"In the fall of 1954, several Huntsville high school students decided to form a club to study astronomy. Failing at that time to interest more friends of their own age in the project, they asked for help from a group of scientists from the nearby Redstone Arsenal.

"At an early meeting, the scientists and the teenagers decided to form an association and buy a large telescope. Under the leadership of their president, Dr. Wernher von Braun, the members raised an initial $800 toward the cost of the telescope and authorized fellow member Wilhelm Angele to begin the design of the observatory building.

"Dr. Ernst Stuhlinger, another member of the association, took command of an aerial search for a suitable observatory site, finally selecting a 13.5-acre tract of land in Monte Sano State Park. The association leased the land from the State of Alabama and began the task of clearing it of trees and brush. Members cut and removed more than 3,000 trees, then borrowed a bulldozer to remove stumps and scrape a dirt-and-gravel road.

"One team led by Angele and Gerhard Heller fabricated the observatory dome, while another team, including all the officers of the association, poured thousands of pounds of concrete to form the telescope mount and the supporting ring for the dome. By the time the observatory was completed, $3,000 in cash and materials had been contributed by local firms and interested individuals. Later, the association acquired working capital through the sale of "Space Journal," a magazine started by association members."

Taken from "Von Braun Astronomical Association, Huntsville Alabama," a piece from the collection.