The Lackawanna Astronomical Society began as an astronomy class, run by Dan Davis at the Everhart Museum in 1958. Chris Ray the science curator, then encouraged the formation of a permanent club. Soon after, Mr Ray went on to another position, but under the new science curator, Bill Speare, the club flourished within the confines of the Everhart basement for many years. During the early 1970’s, a reorganization of the museum found the club in need of a new place to meet.

At about the same time, Keystone College professor Thomas G. Cupillari was in the process of acquiring a rare telescope with the intention of public outreach and goodwill for the college. Dave Garroway, original host of The Today Show, owned a 9 ” Clark Refractor, but was going to relocate to California so he advertised it for sale. Amidst interest from many organizations including The Smithsonian Institution, Mr Garroway chose Keystone (then a Junior College) as a recipient only with assurances it would be made available to the general public. The college agreed, a deal was signed and plans for what is now Thomas G Cupillari Observatory began.

Some club members were asked by Professor Cupillari to help chose a site for the new observatory, thus setting up the close association between the LAS and TGC Observatory. The staff of TGCO was drawn from LAS members. The club began holding it’s meetings there and assisting on pubic observing nights at the observatory in July of 1973. The observatory has been a huge benefit to the LAS, ask any 50 year LAS member such as Don Murray, Jane Swarts or Bill Speare.

With the stated mission of bringing astronomical awareness to the public, the LAS has also gone off site and run star parties in state parks and other venues. The LAS’s own small roll-off roof observatory was added to the site in the mid 70s, and now houses several telescopes. TGC Observatory itself has added another observatory, with a computerized 10″ SCT and recently added an extremely high-tech 20″ Ritchey-Chretien telescope to it’s arsenal of observing tools.