Friday, October 11, 2013

Mr. Jasper S. Bilby - Osgood Indiana

A few years ago I posted an article on Mr. Jasper S. Bilby, formerly Chief Signal Man in the Coast Survey in my Blog. Now this week (8/7/13 to 8/11/13) a Bilby tower has been erected in the Osgood Park. (Tanglewood & W.CR 300N) to commemorate his life achievements. I captured a few photos of the erection of the tower over a three day span. See them HERE
I'm sure a plaque, fence, and landscaping will be added, I will follow up with photos as the site progresses. .... Jack

The below marker is at the corner of Tanglewood Rd and Co. Rd 200 N about a mile south of Osgood. This farm belonged to Mr.  Bilby at one time and in his work is referred to as the Glasgow marker. There is also one of these at Laughery Valley Co-Op at Correct, and then Holton North and Holton South base markers. ...... Mike Stratton.
Click to enlarge

Mr. J. S. Bilby, formerly Chief Signal Man in the Coast Survey died at his home in Osgood, Ind., on July 18th, 1949. Mr. Bilby had a long and meritorious career with the Bureau. He entered the service in 1884 and retired in 1937, at the age of 73. His most noteworthy accomplishment was the design and construction of the Bilby Steel Tower which is used by all triangulation parties now. Survey towers were used by U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey surveyors from the mid-1800s through the 1980s to obtain the clear lines-of-sight needed to conduct the surveys that are the backbone of our nation’s spatial reference framework. One of the most enduring and widely used types of towers was the Bilby Tower, designed by Jasper Bilby in 1926.

I'm sorry to say that most links to Bilby towers are shut down until the the shut down of the government is open again. You can do a search for "Bilby Towers" at a later date.