The Original Weather Bureau The Original Weather Bureau BuildingsBuildings

1894 – 1915

Stephen R. DotyDoty Data Services

Compiled under contract for:NOAA’s Preserve America Initiative Program

National Climatic Data CenterAmerican Association of State Climatologists

The Weather Bureau is Born

October 1, 1890

October 1, 1890The Organic Act

“An act to increase the efficiency and reduce the expenses of the Signal Corps of the Army and to transfer the Weather Service to the Department of Agriculture.”

Fifty-first Congress, Sess. I, Ch. 1265, 1266. Stat. 653-55

Inherited Buildings and The Need For Observatories

“The Wisdom of the Weather Bureau in erecting its own buildings becomes more apparent each day. It not only saves to the Government the amount heretofore paid for rent of office quarters, which in many cases are unsuited to our needs, especially as regards the architecture of the roofs for the exposure of meteorological instruments, but places the Weather Bureau on a footing of equality with other branches of the Government service…” Report of the Chief of the Weather Bureau 1902-1903

Buildings Obtained from the Army Signal Service – 3 Total

Washington, DC1889 $175,000

Yuma, AZ1872 $1,500 remodel

Kitty Hawk, NC1884 $1,600 remodel

Buildings Purchased2 Total

North Platte, NE 1906 $3,800

Nantucket, MA 1904 $4,700

Let the Construction Begin 13 TotalPoint Crescent, OR

1903 $800

Bismarck, ND1894 $10,000

Modena, UT1903 $4,300

Cape Henry, VA 1901 $9,200

A Move Towards Standardization25 Total

Anniston, AL1907 $14,700

St. Joseph, MO1909 $21,900

Atlantic City, NJ1902 $6,000

Bentonville, AR1906 $5,600

The Buildings Mature5 Total

Northfield, VT1909 $12,800

Canton, NY1909 $14,100

Richmond, VA1909 $15,500

Buildings Still Occupied - 2007

Hatteras, NCNational Historic Park

Iola, KSCounty Offices

Block Island, RIThe Weather Bureau Inn

Abilene, TXCompany Office

North Platte, NE Office Building

Still Occupied – Continued

Narragansett, RICondominiums

St. Joseph, MOPrivate Residence

Key West, FLWeatherstation Inn

Bismarck, NDState Historic Park

CincinnatiPrivate Residence

Still Occupied - ContinuedBurlington, VTUniv. of Vermont

Canton, NYSt. Lawrence Univ.

Duluth, MNPrivate Residence

La Crosse, WIChiropractor’s Office

Northfield, NYNorwich Univ.

Still Occupied - ContinuedOklahoma City, OK Law Offices

Richmond, VANPS Visitors Center

Sault Saint Marie, MI Museum Sheridan, WY

Law Offices

Yuma, AZ State Park

Home and Office

From the basic

To the comfortable

Working and Living Well

The History RecappedFirst Building Built by WB – Bismarck, ND (1894)

Last Building Built by WB – Cincinnati, OH (1915)

Least Expensive Building – Port Crescent, WA $833 (1903)

Most Expensive Building – St. Joseph, MO $21,864 (1909)

First Building Closed – Kitty Hawk, NC (1904)

Last Building Closed – Cincinnati, OH (1965)

Longest Serving Observer – William H. Green, Abilene, TX (1910-1944)

The Saddest Story – Tatoosh Island, WA – the daughter of the observer died the day after he began observing in 1908, one of only two graves on the island

Observers Giving Their AllThe following died while living and working in the Weather Bureau buildings:Abilene, TX James W. Watson December 18, 1909 (fell down the stairs)

Amarillo, TX Thomas J. Considine January 10, 1925

Atlantic City, NJ Walcott L. Day February 28, 1932

Atlantic City, NJ Levi A. Judkins January 27, 1917

Block Island, RI Henry T. Peace May 12, 1944

Burlington, VT John K. Hooper April 4, 1919

Canton, NY Hobert E. Heyer 1950

Charles City, IA Hal P. Hardin March 20, 1922

Cincinnati, OH William C. Deveraux July 6, 1941

Duluth, MN Herbert W. Richardson March 27, 1931

Hatteras, NC Mark S. Howard September 29, 1918

Iola, KS Howard K. Holcomb November 25, 1917

Iola, KS Mrs. Myrtle Wright October 23, 1935

Key West, FL Harry B. Boyer July 19, 1931

Narragansett Pier, RI Mrs. Margaret E. Conway May 25, 1918

Oklahoma City, OK J. Pemberton Slaughter December 22, 1932

Richmond, VA Edward A. Evans March 28, 1930 (struck by car)

Washington, DC Samuel L. Mosby December 12, 1935