Tell me about grinding your own telescope lenses

[toadspittle]

I'm editing a column in which the author refers to the nearly vanished hobby of building your own telescope, including grinding your own lenses.

I'm not interested in the process, so much as the history of the hobby itself. Was it, in fact, once common? How much so? When? 1950s? 1940s? 1960s? How did people do it--did you buy complete kits, or did you have to send away for all the separate parts, find plans in a separate book, etc.?