River Vessel Carries Cincinnati's Notable Merz and Mahler Telescope: The Steamer YORKTOWN
In the heart of the 19th century, a historic journey unfolded on the mighty waters of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. At the helm of the steamboat Yorktown was Captain Thomas Jefferson Haldeman, a man who would become synonymous with the safe delivery of one of the largest and most significant astronomical instruments of the time - the Merz & Mahler Telescope.
Built in Cincinnati in 1844, the Yorktown was a sturdy sidewheel packet with a wooden hull. Its mission was to carry the telescope from New Orleans to its final destination - the bustling city of Cincinnati.
The journey was far from easy. The Yorktown navigated a gruelling 950 miles upstream against the current of the Mississippi River before turning into the Ohio River. However, the steamer ground to a halt at the Mouth of the Cumberland due to low water and protruding sandbars in Smithland, Kentucky. After a few weeks, the Yorktown returned to Smithland, retrieved the telescope, and continued its journey.
Captain Haldeman was a pioneer in boiler safety at a time when steam plant explosions and fires were common, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries annually on the Mississippi River System. His diligence and commitment to safety ensured the safe delivery of the telescope, a feat that earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.
The telescope, purchased by Cincinnati astronomer Ormsby MacKnight Mitchel for $10,000 in 1842, was the largest in the United States when it arrived in Cincinnati in January 1845. The Yorktown arrived a day after a fire in College Hall, sparing the telescope from destruction.
Upon its arrival, four acres of land were donated by Nicholas Longworth for the observatory to house the telescope. Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams delivered the dedication address and laid the cornerstone for the building. Captain Haldeman was even made an honorary member of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society for his role in the telescope's safe delivery.
Unfortunately, the details of the telescope's international journey from Munich, Germany to the Port of New Orleans are not as well-documented. The exact dates, shipping route, and the Yorktown's role in this part of the journey remain a mystery, awaiting discovery in archival records and shipping logs.
Today, the Merz & Mahler Telescope is still on display at the Cincinnati Observatory, 180 years after its safe delivery aboard the Steamer Yorktown. The telescope, a testament to the ingenuity of the 19th century and the tenacity of Captain Haldeman, continues to inspire awe and admiration.
For those interested in learning more about the Yorktown and Captain Haldeman's adventures, river historian Captain Don Sanders' book, "The River," offers a fascinating account of his experiences on the river.
The Yorktown, initially built in Cincinnati, carried the Merz & Mahler Telescope from New Orleans to Cincinnati, navigating through the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Northern Kentucky, home to the bustling city of Covington, might have seen the Yorktown along its journey.
Fast forward to the present day, smart-home devices and gadgets are abundant in technology, but the largest telescope in the United States back in the 19th century, now on display at the Cincinnati Observatory, still evokes awe and admiration.
In Cincinnati, the large sum of $10,000 was spent on purchasing the telescope in 1842, demonstrating the city's keen interest in scientific advancements, much like the interest in modern business ventures today.
Captain Haldeman, a native of Kentucky, was not only a pioneer in boiler safety, ensuring the safe delivery of the telescope, but was also recognized for his efforts by becoming an honorary member of the Cincinnati Astronomical Society.
