Report for Presquile Pierhead (Pennsylvania) - 1909

General
District: 10th
Inspector: Chas. C. Bartlett & Norris M. Works
Location: On N pier, 530' from outer end, entrance to Presquile Bay, Erie Harbor.
Date of Report: 02/03/1909
Latitude: 42° 09' 18"
Longitude: 80° 04' 23"
Premises
Site: On US N pier
Date of Reservation: 05/03/1810
Date of Deed: 03/15/1812
Date of Permission: 03/14/1812
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: On US N Pier
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: On N pier
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Walk along N pier about 1700' - 745' of this may be traversed on elevated walk.
Means to Reach Light Station: By RR or boat to Erie, PA., thence by boat across bay, about 1 1/4 miles from foot of State St.
Distance to Nearest Road: L.S. & M.S. RR station, Erie, PA., 1 1/4 miles by boat & 1 1/4 miles by street car, total = 2.5 miles.
Distance to Post Office: Erie, PA., 2 miles
Distance to Village: 1 1/4 miles to wharf at foot of State., Erie Pa.,
Facilities for Public Conveyance: To Erie, PA., by L.S. & M.S. RR or Nickel Plate RR or by electric car, thence by boat to station.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Telephone to Fog sig. station & to Presquile Light Sta.; Telephone at Life Saving Station & Erie, PA.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1819
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1900
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower: Pyramidal
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 36' 2"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 40' 6"
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Erie Bay, etc.
Color of Tower: Black lantern, 7' brown, balance of tower below, white
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Detached, 1800' distant
Object of Navigation: Harbor light
Building Materials: Iron skeleton tower, lined with wood, sheathed with wood & covered with metal shingles.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: Metal thickness 1" - wood 1"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: Metal thickness 1/2" - wood, none
Diameter at Base: 10' 8"
Diameter at Parapet: 6' 2"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron, spiral
Number of Landings: None
Size of Glass: 9" x 14"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 2; 9" x 15"
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Beacon rests on 4 concrete piers, resting on N pier.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 5th order
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 5' 6"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 6
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 38"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: All 36" x 38"
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 1 3/4 plates = 96.5"
What Bearings: Bearing S 88 -07 E to S 8 - 23 W; Azimuth 91-33 to 188-23; Bearing of main N pier S 61 0 53 W
Construction Material Lantern: Iron & brass
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron, lined with zinc.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron
Lightning Spindle: Iron spindle, platinum point
Description of Lightning Rod: 1/2" steel cable, attached to base of stairs, thence down thru pier into water.
Balustrade: Iron
Lantern Doors: Low iron door in parapet, under glass.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron
Watchroom Doors: Iron trap.
Parapet Diameter: 5' 9"
Ventilators
Location / Number: 5 brass revolving discs
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 - 7' 6" long.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass, screwed into lantern posts.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: With locker 3' x 5.5' x 12" of wood.
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Sautter & Co., Paris
Year Made:
Marks and Number: None
Order of Apparatus: 4th order
Inside Diameter: 19 11/16"
Light Characteristic: Fixed red 270 degrees
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 270 degrees - 263.5 degrees visible betwee Bearing S 8 degrees 23' W to S 88 degrees 07' E; Azimuth 188-23 to 91-53; Center of reflector faces toward center of unglazed side of lantern.
Number of Panels: 3 panels = 270 degrees 1 panel reflector = 90 degrees.
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 5
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 3
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: Iron
Service Table: Wood, painted green
Draft Tube Description: 2.5" copper
Revolving Machinery:
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: Ruby chimney
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 4th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 3
Number of Spare Burners: None
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1.5"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 locker in room below lantern
Oil House Description: Square iron oil house, located about 40' W of new double dwelling.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe):
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Fog bell, with Stevens Automatic apparatus, on wooden skeleton tower, on extreme end of pier 470' from tower.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 1 blow every 10 sec.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: About 1 1/4 mile, N 35 degrees 10' W from light tower on the NE angle of the Presquile Peninsula. Marks outer end of N pier.
Distance and Direction: 470' N 49 degrees 13' E
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse: Walk along pier
Description of Fog Signal Building: Bell supported on top of square pyramidal wooden skeleton tower, 15' square at base, 7.5' sq. at top, 24' high above deck of pier. Striking apparatus located in house at base of structure, bell reached by iron ladder from pier.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight:
Metal:
Diameter: Top 1' 11"; bottom 3' 5"
Height: 2' 8"
Time: 1.5 hours Stevens automatic apparatus.
Manufacturer:
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: About 100' back from face of N pier, about 1700' from light.
Coloring: Straw with dark maroon trimmings.
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 6 plus attic & cellar on each side.
Number of Dwellings: 2
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: Keeper & 1st Assistant
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Small barn, ice house, wood house & boat house.
Outhouse Coloring: White, with lead colored trimmings.
Paths and Walks: Complete system of concrete walk was built in 1901, connecting double dwelling with pier, oil house, etc.
Area Inclosed: 212' x 284' = 1.39 acres, inclosed on S & E by water & N & W by fence.
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: A few scattering trees
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Sandy soil. Peninsula is of sand, with marshy ponds, covered with trees & brush. It has been found difficult to grow grass about bldgs.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Assistant Keepers Dwellings
Location: About 100' back from face of N pier, about 1700' from light.
Coloring: White, with lead colored trimmings.
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 7
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 2nd Asst.
Outhouses: Woodshed attached to dwelling
Outhouse Coloring: White, with lead colored trimmings.
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: Driven & dug wells
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: No rain water. A 10" vitrified pipe was sunk in cellar, nearly under the sink & connected with 1 1/4" pipe to new cistern pump on the sink. This was donw in order to secure softer water for domestic purposes.
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Driven well, 52'; dug well 5'
Well Diameter:
Well Lining: Dug well lined with vitrified tile.
Pump or Bucket: Free pump to driven well.
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: Kitchen pumps in dbl dwelling conn'g dug well, located 75' from dwelling.
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: N pier serves as wharf. Boat house 18' x 30' located on N side of W'ly end of N pier, about 800' from dwelling. Supported over water by N pier & by small crib sunk parallel to same. Boat may be floated into boat house. It is old & in poor repair.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Elevated walk on pier, of wood, 5' high, 745' long.