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Call (937) 339-2911 or visit www.hobartarena.com MIAMI COUNTY SANITARY ENGINEERING DEPT. WATER-WASTEWATER SOLID WASTE
937-440-5653 Fax 937-335-4208 N. Co. Rd 25A, Troy, OH 45373-1342
Ohio’s Columbus of the Skies From a makeshift shelter in a Delphos cornfield, 36-year-old Leslie C. Peltier watched a blob of light move in the night sky for 2331 W. Market St., Troy • 937.339.4800 five hours. He sent a telegram about his observation to Harvard Buy 2 Entrees University, which confirmed the celestial body as the first comet & Get an Appetizer 1/2 PRICE! discovered in 1936. Further investigation by Harvard found that The North Central Ohio the comet would pass within 20 million miles of Earth and be the first comet visible to the naked eye in nine years. Solid Waste District "Promoting Greater Participation Leslie Peltier was born on January 2, 1900. When he was five, his mother pointed out the constellation Pleiades. A local librarian in Recycling" his interest in the universe by introducing him to the www.ncowaste.org cemented book “The Friendly Stars.” As a teen, Peltier wanted to buy a mailorder telescope. He earned the $18 he needed by picking 900 STOP SMOKING Present in just ONE sesson! this coupon quarts of strawberries on his father’s farm. for Before your session learn about hypnosis: • How it lowers stress $ • How hypnosis is 100% safe 15 OFF Although he had just a 10th-grade education, Peltier became an • How you are always in control reg. price single • How you feel under hypnosis amateur astronomer, historian, collector of minerals, toy private • Weight Control included in session! session • www.miamivalleyhypnosis.com designer for the Delphos Bending Company, wood craftsman, MIAMI VALLEY HYPNOSIS naturalist and author. He received an honorary Doctor of Science 332-8700 degree from Bowling Green State University in 1947 and was a member of numerous astronomical associations. Peltier never joined the staff or membership of a big observatory. When asked why, he replied that he was “satisfied to remain a RANDY HARVEY freelance” astronomer and besides, he “had not been invited.” In Lawncare Manager (937) 335-6418 (Ohio) 1-800-237-5296 1937 he used his skill as a designer to create his groundbreaking 625 Olympic Dr. Fax (937) 339-7952 Troy, Ohio 45373 Merry-Go-Round observatory, complete with a 6-inch telescope Memory Lane on loan from Princeton University. For the first time, an entire rotated to follow the stars. He accepted a 12-inch Antiques, LLC observatory telescope and a 20-foot dome observatory from Miami University where his son, Stanley, was a student. He rebuilt them near the 128 East Poplar Street Sidney, Ohio 45365 family’s Delphos home. 937-495-1014 Betty S. Johnson, Owner Before his death in 1980, Peltier had discovered and codiscovered 12 new comets and two novae, and made 132,000 observations on variable stars. The Peltier Comet, first observed by him in that Northwest Ohio cornfield, was the brightest. In 128 S. Main St., Sidney 1980, the Astronomical League created an annual award to (Next to Ron & Nita’s) recognize an amateur astronomer and named it for him. In 492-3330 2004, his hometown declared that every November 13 be M-TH 9-6; F 9-8; Sat 9-5 observed as Leslie C. Peltier Day. Miami Soil & Water Newspaper Activity: Conservation District Look through today’s newspaper for an article about someone who is doing something just because he or she enjoys it, such as 1330 N.Cty Rd. 25A; Ste C; Troy, Ohio 45373 335-7645 or 335-7666 Fax 335-7465 a hobby. Write an article about something you enjoy doing.
Les Peltier in his home observatory (photograph courtesy of the Allen County Historical Society and The Lima News)
Words to Know: makeshift celestial amateur freelance telegram constellation astronomer novae For Discussion: 1. When Leslie Peltier thought he had discovered a comet, he sent a telegram to Harvard University. If you discovered something today, how would you contact an expert? 2. If Peltier made $18 picking 900 quarts of strawberries, how much was he paid per quart? 3. Does your town have a day that honors someone or something? If you don’t know, contact your local government to find out. If so, find out if the day is celebrated and why. If not, as a class discuss declaring a day of honor for someone or something you think deserves it.
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“Ohio: The Inside Story” is produced through a grant from The Ohio Newspapers Foundation, a nonprofit charitable and educational organization affiliated with The Ohio Newspaper Association. This is one of a series of 24 Ohio profiles.
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The Newspapers In Education Mission – Our mission is to provide Miami, Shelby and neighboring county school districts with a weekly newspaper learning project that promotes reading and community journalism as a foundation for communication skills, utilizing the Piqua Daily Call, the Sidney Daily News, the Record Herald and the Troy Daily News as quality educational resource tools.
Thank you to our sponsors! The generous contributions of our sponsors and I-75 Group Newspapers vacation donors help us provide free newspapers to community classrooms as well as support NIE activities. To sponsor NIE or donate your newspaper while on vacation, contact NIE Coordinator Dana Wolfe at dwolfe@tdnpublishing.com or (937) 440-5211