Report for Port Austin Reef (Michigan) - 1909

General
District: 11th
Inspector: Ralph R. Tinkham
Location: On Port Austin Reef, Michigan, about 1 1/2 miles from mainland at S'ly side of entrance to Saginaw Bay. The dwelling is located on mainland in the town of Pointe aux Barques (north end), Michigan
Date of Report: 06/06/1909
Latitude: 44° 04' 56.17"
Longitude: 82° 58' 55.56"
Premises
Site: Tower on sub-marine site. Two mainland sites in Pointe aux Barques & 2 lots (#1, Robinsons' plat) in Port Austin, Michigan. All 3 sites by purchase.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 08/17/1857
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: Port Austin, about 2/5 A. Sites at Point aux Barques, 1A more or less each.
Area Inclosed: Site occupied in Point aux Barques about 1A is fenced in.
Character of Soil: Black surface loam, sandstone gravel.
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: Stands on a pier 1-1/2 miles NW of dwelling.
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Ornamental wrought iron fence around dwelling site. Fence has a carriage gate & 2 small gates.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Dwlng site landing crib wrk 180' L x 12'W, 4'9" abv watr lev., w boathouse @ outer end. Towr timber crib extn. of pier on 1 side, 3' abv water.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: At dwelling, plank walk to house w 2 flights of stairs at lake bank leading from the landing.
Means to Reach Light Station: By road fr Port Austin or by boat. Station is located on Cliff Road of the plat of the Pointe aux Barques Resort Assn.
Distance to Nearest Road: Public road passes dwelling site in rear. Port Austin is 2 miles.
Distance to Post Office: 2 miles to Port Austin.
Distance to Village: 2 miles to Port Austin
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By rig from Port Austin or by boat.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower on isolated pier.
Number of Separate Lights: One.
First Built or Established: 1878
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1899, pier rebuilt.
Condition at This Date: Good.
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square.
Form of Tower: Square prism.
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 59' 6"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 76' 6"
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Wooded if against shore, or clear horizon from E'd and W'd.
Color of Tower: Buff w black lantern.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Natural color of brick. Lantern painted.
Tower Connection: Three bedrooms & kitchen in tower, detached from main dwelling, 1-1/2 miles distant on mainland.
Object of Navigation: Coast light marking northernmost point at entrance to Saginaw Bay.
Building Materials: Mack paving brick, stone sills & trim. Watchroom & lantern cast iron. Original pier timber cribwork. Brick facng wall 18"H w cut stone quions. S side pier sm timbr crib landing ext 3' abv watr. Iron pipe laddr.& wood stairs w 2 landngs & railing.
General Description: Pier orig.timbr cribwrk; 1898, 3' cut abv wtr line, new pier constr. Pier 77'. Towr & fog sig. house centrd on pier. Pier protec'd by belt of steel plate; SE side: boat crane; E side: coal hoist. Port'bl A-frame derrick used any side; privy main pier.
Wall Thickness at Base: 20": outer wall 13", lining wall 4", air space 3".
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 20": outer wall 13", lining wall 4", air space 3".
Diameter at Base: 16' 0"
Diameter at Parapet: 16' 0"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: 3 flights wood stairs in main tower; 2 of iron in watchroom & lantern.
Number of Landings: 7 including lantern floor.
Size of Glass: 16" x 30"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 16; sash 19 1/2" x 34 1/4".
Number of Doors: 10, including lantern parapet door & deck trap door.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Built in 3' of water on rock bottom. Buff paving brick wall, batter 1/2" in 12", completely filled with a core of mass concrete & deck paved w brick. Blt in 3' wtron rock bottom.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility: Protected by grass, shrubbery & trees
Miscellaneous Remarks: Additional Deed Dates: Pointe aux Barques (Robinsons' plat Lots #1 & #2) - 07/12/1875 & 02/13/1878. Thoroughly rebuilt, repaired or renovated in 1899-Pier rebuilt. Town: Pointe aux Barques is a private summer resort.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th order.
Shape of Lantern: Cylindrical.
Diameter to Glass: 7' 8"
Diameter in the Clear: 7' 1-9/16"
Number of Sides: Circular in plan.
Type of Bars: Helical.
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 2' 11-1/2"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side: 6 full diamond pla; 16 half pla; 1 rec. door pla.
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: 24-1/4" x 24-1/4"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron, steel, brass, zinc.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Pyramidal, 8 sides; 8 cast iron plates; Zinc lining held to flanged roof plates by batten strips of steel.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron.
Lightning Spindle: Brass, platinum tip.
Description of Lightning Rod: 1/8" x 2" copper band led fr lantern deck down side of tower, over deck of pier, down side of pier & thru small stone filled landing pier into the water.
Balustrade: 3 rails 1/2" x 2", 8 posts of 1" rounds & 1 pipe 5/8". C.I. ball tops; 5/8" verticals of wrought iron. Gallery part of lantern floor castings, diameter 13' 0".
Lantern Doors: One door in two parts, lower, of cast iron, height of parapet; upper, a brass frame for glass panels, brass hinges, handle & vertical rod lock w lever.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron, cast in 8 plates & extending beyond lantern to form a gallery 2 1/2' W, circular in plan.
Watchroom Doors: 90 degree steel plate trap door in lantern floor. Hung by 2 brass hinges--handhole lift.
Parapet Diameter: 7' 1-1/2". Parapet of cast iron w 1/8" sheet steel lining.
Ventilators
Location / Number: Parapet: 4 air register ventilators of the type for 4th order lantern of 1898.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement:
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: 12 spring curtains on tin rollers. Curtain hangers screwed to soffit castings of lantern.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Door main gallry 1/8" steel pla & 3/8"x2" pla frm, hung w 2 - 5"x5" brass hinges. Watchrm-8 circlr seg. cast iron, 1 w dr, 3 w 15 circ windws & 4 plain, 7'7" H. Lantrn & watchrm stairs, cast iron treads & risers;1=1-1/4" pipe rail. Glas & lamp wood cupbrd
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 4 hours.
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Henry Lepaute
Year Made: 1872
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 19-11/16"
Light Characteristic: Fixed white for 1 minute followed by 5 consecutive red flashes; interval between flashes 12 seconds.
Time of Revolution: 2 minutes
Flash Interval: 12 seconds
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 2 fixed panls, ea. 90 degrees, form 1side of lens; 5 flash panels, each 36 degrees form opposite side of lens.
Number of Panels: 7: 2 fixed white, 5 fixed flashing panels
Number of Flash Panels: 5
Arc of Each: 36 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: Fixd:Lens belt w 2 elmts abv&2 belw; Flash:Bullseye w 2 concentrc cir.elmts
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: Fixed: 6 prisms & Flash: 6 prisms
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: Fixed: 3 prisms & Flash: 3 prisms
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced: By whole apparatus revolving. All panels fixd as part of 1 lens apparatus; revolution of apparatus brings consecutively to view 5 flahes produced by bullseyes.
Number of Vertical Elements Panel: No vertical elements
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Cast Iron, old style.
Service Table: Cast iron attached to pedestal.
Draft Tube Description:
Revolving Machinery: Clockwork on service table.
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Chariot.
Chariot Description: Wrought iron ring w projecting studs, 10 wheels: 3-5/32" diam.; 10 guide rollers: 1-15/32" diam; 10 guide rollers: 1-9/16" diam. on lens gear.
Length of Drop Tube: 38 feet.
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: 4 hours.
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: Brass case w glass panels.
Regulated: Wing governor & weights.
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced: Ruby glass screens, brass frames, hung to frames of lens panels.
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached: Outside of illuminating apparatus.
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 4th order 1-wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: Burners attached to all lamps.
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord: Wire cord
Size of Clock Cord:
Length of Clock Cord: 60'
How Led: Down side of center post, over sheave & under watchroom floor to weight flue in corner of tower.
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Lamp & glass cupboard in watchroom; 1 clothes closet-4th floor & 1-2nd floor; pantry in kitchen under stairs.
Oil House Description: Oilroom SE corner of fog-signal house, fitted w shelves for oil butts.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 5'3" x 7'0"
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 100 - 5 gallon cans
Other (Describe): Two closets, 2d floor & pantry-1st floor, in each part of double dwelling.
Suitability: Suitalbe & dry.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 10" steam whistle in duplicate operated by steam fog signal apparatus.
Time to Start: 40 minutes to 1 hour
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture: 1900
Characteristic: Blasts 7 seconds, silent intervals 80 seconds.
Duplication: All parts.
Timing Device: Spur & worm gear operating cam.
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water: 45'
Compass Direction:
Location: On the same pier w light tower for marking Port Austin Reef.
Distance and Direction: W side of tower 5' & 13' respectively(2 whistles).
Water Supply: Tank 54" diam. 60"H, cap. 600 gals
Reached from Lighthouse: Same building.
Description of Fog Signal Building: Buff paving brick, 34'X34', 14' to plates, pyramidal roof. Incl tower in NE corner,boilder rm, coal bunkers & oilrm. Red roof, bronze green cornice.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Steam Signal
Steam Boiler:
Kind: Open-bottom, marine, design 1896.
Tube: Flue tube.
Dimensions: Ht - 7'5"
Length: 6'6-3/4"
Diameter: 4' 9-3/4"
Tube Description: 102 -- 4' 9 1/2" long (order 4'10")
Steam Tube Diameter: 2-1/2"
Steam Furnace Kind: Hor.iron internal
Furnace Length: 6'0"
Furnace Width: 4'3"
Furnace Height: 1'7"
Steam Heat Surface: 406 sq.ft., Water space 66.64 cu. Ft.
Steam Grate Surface: 21-1/4 sq.ft.; Steam space 50.11 cu. Ft.
Number of Grate Bars: 18 -- 5' long.
Kind of Grate Bars: Double bars, spade ends.
Steam Fuel: Bituminous.
Steam Safety Valve: Lever, 2 1/2" valve.
Steam Maximum Pressure: 150#
Steam Working Pressure: 75#
Steam Diameter of Smokestack: 20"
Smokestack Height: 58'
Drum Dimension: 60"
Steam Drum Diameter: 30"
Steam Covering: Combo: Asbestos, felt, paper & canvas.
Steam Boiler Condition: Good.
Steam Boiler Built: 1900
Where Built: Detroit, Michigan
Manufacturer: Central Boiler Works
Steam Heater: False
Kind:
Size:
Heater Time Affect:
Steam Engine Kind: Vertical
Steam Engine Revolutions: 82.76
Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: 4"
Steam Engine Piston Stroke: 9"
Steam Engine Pipe Size: 3/4"
Steam Engine When Built: 1900
Steam Engine Where Built: Detroit, Michigan
Manufacturer: Fulton Iron & Engine Works


Whistle Signal
Whistle Diameter: 10"
Whistle Height: 18"
Whistle Orifice: 2-3/8" to 2-11/16"
Whistle Tone: Yes
Whistle Chime:
Dwelling
Location: On mainland about 1-1/2 miles SE of tower.
Coloring: Painted red brick color w bronze green trim, red main roof & red roofs to wings.
Construction Materials: Common red brick, stone trimmings, metal slate roofs on wings & on main part of buildings. Stone steps & buttresses to porches.
Number of Rooms: 6 rms,hall & pntry, 2 rms-celr ea part dwlng, 2d asst rm,2d fl prt ea dwlng
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 kpr & fam:1prt; 1st asst & fam: 2nd part & 2nd asst rooms w kpr.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Barn & boathouse. Barn 20'x40' w two woodsheds made of wood siding & shingles; 2 privies in cellars of dwelling.
Outhouse Coloring: Barn painted yellow w bronze green trim, red metal-slate roof.
Paths and Walks: 120' paved brick walk, 370' of concrete slab walk. 20: 48" stone steps down bank to landing.
Area Inclosed: Dwelling lot inclosed on N, W & S by iron fence. One acre.
Area of Garden: No garden
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: None unless for small garden.
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings: Sandstone rock ledge, 20' above water. Premises sodded & number of small trees growing.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: At the dwelling from lake by bucket.
Quality: Good.
Quantity: Ample, supply for fog-signal taken from lake.
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: No filter
Tank Capacity: Cistern under dingrm of ea prt of dwlng,cap 696 gals.
Tank Material: Brick
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: 100'D; watr--strng in iron. Used only to flush water closets in cellr by force pump in cellr thro pipe direct fr well.
Well Diameter: 4" drilled well
Well Lining: Lined 4'
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: 30' in the rear
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthfulness excellent.
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: Natural drainage. Bldgs. located on bluff, 20' abv lake level. Kitchen & privies are connected directly to the main sewer of Pointe aux Barques.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Cribwork landing 3"x10" & 4"x10" timbers, 180'L, 12'W; outer 38' @ 45 degree angle to main wharf. Boathouse, 12'x20' outr end wharf, supprtd on sills 6"x10" & brackets 6"x6" ovrhangng wter 8' & 4'9" abv wtr to bottm of sills. Boathouse frame construct.
Distance and Direction: Roads to station from Port Austin are on a sand ridge clayed & graveled to within a short distance of dwelling & are good.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Portable A-frame derrick may be set up on any side of the pier. It is used to hoist supplies or boats in variable weather. Overhanging the edge of Main pier, near stairs, is a privy covered with smooth iron.
Hoisting Engines
Hoisting Engine Kind: Vertical.
Engine RPMs: 120
Engine Diameter: 5"
Engine Stroke: 5"
Engine Boiler: Fog-signal. Box housing incloses hoister on pier.
Engine Maker and Date:
Serial Number:
Cylinders and Size:
Horsepower:
Fuel:
Hoist Starter:
Hoist Miscellaneous: