HomeMy WebLinkAboutS8-92 Recorded _ _ • FILED FOR RECORD
KANE COUNTY, ILL.
9 2 K 6 1 6 1 2 92SEP - 1 0110: 00
State of Illinois)
County of Kane ) ss . RtCOROER
City of Elgin )
CERTIFICATE OF CITY CLERK
I, Dolonna Mecum, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that I am the
City Clerk of the City of Elgin, in the Counties of Kane and
Cook in the state of Illinois, and that as such City Clerk I
am the keeper and custodian of the files and records of said
City of Elgin and the seal thereof .
I• DO FURTHER CERTIFY that the attached is a full,
true, and correct copy of S8-92 entitled "An Ordinance
Designating the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory as a
Local Historical Landmark" passed by the Elgin City Council
at its meeting held on August 26, 1992,the original of
which is entrusted to my care for safe keeping.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and CD
affixed the corporate seal of the City of Elgin at the said Gn
City in the County and State aforesaid this August 31, 1992 . tV
CD
00
City Clerk ci
�v/SEAL`' \' F :z
i'. ;rs
` tie ..
i •.-;�•> - Yom.,, `
•
This instrument prepared by: Return to:
Erwin Jentsch Dolonna Mecum
Corporation Counsel Elgin City Clerk
City of Elgin 150 Dexter Court
150 Dexter Court erit? Elgin, IL 60120
Elgin, IL 60120
p0
SHRMN 92K616I2 P
•
Ordinance No. S8-92
AN ORDINANCE
DESIGNATING THE ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY OBSERVATORY
AS A LOCAL HISTORICAL LANDMARK
WHEREAS, the Elgin Heritage Commission has conducted a
public hearing and determined that the Elgin Public Museum
meets the criteria of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976, as
amended, for designation as a historical landmark; and
WHEREAS, the Elgin Heritage Commission has submitted its
report and findings in support of its determination and
recommendation; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the recommendation
of the Elgin Heritage Commission and concurs in the
recommendation to designate the Elgin Public Museum as a
historical landmark.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that the Elgin National Watch Company
Observatory, located upon the property legally described as
follows :
Of part of Lots 6 and 7 in Block 6 of Sherman' s
Addition to the City of Elgin described as follows :
Beginning at the Southwest corner of Lot 7 ; thence
northeasterly along the southeasterly line of said
Lot 7 a distance of 187 . 47 feet to a point 66 . 0 feet
from the Southeast corner of said Lot 7 ; thence
northwesterly parallel with the northeasterly line
of Lot 7 and parallel with the northeasterly line of
Lot 6 a distance of 191 . 28 feet; thence
southwesterly along a line that forms an angle of 85
degrees 45 minutes to the left with the prolongation
of the last described course a distance of 34 . 14
feet; thence southeasterly along a line that forms
an angle of 94 degrees 15 minutes to the left with
the prolongation of the last described course a
distance of 60 . 0 feet; thence southwesterly along a
line that forms an angle of 85 degrees 45 minutes to
the right with the prolongation of the last
described course a distance of 67 . 6 feet to a point
in a line 82 . 5 feet northeasterly (measured at right
angles thereto) and parallel with the southwesterly
line of said Lot 7 ; thence northwesterly along said
parallel line a distance of 3 . 0 feet to a point in a
line that is perpendicular to the southwesterly line
of said Lot 7 at a point in said southwesterly line
that is 132 . 0 feet northwesterly of the place of
beginning; thence southwesterly along said
perpendicular line a distance of 82 . 5 feet to a
point in said southwesterly line that is 132 . 0 feet
from the place of beginning; thence southwesterly
along said southwesterly line a distance of 132 . 0
feet to the place of beginning. Being situated in
the City of Elgin, Kane County, Illinois .
be and is hereby designated as a local historical landmark as
provided in Chapter 20 . 06 of the Elgin Municipal Code, 1976,
as amended.
BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the City Clerk is authorized
and directed to provide notice, send copies of the ordinance,
and record a certified copy of the ordinance in the office of
the Recorder of Deeds of Kane County, Illinois .
s/ George VanDeVoorde
George VanDeVoorde, Mayor
Presented: August 26 , 1992
Passed: August 26, 1992
Omnibus Vote: Yeas 6 Nays 0
-, Recorded: August 27 , 1992
Published:
•
Attest:
s/ Dolonna Mecum
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
•
9 2 K 6 1 6 1 2
TELEPHONE 708/695-6500
Eon
FAX 708/931-5610
FOR HEARING IMPAIRED
TDD 708/931-5616
Ofietki
CITY OF ELGIN 150 DEXTER COURT ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60120-5555
July 17 ,1992
Loni Mecum
City Clerk
150 Dexter Ct.
Elgin, IL 60120
RE: Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
City Landmark Status
Dear Ms. Mecum;
Please be advised that the Elgin Heritage Commission has
adopted the resolution authorizing in the designation of
The Elgin. National Watch Company Observatory , as a Local
Historic Landmark in accordance to Section 20.06 .070 of the
Preservation Ordinance. The resolution was adopted at the
July 13,1992 Elgin Heritage Commission Meeting.
It has been determined by the commission that The Elgin
National Watch Company Observatory meets the criteria as a
Local Historic Landmark.
Sinc rely,
Jo Ellen Doscher
City of Elgin
Preservation Specialist
cc. EHC
U-46 School District
City Council
enc. recommendations of EHC
(i)
Printed on recycled paper
MEMORANDUM
TO: Elgin City Council
FROM: Elgin Heritage Commission
RE: ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY OBSERVATORY
RECOMMENDATIONS
Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
Recommendations of the Elgin Heritage Commission
in Accordance with 20 .06 .070
of the Preservation Ordinance
The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory meets several
criteria for local Landmark Designation. The enclosed
resolution denotes the criteria which have been met.
We recommend that any work being proposed for the exterior
of the building should be reviewed for appropriateness
pursuant to the provisions of Chapters 20. 08 and 20 . 10 of
the Preservation Ordinance. Any proposed future work to be
done to the building should follow the Secretary of the
Interiors, Guidelines for Rehabilitation.
The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory landmark
designation is " a part of the Elgin Heritage Commission' s
mission to designate buildings of historic and
architectural importance in the City of Elgin.
It is the recommendation of the Elgin Heritage Commission
that the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory be
encouraged to continue its present use by the U-46 School
District as an educational tool for area students.
RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING DESIGNATION OF
THE ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY OBSERVATORY
AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
WHEREAS, The Elgin Heritage Commission, a Commission of the
City of Elgin, may review and recommend to the City Council
local historic landmarks; and
WHEREAS, said Commission has recommended that The Elgin
National Watch Company Observatory be designated as a local
historic landmark; and
WHEREAS, The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory was
constructed by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1910
under the direction of Dr. William W. Payne ; and
WHEREAS, The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory was
designed for the purpose of recording precise time from the
stars and transmiting that measure of time throughout the
timing laboratories of the Elgin National Watch Factory; and
WHEREAS, The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
physically represents the excellence of the Elgin Watch,
the product with which our city will forever be associated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ELGIN HERITAGE
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that The Elgin
National Watch Company Observatory be and it is here by
designated as a Local Historic Landmark in the City of
Elgin.
j/.5f1AA-, P"--0/0-1-ttre""---6
John Roberson, Chairman
Presented: July 13, 1992
Adopted: July 13 , 1992
Vote: Yeas 6 Nays 0
Attes OF
ir
S e Bone, Secretary
1
( !!!!!;
Agenda Item No .
yp\'mo
July 17, 1992
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
FROM: Larry L. Rice, City Manager
SUBJECT: Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
PURPOSE: The purpose of this memorandum is to inform the
Mayor and the City Council that the Elgin Heritage
Commission has recommended that the Elgin National Watch
Company Observatory be designated as a Local Historic
Landmark.
• BACKGROUND: The Elgin municipal Code provides for the
nomination of landmarks to the Heritage Commission. Upon
determination by the Heritage Commission that the nominated
structure/property meets the consideration requirements, a
public hearing must be conducted. Within thirty days
following the close of the public hearing, the Commission
must pass by resolution, their determination of
approval/disapproval of the nomination. A report stating
the findings of the Commission is attached to the
resolution, and sent to the owner of record and City
Council.
Upon receipt of the recommendation from the Commission that
the nominated landmark be designated , the Council is
required to reject the nomination by formal resolution, or
designate the landmark by an ordinance. The Council has the
option of holding a public hearing prior to enacting the
resolution or ordinance.
Heritage Commission member Rebecca Minetti has nominated
the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory as a
landmark. The Heritage Commission has reviewed her
application, held a public hearing on the matter, and
passed a resolution recommending that the Elgin National
• Watch Company Observatory be designated a Local Historic
Landmark. Support data has been attached for your review.
(I
• FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council
designate the Elgin National Watch Factory Observatory as a
Local Historic Landmark.
LayL. Ric , City Manager
•
•
• RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZING DESIGNATION OF
THE ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY OBSERVATORY
AS A LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
WHEREAS, The Elgin Heritage Commission, a Commission of the
City of Elgin, may review and recommend to the City Council
local historic landmarks; and
WHEREAS, said Commission has recommended that The Elgin
National Watch Company Observatory be designated as a local
historic landmark; and
WHEREAS, The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory was
constructed by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1910
under the direction of Dr. William W. Payne ; and
WHEREAS, The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory was
• designed for the purpose of recording precise time from the
stars and transmiting that measure of time throughout the
timing laboratories of the Elgin National Watch Factory; and
WHEREAS, The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
• physically represents the excellence of the Elgin Watch,
the product with which our city will forever be associated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ELGIN HERITAGE
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS, that The Elgin
National Watch Company Observatory be and it is here by
designated as a Local Historic Landmark in the City of
Elgin.
()yykov1/4.,
John Roberson, Chairman
Presented: July 13, 1992
Adopted: July 13, 1992
Vote: Yeas 6 Nays 0 •
Attes - '
, • CIL--
S - - e e Bone, Secretary
•
•
• MEMORANDUM
TO: Elgin City Council
FROM: Elgin Heritage Commission
RE: ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH COMPANY OBSERVATORY
RECOMMENDATIONS
Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
Recommendations of the Elgin Heritage Commission
in Accordance with 20 .06 .070
of the Preservation Ordinance
The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory meets several
criteria for local Landmark Designation. The enclosed
resolution denotes the criteria which have been met.
We recommend that any work being proposed for the exterior
of the building should be reviewed for appropriateness
pursuant to the provisions of Chapters 20.08 and 20.10 of
the Preservation Ordinance. Any proposed future work to be
• done to the building should follow the Secretary of the
Interiors, Guidelines for Rehabilitation.
The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory landmark
designation is a part of the Elgin Heritage Commission's
mission to designate buildings of historic and
architectural importance in the City of Elgin.
It is the recommendation of the Elgin Heritage Commission
that the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory be
encouraged to continue its present use by the U-46 School
District as an educational tool for area students.
•
APPLICATION FOR
411
LANDMARK DESIGNATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
Applicant Information:
Name: Rebecca Minetti
Street:40 Hill Ave City: Flgin
Telephone: (work) (home) 6c17- 2RR
Name of Property: Watch Factory Observatory
Address of Property: 312 Watch St.
Property Owner: U-46 School District
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
• 1. Common street address of the property.
2. Legal description of the proposed landmark property.
3 . Map delineating the proposed landmark property.
4 . One black and white photograph of each side of the
principal structure and of any other structure located on
the property of the proposed landmark.
5. A written narrative describing the proposed landmark
property and setting forth the reason or reasons for
proposing the property as a landmark (please reference the
criteria for nomination) .
FEE SCHEDULE I hereby affirm that all
information and exhibits
Filing Fee ($25) herein submitted are true
Transcript Deposit($100) and correct to the best
Total Fees ($125) of my knowledge.
(FOR STAFF USE)
(Date Received 4-13-92 ) ��•'f'�' '�"� '
• (Received By ) Applicant' s Signature
(Publication Dates ; / /9'
9 2-
( ) Da ,
•
THE ELGIN OBSERVATORY
Criteria For Consideration Of Nomination
At the turn of the century, a burgeoning industrial America began
to regard timing efficiency as an economic factor and sought ways to
further harness time to human terms. The railroad industry, in partic-
ular, needed accuracy in its timepieces. The increasing number and
frequency of rail traffic demanded better time keeping, both for the
efficiency of daily operations and the safety of the passengers. The
railroads pushed for standards that would assure uniformity, precision
and safety.
When President Theodore Roosevelt called for the U.S. Bureau of
Standards to set up tests for watches, it was disclosed (in 1908) that
the nation's time controls were inadequate.
Already at the forefront of watch manufacturing, the Elgin National
Watch Company chose to build its own observatory and so insure the
scientific accuracy of its famous timepieces. Built in 1910 under the
direction of Dr. William W. Payne of the Goodsell Observatory, the Elgin
Observatory's purpose was to observe and record precise time from the
stars and to transmit that measure of time throughout the workshops and
timing laboratories of the Elgin National Watch Factory.
• For decades the ,Observatory performed that function flawlessly.
In 1959, having outlived the watch factory and no longer needed by the
company, the Observatory land, building and equipment were deeded to
School District U46 for the education of its students. A planatarium
was added to the facility in 1963, creating a unique educational oppor-
tunity not to be found in any other school system in America.
(Criterion A)
From its inception the Elgin Observatory has physically represented
the precision and excellence of the Elgin Watch, the product with which
our city will forever be associated. The Observatory, with its golden
dome and as it sits on its quiet, grassy hill, unchanged in more than
80 years, is an established familiar visual feature of Elgin.
(Criterion H)
No expense was spared in the construction of the Observatory. It
is in superb condition, both structurally and scientifically. It is
eminently suitable for preservation and restoration.
(Criterion J)
•
•
Essentially unchanged in 82 years, the Elgin Observatory is the
only time observatory in the world created by a watch manufacturer for
the sole purpose of precisely calculating time by the stars. It was
not constructed for or as part of any research, military or government
facility. In fact, the Observatory was specifically designed and built
as part of the Elgin National Watch Factory and, as such, is the only
remaining vestige of that complex.
A visit to the Elgin Observatory is more than an amazement. It is
an educational opportunity unique for Elgin area students. It is a
pristine, living remnant of the industry synonymous with Elgin, and of
great historical value. It is, in a real sense, a step back in time to
chart the exact movement of the earth and to measure time from the
stately procession of the stars. The Elgin Observatory is uniquely,
historically, physically qualified to be landmarked.
•
•
• NOTES
"After 1865 America's railroads moved with enormous growth from
their pioneer period of small, light trains into their mature era in
which trains were long, heavy, and crowded with passengers. As traffic
increased and it became necessary on heavily travelled roads to run
many trains close together, the threat of rear-end collisions increased
alarmingly. If the number of passengers on a scheduled run exceeded the
capacity of one train, the company would often put an extra train on the
one scheduled. In other words, there were actually two trains for one
that was scheduled. The second train would follow the first at a distance
of a few hundred yards; the trains were within sight of each other, except
when the first disappeared for a time around a curve.
The danger of rear-end collisions was slight as long as the speeds
of the two-section trains was slow--fifteen to twenty miles per hour.
Later on, after the War, when train speeds went up to 35 to 45 miles an
hour, a very real danger from rear-end smashups arose. Clearly, the
practice of operating a single train in sections presented a good many
dangers, as it was difficult to coordinate the speeds and distances
between the separate units running together. Often collisions resulted
when the first unit slowed, stopped, or broke down. Also it must be
remembered that trains were hard to stop in an emergency then as old
fashioned hand brakes were still in use on most lines until the 1890's.
Consequently, sections after 1870 usually ran five minutes apart, not
• within sight of each other. This time interval system nevertheless had
inherent difficulties. How was the engineer of the following train to
know that he was precisely five minutes behind the train ahead?
Disasterous rear-end accidents occurred when the time interval between
sections failed. In fact, rear-end collisions remained the single worst
type of railroad accident for fifty years after 1870."
Train Wrecks, A Pictorial History of Accidents on The Main Line, by
Robert C. Reed, Bonanza Books, New York, 1968, p. 71.
"Most of our great inventions and improvements can be traced to
some pressing human need. Many of them, unfortunately, are delayed
until some great catastrophe shows the need. It required a disastrous
wreck to bring home to the railroads and make clear the necessity for
absolute accuracy in the timepieces of their employees.
In the year 1891 two trains on the Lake Shore Railroad met in a
head-on collision near Kipton, Ohio, killing the two engineers and
several railway mail-clerks. In the investigation which followed, it
was disclosed that the watches of the engineers differed by four minutes.
The watch which was at fault had always been accurate and so its owner
took it for granted that it always would be. But tiny particles of dust
and soot find ways of seeping into the most carefully protected works of
a watch, and every watch should be examined and cleaned occasionally. So
it was with the engineer's watch. That little speck of dust and those
• few lost minutes cost human lives.
This wreck occurred not many miles from Cleveland, Ohio, then and
• now the home of Webb C. Ball, a jeweler, who as a watch expert, was a
witness in the investigation which followed. His interest thus aroused,
he worked out a plan which provided for a rigid and continuous system of
railroad watch inspection. The plan which he then proposed is now in
operation on practically every railroad in the country."
Time Telling Through the Ages, by Harry C. Brearley, Doubleday, New York,
1919, p. 178-179.
"Several generations have grown to adulthood supposing that time
itself has always been what it is today, four zones loping across the
land in the path of the sun, but before November 18, 1883, time was a
fairly chaotic affair, set locally by cities and towns, quite independently
of any other place. The growth of the railroads made the confusion impos-
sible. When solar time was noon in Chicago . . it was 12:31 in Pittsburgh,
12:24 in Cleveland, 12: 13 in Cincinnati, 12:09 in Louisville, 12:07 in
Indianapolis, 11:50 in St. Louis, 11:48 in Dubuque, 11:41 in St. Paul,
11:27 in Omaha. There were, for example, thirty-eight different times in
Wisconsin. There were three different clocks in the Buffalo station and
six different times in Pittsburgh, depending on the railroad. That such
nonsense had to stop was obvious, and the change was brought about by
William Frederick Allen . . . whose practical rather than theoretical
time boundaries were adopted by the General Time Convention and put into
• effect by the railroads. . . Congress did not bestow its blessing on the
system that railroads gave us until 1918."
The American Heritage History of Railroads In America, by Oliver Jensen,
American Heritage Publishing Co. , Inc. , New York, 1975, p. 144.
•
. s •
•
THE ELGIN OBSERVATORY
The observatory is located on the east bank of the Fox River
Valley in Elgin , Illinois . It is located on a sloped site
detached from the former Elgin National Watch Co. factory.
The original observatory building is comprised of 3 segments .
The first is a two story, domed octagonal observatory to the
east side . The second segment is a two office to the west side
and finally a two story central entrance block . The primary
facade is to the south in which contains the main entrance . The
surface of the entire building is stucco with a metal roof over
the observatory.
The office segment, a double hung window configuration of 2
windows on the second floor over 2 windows on the first floor .
A diagonally patterned rail adorns the roof of this segment .
The observatory has a single window in each face as allowed on
the second floor. The recessed entry block has a single window
• over the front entry panelled door . A simple flat roof protects
the entry . The other faces of the original building minics this
pattern .
In 1963 , a planetarium chamber was added to the north side of
the building . The addition is a one story wood sided structure
with a large asphalt shingled mansard roof to house a 24 foot
planetarium for educational use by School District U-46 , the
current Owner .
•
•
TELEPHONE 708/695-6500
OEiin FAX 708/931-5610
FAX
HEARING IMPAIRED
TDD 708/931.5616
/0%-r4CITY OF ELGIN 150 DEXTER COURT ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60120-5555
,
July 17 ,1992
Loni Mecum
City Clerk
150 Dexter Ct.
Elgin, IL 60120
RE: Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
City Landmark Status
Dear Ms. Mecum;
Please be advised that the Elgin Heritage Commission has
adopted the resolution authorizing in the designation of
The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory as a Local
Historic Landmark in accordance to Section 20.06 .070 of the
• Preservation Ordinance. The resolution was adopted at the
July 13,1992 Elgin Heritage Commission Meeting.
It has been determined by the commission that The Elgin
National Watch Company Observatory meets the criteria as a
Local Historic Landmark.
Sind,
Jo Ellen Doscher
City of Elgin
Preservation Specialist
cc. EHC
U-46 School District
City Council
enc. recommendations of EHC
•