... It was with this spirit that Norman Oberle suggested that area amateurs should have the benefit of a large aperture (25 inches or larger) telescope with sufficient focal length for excellent visual work. ... Norm Oberle and Jim Thomas spent 2,000 hours grinding and polishing to work the mirror into an oblate spheroid. ... Norm worked with Jim Thomas in a basement workshop. ... The Richland club is situated in the Hidden Hollow camp ground, and has long held meetings in the clubhouse on the grounds. ...