Round Hill, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
Round Hill is a location in Dartmouth, Massachusetts
of historical significance.
Edward Howland Robinson Green
, known as "Colonel" Ned Green, the only son of the renowned female tycoon and miser, Hetty Green
, built his home on Round Hill after his mother's death in 1916 left him with a fortune of between $100 and $200 million. The mansion was designed by architect Alfred C. Bossom and completed in 1921 at a cost of $1.5 million dollars.
In 1948, twelve years after the Colonel's death, his sister and heir donated the entire property to MIT, which used the 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) estate for educational and military purposes. MIT erected a giant antenna atop a 50,000-gallon water tank on the site. Another was erected nearby for research towards the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
. The giant dish antenna stood as a local and marine navigational landmark until the current owners of the site, the Bevelaqua family, demolished it in 2007.
In 1964 MIT sold the estate to the Society of Jesus
of New England as a retreat. Its upper floors were converted into 64 individual rooms, and its main floor reworked to include a chapel, conference rooms, and library. In 1968 the Jesuits sold much of the estate's beach to the Town of Dartmouth in 1968, and then in 1970 sold the entire property to a local woman, Gratia R. Montgomery. She in turn sold most of the site to private developers in 1981, and the area is now a private, gated condominium community.
became available), Colonel Green founded WMAF, a radio station with the tag, "The Voice from Way Down East". MIT's President, Samuel W. Stratton and the Department of Electrical Engineering's new Communications Division were invited to experiment with the new technology, and the department was initially financed by Colonel Green.
Professor Edward L. Bowles set out to determine the signal strength and radiation patterns of different antenna arrays in 1926. Round Hill's radio station (which included an early radio telescope, built on the foundation of a lighthouse) followed Donald B. MacMillan
's and Admiral Richard E. Byrd's polar expeditions, tracked the Graf Zeppelin
dirigible during its maiden transatlantic flight
, and was the sole communication link for areas devastated by the Vermont
floods in 1927.
's electrical experiments. He built a 40 feet (12.2 m) tall Van de Graaff generator
in an abandoned airship
hangar
. The generator was donated in 1956 to the Museum of Science, Boston
, and circa 2011 the generator continues to function as a major exhibit.
, now on display at Mystic Seaport
, was once owned in part by Colonel Green, and moored at Round Hill.
, the Coast Artillery built a fire control structure on the site.
On November 19, 2007, the antenna was demolished by the current owner in order to make way for a new home.
Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Dartmouth is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States established in 1664. The population was 30,665 at the 2000 census. It is the location of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth....
of historical significance.
History
Edward Howland Robinson Green
Edward Howland Robinson "Ned" Green , also known as Colonel Green, was an American businessman, the only son of the notorious miser Hetty Green . He was also noted for his stamp and coin collections.-Biography:Edward Green was the first of two children of Hetty and Edward Henry Green...
, known as "Colonel" Ned Green, the only son of the renowned female tycoon and miser, Hetty Green
Hetty Green
Hetty Green , nicknamed "The Witch of Wall Street" , was an American businesswoman, remarkable for her frugality during the Gilded Age, as well as for being the first American woman to make a substantial impact on Wall Street.-Birth and early years:She was born Henrietta Howland Robinson in New...
, built his home on Round Hill after his mother's death in 1916 left him with a fortune of between $100 and $200 million. The mansion was designed by architect Alfred C. Bossom and completed in 1921 at a cost of $1.5 million dollars.
In 1948, twelve years after the Colonel's death, his sister and heir donated the entire property to MIT, which used the 240 acre (0.9712464 km²) estate for educational and military purposes. MIT erected a giant antenna atop a 50,000-gallon water tank on the site. Another was erected nearby for research towards the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
Ballistic Missile Early Warning System
The United States Air Force Ballistic Missile Early Warning System was the first operational ballistic missile detection radar. The original system was built in 1959 and could provide long-range warning of a ballistic missile attack over the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere. They also...
. The giant dish antenna stood as a local and marine navigational landmark until the current owners of the site, the Bevelaqua family, demolished it in 2007.
In 1964 MIT sold the estate to the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
of New England as a retreat. Its upper floors were converted into 64 individual rooms, and its main floor reworked to include a chapel, conference rooms, and library. In 1968 the Jesuits sold much of the estate's beach to the Town of Dartmouth in 1968, and then in 1970 sold the entire property to a local woman, Gratia R. Montgomery. She in turn sold most of the site to private developers in 1981, and the area is now a private, gated condominium community.
Radio WMAF
In 1923, (as continuous-wave broadcastingContinuous wave
A continuous wave or continuous waveform is an electromagnetic wave of constant amplitude and frequency; and in mathematical analysis, of infinite duration. Continuous wave is also the name given to an early method of radio transmission, in which a carrier wave is switched on and off...
became available), Colonel Green founded WMAF, a radio station with the tag, "The Voice from Way Down East". MIT's President, Samuel W. Stratton and the Department of Electrical Engineering's new Communications Division were invited to experiment with the new technology, and the department was initially financed by Colonel Green.
Professor Edward L. Bowles set out to determine the signal strength and radiation patterns of different antenna arrays in 1926. Round Hill's radio station (which included an early radio telescope, built on the foundation of a lighthouse) followed Donald B. MacMillan
Donald B. MacMillan
Donald Baxter MacMillan was an American explorer, sailor, researcher and lecturer who made over 30 expeditions to the Arctic during his 46-year career...
's and Admiral Richard E. Byrd's polar expeditions, tracked the Graf Zeppelin
LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin
LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin was a German built and operated passenger-carrying hydrogen-filled rigid airship which operated commercially from 1928 to 1937. It was named after the German pioneer of airships, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who was a Graf or Count in the German nobility. During its operating life,...
dirigible during its maiden transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight
Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east...
, and was the sole communication link for areas devastated by the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
floods in 1927.
Van de Graaff
In 1933, Round Hill was the site of Robert J. Van de GraaffRobert J. Van de Graaff
Robert Jemison Van de Graaff, was an American physicist, noted for his design and construction of high voltage generators, who taught at Princeton University and MIT.-Biography:...
's electrical experiments. He built a 40 feet (12.2 m) tall Van de Graaff generator
Van de Graaff generator
A Van de Graaff generator is an electrostatic generator which uses a moving belt to accumulate very high voltages on a hollow metal globe on the top of the stand. It was invented in 1929 by American physicist Robert J. Van de Graaff. The potential differences achieved in modern Van de Graaff...
in an abandoned airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
hangar
Hangar
A hangar is a closed structure to hold aircraft or spacecraft in protective storage. Most hangars are built of metal, but other materials such as wood and concrete are also sometimes used...
. The generator was donated in 1956 to the Museum of Science, Boston
Museum of Science, Boston
The Museum of Science is a Boston, Massachusetts landmark, located in Science Park, a plot of land spanning the Charles River. Along with over 500 interactive exhibits, the Museum features a number of live presentations throughout the building every day, along with shows at the Charles Hayden...
, and circa 2011 the generator continues to function as a major exhibit.
Charles W. Morgan
The New Bedford whaling ship Charles W. MorganCharles W. Morgan (ship)
Charles W. Morgan was a U.S. whaleship during the 19th and early 20th century. Ships of this type usually harvested the blubber of whales for whale oil, which was commonly used in lamps...
, now on display at Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport
Mystic Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, in Mystic, Connecticut, is notable both for its collection of sailing ships and boats, and for the re-creation of crafts and fabric of an entire 19th century seafaring village...
, was once owned in part by Colonel Green, and moored at Round Hill.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Coast Artillery built a fire control structure on the site.
Recent developments
An April 4, 2007 article in the New Bedford Standard-Times reported that the giant antenna may be demolished by the current owner, who had reportedly paid around $8.5 million for the property.On November 19, 2007, the antenna was demolished by the current owner in order to make way for a new home.
General
- The Center for Land Use Interpretation's page about the Round Hill Lab Site
- A citation of "84 cubic feet" of records that mention "Round Hill, an estate left to the Institute by E. H. R. Green as a home for research in aeronautics and microwave technology"
- About Round Hill Community
- PALATIAL HOME FOR COLONEL E.H.R. GREEN SON OF HETTY GREEN "...probably be one of the finest and most imposing country dwellings in the East."
- The Voice From Way Down East - 1923 WMAF promotion brochure
Robert J. Van de Graaff
- A short history of Van de Graaff's work at Round Hill
- Photos from a 1933 report on Van de Graaff's generator at Round Hill