Magnetic Stations, Part 2
Returning to Results of Magnetic Observations Made by the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1914, I researched two other magnetic station locations that are close enough to me that I might be able to search for them, although they are both long shots.
The first is:
Easton, Northampton County.-The station of 1910 was reoccupied. It is in the northwest part of the March athletic field of Lafayette College, 38 feet southeast of the concrete wall surrounding the field, 12 feet northwest of the outer edge of the running track, and 1 foot southwest of the continuation of one of the sides of the baseball diamond. The station is marked by a marble post 6 by 6 by 15 inches, lettered U. S. C. & G. S., and buried with its face flush with the ground. The following true bearings were determined in 1914:
Tower of courthouse ………………………………………………… 23 30.0 west of south
South College ……………………………………………………… 36 44.8 east of south
Northwest gable of fraternity house ………………………………….. 65 25.5 east of north
Given all the changes that tend to accumulate on college campuses over the years, it’s unlikely this station still exists (or is findable). But it’s worth a look, particularly if I’m in the area.
March Field still exists, although Google Maps doesn’t label it as such (Waze does - and a monument to “March Field” is visible on Google Street View). PennPilot imagery from 1938 indicates that is has changed size a shape a bit over the years, and new buildings now surround it. But the old imagery depicts the baseball diamond, which may help in determining the site of the station.
Using the bearings provided, and assuming the surveyors used the obvious high points on the Northampton County Courthouse and South Hall, an estimate of the station coordinates is 40.698472, -75.21125. This is on the site of the former Olin Hall, built in 1956-7 (now refurbished and incorporated into the Hugel Science Center, circa 2001). So assuming these bearings are correct, it looks like the station is probably gone, or at least covered by buildings that were erected long after this document was published. But there is always a chance, and I would love to check it out!
This one also intrigues me:
Laporte, Sullivan County.-Observations were made at a point about one-fourth mile north of the center of town in a pasture lot belonging to Mr. McFarlane, lying on the west side of the highway to the railroad station, and just north of a lot containing the ruins of a schoolhouse burned down about 1906. The point is 230 feet west-northwest of the gate to the pasture, 110 feet east of the edge of woods along a creek, and 190 feet south of a maple tree 18 inches in diameter which stands at the corner of the fence to the school lot. The point is marked by a natural outcrop of rock about 3 feet by 3 feet in area, and having a magnetic station disk cemented on to this rock. The following true bearings were determined:
Steeple of Episcopal Church (mark)…………………………………. 5 58.1 west of south
South gable of red frame house, one-fourth mile away ………………….. 61 57.6 east of north
East gable of barn on hillside about 1,500 feet away ……………………… 49 32.0 east of north
This one is very difficult to determine! Right now my best guess, based on nothing but going back and forth between the description, PennPilot imagery, and modern maps, is somewhere around 41.4310285, -76.490615. I will have to check it against the bearings but a preliminary look doesn’t seem to work out.
See: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~pasulliv/churches/Adona.htm for discussion of the church(es).