Historical Archive 1980-1989
Z Dome Construction - Jim Fanson's Photos
We are happy to be able to display the 90 pictures taken by Jim Fanson during the Z Dome construction project.
All but the last 4 of these pictures were taken on 4 separate Saturday's when all the block for
the project was laid. Jim was a key MAS member participating the the Z Dome building construction. You can see Jim in our other Z Dome contruction
pictures, but with the exception of one photo showing him in the reflection of a window, he is absent from these pictures.
Jim's other huge contribution to the the project was designing the fork for the 26-inch mount which he did as a school project and got it manufactured.
We've divided the photos by the date taken.
May 24, 1980 - A Well-Documented First Block
The building project was managed by Gerry Samolyk who coordinated everything. MAS members worked as laborers, but the actual laying of the cinder blocks is a highly skilled job and was done with professional masons who were hired by Gerry.
Professional mason, Emil, laying the first block.
Emil, laying the first block.
Emil, laying the first block.
Emil, laying the first block.
MAS First Blocks. Brian Ganiere.
MAS Early Blocks. Gerry Samoylk, Brian Ganiere.
First Wall. Professional Mason Godheart.
Brian Ganiere, Gerry Symolyk, John Asztalos, professional mason. Emil.
Block after block. Brian Ganiere, John Asztalos, professional mason, Rocky.
A Good Day to Work. Brian Ganiere, Gene Hanson, Gerry Samolyk.
Laying Block. Masons Rocky and Godheart.
Mixing the Mud. Gene Hanson, Brian Ganiere.
Moving the Mud. Brian Ganiere, Gene Hanson.
Gerry Samolyk, Gene Hanson, Professional Mason, Emil.
Getting started. Gene Hanson, Gerry Samolyk, Brian Ganiere, professional masons.
John Astalos Mixes Concrete.
June 7, 1980
The day started with a short storm. Jim Fanson walked around with his light meter in hand and noted how dark it had become at the height of the storm. Fortunately the storm was short and work could continue that day.
View from the A-Dome. Ray Zit, Chris Hesseltine, Gerry Samolyk, Gene Hanson.
Firing Up the Mixer. Chris Hesseltine, Gene Hanson, Ray Zit, Gerry Samolyk.
Setting up. Chris Hesseltine, Ray Zit, Gerry Samolyk, Gene Hanson.
Wet Morning.
Blocks Aplenty. Ray Zit.
John Asztalos sleeping for the days work. Fanson in reflection.
Tending the Mud. Gene Hanson.
Moving Block. Professional Mason Emil, Ray Zit, Chris Hesseltine.
Layer by layer. Masons Wally and Godheart.
Blatz Powered. Mason Emil.
Another Layer of Mud. Wally and Godheart.
Scaffolding needed.
Lots of block. Ray Zit, professional masons, Chris Hesseltine, Dwight Harris, Gerry Samolyk.
Ray Zit, professional masons.
Buried in Block. Gerry Samolyk, Dwight Harris, professional masons.
Mud Board. Gerry Samolyk, masons Wally and Rocky.
Keep it plumb. Professional masons Rocky and Wally.
Recycle the Mud. John Asztalos, professional masons, Dwight Harris, Chris Hesseltine.
Recycle the Mud. John Asztalos, professional masons, Dwight Harris, Chris Hesseltine.
Gerry Samolyk.
Gerry Samolyk.
Gerry Samolyk
Samolyk enjoying life. Gerry Samolyk, Tom Schmitkunz, Dwight Harris, Ray Zit, and professional masons.
Group Effort. Professional masons, Dwight Harris, Chris Hesseltine, Gerry Samolyk, John Asztalos.
Professional crew. Emil.
Trowel Skill. Wally.
Professionals All. Emil, Wally, Rocky, and Godheart.
Looking Good. Pete Smitka, Gerry Samolyk, John Asztalos, professional masons, Gene Hanson.
Beautiful Work. Professional masons, Gene Hanson.
June 14, 1980
The 3rd Saturday of block work. The same 4 professional masons on the job.
Make it Level. Professional masons, Wally, Rocky, and Godheart.
Mid way. Professional masons, John Asztalos.
More mud. Professional masons, Gene Hanson.
On the Scaffold. Gene Hanson, professional masons.
Lifting the mud. Brian Ganiere.
Gear and Kit. Professional masons, Gene Hanson.
Meet the Pros. Gene Hanson, professional masons.
On the South Wall. Professional masons, Gene Hanson.
South wall. Professional masons, Gene Hanson.
Workin away. Professional masons, Gene Hanson, Chris Hesseltine.
One at a time. Gene Hanson, professional mason, Wally.
Lifting block. Professional mason, Wally. Gene Hanson.
Split the block. Professional mason, Rocky.
Best Block Co. professional masons, Gene Hanson.
At the Wall. Professional masons, Godheart and Rocky. Gene Hanson.
The final lintel. Professional masons, Godheart, Wally, and Rocky.
Going up. Unknown, John Asztalos, Gene Hanson, professional masons, Gerry Samolyk.
Keeping it plumb. Professional mason, Godheart.
Good progress.
MAS site. End of day June 14th.
June 21, 1980
The 4th and final Saturday of block work. 4 professional masons on the job, George replaces Rocky.
Gerry & John Checking the Beer.
Nearly Done. Professional masons, Gerry Samolyk.
North wall coming together. Professional masons, Gerry Samolyk, Gene Hanson.
Scaffold Going Up. Gerry Samolyk, Brian Ganiere.
Making Progress. Professional masons, Godheart, George, and Wally. Gerry Samolyk, Gene Hanson.
Hard at work. Professional masons, Godheart, George, and Wally. Gene Hanson and Chris Hesseltine.
Busy Bees. Brian Ganiere, professional masons, Gerry Samolyk.
Getting there. John Asztalos.
Masons at work.
Peaking at B Dome. Professional masons.
Trowel at Work. Professional mason, George.
Nearing the top.
The professional masons.
Tuckpointing. Professional masons, Chris Hesseltine.
Professional mason, Wally.
Sharing the mud. Professional masons.
One more row.
Point Beer Powered. Gene Hanson, Chris Hesseltine.
The last block. Gerry Samoylk.
Nearly complete.
Sharp looking. Gene Hanson.
September, 1982
Jim Fanson returned to the MAS Observatory in September of 1982 and snapped these pictures of the dome and telescope mount.
Z Dome from the southwest. Gerry Samolyk and John Asztalos.
Z Dome from the southwest. Gerry Samolyk and John Asztalos.
Observatory Grounds from the southwest.
Z-Scope mount base.