Report for Presque Isle (Michigan) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Oliver G. Brown |
| Location: | Near the N'ly part of the peninsula W'ly side of Lake Huron. |
| Date of Report: | 06/18/1910 |
| Latitude: | 45° 21' 24" |
| Longitude: | 83° 29' 31" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation all of frac.section 8. T 34 N, R 8 E, Mich. Mer. 1868 |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 142 A. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Limestone cov'rd with thin layer of sand & gravel. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | A landing extends into 3' of water at fog signal & a similar landing is located near boathouse. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | A path & tramway lead from tower to both landings. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By rig or launch from Alpena. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 4 miles to road at Presque Isle P.O., 26mi. To RR sta, at Alpena. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 4 miles |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | 26 miles from Alpena by rig and 42 miles from there by boat. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1840 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1871 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 113' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 129' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Thickly wooded |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Connected to keeper's dwelling by covered passage 16' long. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light & turning point in some courses. |
| Building Materials: | Brick plastered & whitewashed inside. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Outer wall 2' -- air space 2' 7" -- inside wall 12" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Outer wall 16" -- air space 4" -- inside wall 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 19' 3" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' 4" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circ. cast iron stairs with pipe railing. |
| Number of Landings: | 5 landings & lantern floor. |
| Size of Glass: | 10 x 16 |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8 windows -- double & 2-fold sash 3' 2" x 1' 2" each |
| Number of Doors: | One iron door leads from passage. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Limestone 9' 8" below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Limestone cov'rd with thin layer of sand & gravel. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Trees all over reservation -- very little grass. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Only a small space around tower & dwellings has been cleared from trees. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal. |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' 2-1/2" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 5' 9-1/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 5' 9-5/8" x 2' 7-1/2" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | One side of 36 degrees |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Lower part of lantern of cast iron, remainder of wrought iron. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Hemispherical dome-copper plates outside & lined w/ sheet zinc inside--a tin cone lens protector is supported by lateral radiating rods attached to base of dome. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper with platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | A 2" x 1/8" copper strip is fastened to gallery floor & then down side of tower into ground below & thence into well. |
| Balustrade: | Rails main gallery: 2 - 2" x 1/2" iron bars w/ vert. spindles spaced 6" cr. to cr. - 1-1/4" ball top stanchions. Floor: cast iron. Lantern deck: 1 rail 1-1/2" x 3/8" w/ vert. spindles & floor is cast iron. 2 floors circ. in plan. |
| Lantern Doors: | Double wooden two-fold door leads from parapet to main gallery. |
| Floor of Lantern: | 3/4" cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | No door from watch room to lantern. Lantern is approached by iron stairs leading from watch room floor. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 8' 1" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators in parapet. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 iron ladder 7' long--1 wooden ladder 6' 4" long. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Watch room is fitted with 3 windows. Also fitted w/ shelves used to hold spare lamps, etc. A cast iron trap door leads from tower stairs into watch room, through watch room floor. |
| How is Relief Called: | A pull bell in keeper's dwelling connected by wire from watch room. |
| Where is Call System Led: | Wire runs from watch room down inside wall of tower through passage into dwelling. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry Lepaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not given |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 7-7/8" from ctr of lens to inside of cntrl drum 3' 3" dia |
| Light Characteristic: | Fx. White |
| Time of Revolution: | Not movable |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | No flashes |
| Number of Panels: | 5 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 13 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 11 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron pedestal bolted to lantern floor. |
| Service Table: | No service table. |
| Draft Tube Description: | Damper flue of Russia iron leads from chimney up into a conical flue of sheet brass. This leads up thru top of lens into lens protector & thence up into ventilator ball in top of dome. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Not revolving. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Hydraulic, 2 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 2 |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1-7/8" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | One small cupboard at 5th landing & used for storing cleaning gear, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | 110' W. of tower; fitted with shelves. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' x 8' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick |
| Oil House Capacity: | 360 gal. |
| Other (Describe): | 4 closets in keeper's dwelling & 1 in assts. Cellar under main part of each dwelling & used for store rooms. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle. |
| Time to Start: | 30 min. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Variety Iron Works |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1890 |
| Characteristic: | Blast: 5 sec. Silent interval: 25 sec. |
| Duplication: | All parts. |
| Timing Device: | Spur & worm gear operating cam. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | On NE'ly part of peninsula & about 1500' N'ly from tower. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | Brick lined well 10' deep. Also by steam injector from lake. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By board path & tramway. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Fog signal is 42' X 22-1/2" in plan. Covered with corr. iron outside; roof corr. iron. Building is lined inside w/ sheet iron. Concrete floor. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Stand locomotive boiler |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Ht. 5' 3-1/2" |
| Length: | 15' 6" |
| Diameter: | Width 3' 10" |
| Tube Description: | 58 - 8' |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2-1/2" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | |
| Furnace Length: | 5' |
| Furnace Width: | 3' 3-3/4" |
| Furnace Height: | 3' 11" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 371 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 16-1/3 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 16 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Do. grate bars 58" long |
| Steam Fuel: | Soft. |
| Steam Safety Valve: | 2-1/2" single side outlet |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 65# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | Brick chimney - 20" inside diam. |
| Smokestack Height: | 45' |
| Drum Dimension: | 4' |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Compound |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | |
| Where Built: | Cleveland, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Variety Iron Works |
| Steam Heater: | True |
| Kind: | Sec. Cast iron. |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | 15 min. |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Vert. |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 120 |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 4" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 6" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 3/4" |
| Steam Engine When Built: | |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Cleveland, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Thos. Manning & Co. |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 18" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2-1/2" to 2-11/16" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Keeper's dwelling is about 100' S'ly from tower. |
| Coloring: | Brick-red |
| Construction Materials: | Brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 rooms |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 Keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | One log barn & cistern house; 1 workshop, store room & 2 brick privies. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White (barn & cistern house); other bldgs.-- red. |
| Paths and Walks: | Concrete walks lead all around dwellings & to all outbuildings except log barn. |
| Area Inclosed: | None. |
| Area of Garden: | None. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Nearly all timbered. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None. |
| Area Cultivated: | None. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Limestone. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | Ass't. keeper's dwelling is connected to tower by covered passage 16' long. |
| Coloring: | Asst. Kpr's- white |
| Construction Materials: | Brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 rooms |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 Ass'ts. |
| Outhouses: | |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Two drilled wells; one for each dwelling |
| Quality: | Good. |
| Quantity: | Ample. |
| Injury Possible: | No. |
| Purity Precaution: | Brick filter in keeper's; none in asst. kpr's. |
| Tank Capacity: | 2 cisterns; one under kpr's. dwelling & one near asst. kpr's. dwelling covered w/ frame house. |
| Tank Material: | Both brick lined with cement. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | L well -50' W'ly fr. asst. kpr's. dwlng; 1 well-20' SW'ly fr kpr's. dwlng. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent. |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Water around landing is about 3' deep. Boathouse is about 700' N'ly from tower & near the landing. Tramway leads from boathouse landing up to 100' of tower & then down to fog signal landing. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower & rest of bldgs. in good condition. Large quantities of cedar & pine on reservation; many trees have fallen & are rotting. Lrg. sp. should be cleared around dwlngs, etc. to protect prop. against forest fires. New heater installed at fog signal. |