mill, the doings of Arlington’s German immigrant population, road races in the Heights and a statewide Schützenfest of German Americans at Spy Pond. This … Continue reading Schwambs in the News, 1871-1899

Visitors to the Mill have seen the dozens of graffiti on the walls recording the first snow (and other remarkable weather events) going back to the 1860s. Although our “first snow” was in October this year, we have followed that with a big December snowstorm blanketing the Mill. Old Schwamb Mill in the snow December … Continue reading Winter and Christmas at the Mill