The evening Missourian
The Oldest Building To Do
Observatory at University Will be Torn Down In Short Time
Saturday May 17, 1919

The telescope in the Laws Observatory on the West Campus of the University is 
being dismantled and the historic observatory will be wrecked in a few days. 
Laws Observatory will be replaced by the new Journalism Building funds for which 
have been given by Ward A. Neff a graduate of the School of Journalism. 

The part of the observatory that constitutes the cone, clock-room and transit 
room is the oldest structure now standing on West Campus of the University. This 
section of the building was built in 1853 on the site where the Engineering 
Building now stands. 

The observatory was moved to its present location on the north side of the 
Quadrangle in 1880. Shortly after the building had been moved, Dr. S. S. Laws, a 
former president of the University gave money to purchase a telescope and to 
erect an octagon, the room which holds the telescope. The structure was then 
given the name Laws Observatory. 

"The telescope is 71 years old, the first telescope of any considerable size 
west of the Mississippi River" said Prof. R. H. Baker this morning.

The observatory grew by section. In 1891 an office room was added. Then classes 
were held in the office of the building. A class room was built in 1907.

"There is nothing at this time to announce concerning the site or erection of a 
new observatory" said Edward E. Brown business manager of the University, this 
morning.