In these later years his time and attention have chiefly been occupied with astronomy, a subject of which he was always fond, and which became his hobby. In 1916-17 he built an observatory, "for his private use and for the promotion among Duluth citizens of a popular knowledge of the noble science of astronomy," quoting from an inscription at the entrance. Provision has been made for the future maintenance and operation of the observatory in Duluth, by the General Extension Division of the state university.