History of the Custer Institute

The Custer Institute had its roots long before it was formally established. Charles W. Elmer, co-founder of the Perkin-Elmer Optical Company, and an avid amateur astronomer and scientist, would invite and meet with his astronomy friends, including his future partner Henry Perkin, in his home at Cedar Beach, most every weekend.

Finally, in 1927, this group of friends decided to formalize their camaraderie and shared interest by establishing an astronomy organization. Charles Elmer's wife May, whose maiden name was Custer, was the Grand Niece of General George Armstrong Custer. To honor the many years she had been their gracious hostess at their weekly informal gatherings, this newly organized band of amateur astronomers chose to call themselves the Custer Institute.

In 1938, the group purchased the land the institute presently occupies and construction of the main (northern) building was begun. The new meeting place was completed in the spring of 1939.

In 1942, the Custer Institute, Inc was incorporated as a non-profit educational corporation in the State of New York.

In 1945, the southern second building, later dedicated in 1954 as the Dr. John W. Stokes Hall in honor of this long time member, was added with its seating capacity of 100+. It was at this time that Custer Institute began an aggressive schedule of both astronomy related and cultural presentations for the public. Though Southold was still mainly a farming community, these events usually played to an SRO packed house. This tradition continues today and has been expanded by adding the yearly Spring Family Astronomy Day and the Fall Custer Astronomy Jamboree.

In 1947, through donations by Charles Elmer and Mr. Polk, the 3-story tower and dome were built.

In 1954, Charles Elmer passed away. That same year, the Institute added the shed, which houses three sliding roof observatories.

In 1984, member Jeff Lichtman obtained a 3 Meter Satellite TVRO Dish and proceeded to do Radio Astronomy experiments at Custer. Jeff went on to become the founder of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers, which today is an international organization with approx. 400 members worldwide.

During the early years through 1950, the membership of the Custer Institute boasted a number of world famous people. The list included David Rothman, Henry Fitz, and Dan Eichner. Today, the membership rolls continue the tradition with members like Phil Harrington author, Richard Berry author and past editor of Astronomy, and Dava Sobel author to name just a few.

In 2006, Custer's observatory was crowned with a brand-new 22-foot galvanized steel dome. See the photos here, and a dome raising video here.

Custer's Telescopes

Custer has a large collection of telescopes of all sizes and description.
Among them are a:

• 6" Alvin Clark Refractor circa 1900.
• 12" Springfield designed by Russell Porter.
• 12-1/2" Newtonian.
• 13" Newtonian Dobsonian.
• 8" Schmidt Newtonian.
• 8" Classic Cassegrain.
• 7" F20 Refractor.
• 5" Alvin Clark Student Model Refractor.
• 4" Unitron. [This telescope has been missing for several years.]
• 7x21 Ross Camera, F7 with a 3" lens, accepting 8x10 and 4x5 inch plate film.
• 10-1/2" Newtonian Reflector that is being outfitted for CCD camera and remote viewing.
• 10" Astro Binoculars, designed and built by on of the members, Rico Verticchio, and on loan to Custer.
• Celestron CGE-1400 14” Go-To Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with German Equatorial Mount.
• The donation of a Meade 16” LX200GPS-SMT has been placed on order.
• Custer members are presently preparing a 25” F5 Obsession Telescope, which will become Custer’s’ premier telescope in the dome. This is the largest public telescope on Long Island.

The Custer Library

On the first floor of the dome tower building is located the Custer Library. It contains a wealth of Astronomy and Science books dating from the 1800s to the present. It also houses the Institute's videotape collection and 35mm astronomical slide collection. It contains National Geographic, Sky & Telescope, Astronomy, and Scientific American magazines dating back numerous decades. Use of the Library is one of the benefits of Custer membership.

The Custer Museum

On the second floor of the dome tower is located the Custer Museum. Among the items in the collection, open to viewing by the visiting public, can be found:

• A broken 1750s roadside Mile Marker, recovered by Custer members that was originally ordered by Ben Franklin when he was the head of the Colonial Mail system. Today, most of the other markers, still undamaged, mark the distance along the Main Road between Orient Point and the Old Riverhead Court House.
• Henry Fitz, early Custer member and famous telescope mirror maker's Grinding Table. Similar to the one on display at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.
• A piece of a tree that was originally planted by Albert Einstein at Bronx College.
• James Short's circa 1750 Gregorian Telescope variation designed to read the separation of Binary Stars. One of only three known to exist.
• Various other 1700s and 1800s vintage spectrometers and sextants, along with other astronomical devices.
• The Custer Rock Collection including Geodes and numerous Fossilized Rocks.
• The Custer Meteorite Collection, which includes a Shergottite from Mars.
• The Custer Civil War Bullet Collection.
• Numerous Astronomical, Sun Spot and Aurora pictures taken by past and present members.