The William J. Spain Seismology Observatory at Fordham University
On October 19, 2020 a magnitude 7.5 earthquake in Alaska struck with enough power to generate a tsunami warning. Scientists all around the world compiled extensive data from many international sources concerning this powerful event. Included in their analysis were seismic recordings from Fordham University’s Observatory.
The William J. Spain Seismic Observatory, on the Rose Hill campus, rests approximately 5,000 miles from the epicenter of this sudden, earth shaking release of energy in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands region. Despite the great distance, it provided valuable information as it has continued to do for almost 100 years.
Fordham is not an institution that you might typically think of for this very nuanced, capital-intensive field of investigation. In fact, the university doesn’t have a geology department nor does it offer seismology as an avenue of study. But because of the unique rock-formations, in that part of The Bronx, and the generosity brought on by a school tragedy, the oldest observatory in the region, as well as one of the oldest in the United States, was developed.
"(It is) best with contact to underground bedrock.” explained Stephen Holler, PhD, Associate Professor of in Physics and literally the keeper-of-the-keys for the observatory, “In this part of The Bronx (the bedrock) is exposed near the surface on the campus as well as the nearby New York Botanical Gardens and the Bronx Zoo.
The superstructure of the observatory was a beautiful quadrangular Gothic building of native Fordham gneiss ( metamorphic rock) which was quarried from the excavations for the Grand Concourse Subway station. It included a flat roof, turreted ledge and two smaller wings, which extended the building into an oblong structure approximately 40 feet by 20 feet. A concrete pier was sunk to the bedrock. This is essential for obtaining proper, accurate readings.
William Spain Steps In
On April 3rd, 1922, William Spain Jr. died as a sophomore at Fordham. His father, William J. Spain Sr., a late 19th Century Irish immigrant, famous hurler and Gaelic footballer, donated the seismic observatory. It was erected to the memory of his son. Spain graciously assumed all the expenses including donating a new set of three electro-magnetic seismographs, two horizontal components and vertical component(s).
The building was opened in October of 1924. At the dedication ceremony, the building was blessed by Bishop John Collins S.J. (after whom the Collins Auditorium was named). The prayer used at the ceremony blessing was sent over from The Vatican and has since become the official prayer to be used at any future Blessing of Seismic observatories anywhere in the world. In addition, Pope Pius XI sent over a bronze plaque. which depicts a 4th Century Roman Bishop, St. Emidio, who performed rescue work-some deemed miraculous-after a tragic Italian earthquake during his time.
3rd Time or Location seems to be the Charm
Originally located near the slope where the softball field currently stands, near Faber Hall, it was moved two years later, “since the rock on which the observatory had been built, sloped off or down rather sharply.” According to Professor Holler.
As a result, the pier developed a decided daily tilt or sway, mostly as a result of thermal expansion caused by the sun's rays. The lines on the record-which should be straight lines-wandered all over in response to the pier's tilt. The recording of an earthquake, during such wandering, was nearly impossible. The observatory was moved in one piece on soaped beams. Those supporting beams of the observatory were slid a few feet at a time. The new site chosen, known as Rose Hill, where an outcrop of (bed)rock comes to the surface.
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Fordham Seismology was a hit on M*A*S*H (Episode 2:21 entitled: Crisis) When Col. Henry Blake boasts about his fan letter from the “Seismology people at Fordham.”
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In the 1930s, the University made the decision to create a more powerful structure on the site known as Rose Hill. Although generally referred to as the collective name of Fordham’s Bronx campus, its specific location, complete with previously mentioned exposed bedrock, lies below the Gothic-Stone structure and internationally known clock tower, at the centerpiece of the campus-named Keating Hall.
To make room for this construction. the seismology station would be moved once again. Now it rests at its current location next to Freeman Hall just off Edward’s Parade Ground.
Building a Support Structure to Last
To take care of the seismographs, specifically to avoid corrosion, an underground vault some 40 feet by 20 feet, was first blasted out of the rock. This vault was lined with concrete walls and a roof one foot thick. The top of this 10 feet high vault, ended 6 ft. below the surface level of the ground. This depth was necessary to maintain à constant temperature (65 degrees fahrenheit during Winter & Summer). Any use of artificial heat would impact the sensitive instrument readings.
From the earliest days of earthquake recording, annoying, disturbing ground waves were observed periodically on seismograph outcomes. “When the waves from an earthquake roll into an observatory, superimposed angry ground waves make it almost impossible to decipher the quake.” wrote Father John Joseph Lynch, S.J., who directed Fordham’s seismology center for over 30 years, in the first half of the 20th Century, “heavy commuter trains from the neighboring New York Central (now Metro-North rail lines) all leave their distinctive record and can be identified.” To avoid the interference of the Big City, including the then active 3rd Avenue el train, a new station was set up at the Jesuit Seminary, College of St. Andrew, in Hyde Park, NY (which is now the main campus of the Culinary Institute of America).
“Not only were readings affected by traffic and trains.” added Doctor Holler, who obtained his Doctorate in Applied Physics from Yale University and joined the faculty of Fordham in 2011, “They had horses to eat the grass rather than have lawnmowers disturb readings.”
Professor Holler prior to joining the faculty at Fordham was a Senior Manager of Photonics R&D at Thermo Fisher Scientific. His work in seismology is featured in a 2019 on Fordham’s Hidden Gems: Spectrum News No.1 Fordham Hidden /gemsUniversity Houses some Hidden Gems
William J. Spain: An Immigrant Story
William J Spain Sr. (September 3, 1865–April 9, 1936) was a famous Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer. He was the first player to win All Ireland hurling and football medals. He played Gaelic football with the Limerick senior inter-county team in the 1880s. Spain also played hurling with the CJ Kickhams club. Spain emigrated to the United States in April 1890. Spain played in an exhibition Gaelic football game in Madison Square Gardens in December 1890 for New York Gaelic who beat Port Chester Sarsfields.
Spain settled in New York and became a very successful silk merchant. He married Margaret Shanahan and they had two children. His son William died aged twenty while a student at Fordham University. His daughter Mary married Herbert Weston and they had a daughter Melissa who married Thomas Bancroft Jr.
William J Spain died at his holiday home in Florida on April 9, 1936.
Kevin Bergin
Fordham University
Class of 1980
