FOR ALL TO OBSERVE
Richmond Hill landmark David Dunlap Observatory opens its doors for public viewing again,
It was an astronomical amount of work — 10 years of sweat, toil and sometimes tears from Richmond Hill residents, nature lovers, developers, town staff and scientists — but the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) property is finally open to the public.
For the first time since the famed facility closed its doors in 2008, the property is open to public viewing again — with an open house set for Saturday.
“I’m just thrilled,” said Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow. “I believe we have a destination park. It’s a significant piece of land, our own ‘High Park.’ ”
Godwin Chan, in whose ward the DDO resides, reminisced about the long battle to turn the 100 acres into a parkland and heritage site, with local residents protesting the University of Toronto’s 2007 decision to deem their telescope surplus; battles with developers vying to fill the land with subdivisions; and ongoing calls from neighbours keeping an eye on trees being chopped down.
Now town staff, councillors and scientists are celebrating a unique amenity focused on sustainability, inclusion, discovery and education.
“And it’s all within walking distance to the Yonge St. corridor,” Barrow added.
The old laneway that residents hiked will be refurbished and become a gateway bridge for the many condos being built along Yonge, he said.
The gates are open now and residents are welcome to ex- plore the property and pathways forged by locals, picnic on the rolling lawn and see the iconic buildings up close. The DDO property — 76.5 hectares bordered by Hillsview Dr., Bayview Ave., 16th Ave. and the CN Railway line — was purchased in 1815 to be the farmstead of Alexander Marsh. The Marsh home, Elms Lea, still stands hidden in a hollow of trees, rented out temporarily but slated to be a visitors centre.
In 1932, Jessie Donalda Dunlap bought the farmstead for $28,000 and donated it to U of T as a memorial to her husband who had amassed a fortune in mining and gold but held a passion for astronomy.
U of T’s downtown observatory could no longer function due to light pollution and the land was perfectly perched on a hill north of the city.
By 1935, the dome, housing a six-foot reflector telescope, and administration building with three smaller telescope domes were completed.
The telescope was the second largest in the world and a leader in Canadian astronomical research, achieving advances in radio astronomy and the first direct evidence that Cygnus X-1 was a black hole.
As development moved north, light pollution once again caused trouble. To the community’s consternation, U of T abandoned its facility and, after a nasty battle with builders culminating at the Ontario Municipal Board, the town was able to save half the property for public use. The buildings today look much like they did during their heyday, said Maggie Mackenzie, heritage services co-ordinator.
“Just look at that, the green patina, the weathering,” Mackenzie said, sweeping her arms toward the limestone-clad administration building, the massive wooden doorway, the marbled, compass-inlaid foyer.
Built at a cost of $109,000, the building holds neoclassical details, ornate stair rails, transom windows and Corinthian columns.
The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada Toronto Centre (RASC-TC) and the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders (DDOD) are working in tandem, sharing their mutual passion for astronomy through public outreach.