Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-17
Joseph Pope OF Hallowell.

Joseph Pope of Hallowell about whom We
gave a brief notice a few days since in con
necton with the making of wonderful as
Economical clock, now in possession of his
grandson. Mr. Robert Pope of Gardiner, de
serves to be remembered as one of the most
remarkable scientific men of the country. He
resided in IIallowell between about 1918 and
time of his death. 1926. where be was engaged
in his business of clock making. Mr.. Pope
WAS the maker of one of the only two orrerys
the other having been built by David Ritten-
house of Pennsylvania. In making some in
legations for an account of Mr.. Pope, we
found interesting facts concerning him in the
chapter on the sciences in Boston, from Mr..
Justin Winsors Memorial History This
introduces us to Mr.. Pope's early life and
throws some light on the science and habits
of the last century, in connection with an
orrery now in Harvard College-.his being a
mechanical instrument for illustrating the
,lestial mechanism
Joseph Pope was born ia Hollis street
Boston. Feb / 1850. At the age of sixteen
or seventeen he went to Maryland and
learned the trade of watch making. Their
he spent some time in Europe. Returning
to Boston he applied himself to his trade
deYotng his leisure. however, to the study
of navigation and mathematics with hi,
brother Robert. Meeting in some book with
a description of an orrery he conceived the
idea of making one alter his own plan. Il
was flashed in 1856, and embodied ten years
of his best labor and thought 1t was depos
itei in an upper chamber of his house in
Washington street where it had narrow
escape from being burned. Gov. Bowdoin
VINO had been interested in il. when he
heard of its danger, sent six men with cart
and blankets to rescue it. With difficulty i,
Wa brought down the stairs (Mr. Pope him
self tearing away the balusters), and taken
temporarily to the Governors house, and
sfterwsrd to Mr.. Pope's new resi- lence on
Essex street There it was visited by hun
dreds LAY. His daughter has written out
interesting "reminiscences of her father,
describing his various other inventions; his
visit to London in i7ss. where he remained
fourteen months; the kindness he received
from Sir Joseph Banks, and his correspond
ence with jefferson and Lafayette.
Mr.. Pope moved to Hailo~ell, Me-, about
lsls and died there in 1926. His daughter
in-lsw, Mrs. Robert Pope of Gardiner. has
inner ted curious clock. made by Mr. Pope
in 1850, which still runs accurately. Numer-
Gus hands Indicate the local time in twenty
four different longitudes, the place of the
sun in the zodiac. aud the phases of the
moon.
A description of Pope's orrery was pub
lished in the Memoirs of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences (vol. ii, D
49,. of which he was chosen a member in
1855 On the petition of the Lieutenant
Governor and seventy others an act was
passed by the General Court in 1888, and
sigued by John Hancock. granting lottery
for the purpose of raising a sum not exceed
this orrery for Harvard College. This was
at time when lotteries were in good repute
and presented an easy and convenient way Of
raising large sums of money for charitable
ard benevolent objects, as is nov done by
fairs. The reasons for granting this act are
stated to be that This court are willing at
all times TO encourage the efforts of ingenuity
and to aid plan which has the advancement
of science and the public good for its object"
Three men of character and influence we're
appointed managers, and gave bonds in
$4,000. The penalty for counterfeiting the
tickets was flo0 hne. or whipping. or stand
ing in the piIlory. In an address to the pub
lie the managers of this lottery set forth its
advantages. among which are the revarding
in some degree the efforts of worthy me-
chanic whose application and genus would