Report for Racine Reef (Wisconsin) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, 9th Light District |
| Location: | On extreme E'ly side of Racine Reef, near entrance to Racine Harbor, WI., W'ly side of Lake Michigan. |
| Date of Report: | 12/03/1907 |
| Latitude: | N 42° 43' 38" |
| Longitude: | W 87° 44' 10" |
| Premises |
| Site: | On rocky reef 20' below mean water level |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 60' x 60' crib |
| Area Inclosed: | On octagonal pier (inscribed circle of 56' at platform) |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Railings of concrete pier. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Octagonal concrete pier 60' x 60' sq. at base. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Water, Lake Michigan |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Small boat |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 2 1/16 miles to Racine Pierhead |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3 miles to Racine Post Office |
| Distance to Village: | 2 1/4 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Boat only |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Only to Pierhead, thence by row boat or launch |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Octagonal brick tower, Boiler room & Keeper's dwelling. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | None |
| First Built or Established: | 1906 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | New |
| Condition at This Date: | Excellent |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 67' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 72' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | City of Racine |
| Color of Tower: | Lower portion brown brick, upper portion & 4 gables, white brick, roof covered with copper natural color, cast iron gallery & cylindrical lantern, painted black. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural colors of materials except gallery & lantern, which are painted black. |
| Tower Connection: | Tower & Keeper's dwelling are planned as 1 bldg in same octagonal plan. |
| Object of Navigation: | Marks reef. Lake coast & for general navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Brick, stone, structural steel, cast iron & copper. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 13" os wall, 3" airspace & 4" inside wall - 20" in all. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Ferro-inclave steel & concrete 1.5" thick. |
| Diameter at Base: | 28' 6" diam. of inscribed circle. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' dia. at inscribed circle. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular iron steps, up thru watchroom to lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | 6 |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 18"; 16" x 18"; 18" x 18"; 18" x 21"; & 14" dia. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 36 - 1 3/8 sash |
| Number of Doors: | 20 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Rocky - 20' below mean water line. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Light tower & Keeper's House on isolated reef 2 1/16 miles SE from Racine Harbor pierhead. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 8" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 - diamond |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 6, full, bent glass, 2 - 1/2 vertical; 14 - 1/2 horizontal; 2 glass lts in door |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 1.08" diamond - same sizes for vertical & horizontal halves. |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None - spares on hand. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron lantern. Copper & steel Frieze & roof. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper & steel framing |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper drum cap on top of lantern roof |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper with platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Metallic continuous connection is made both inside & outside with direct connection with water on outside of pier. |
| Balustrade: | Wrought iron gallery |
| Lantern Doors: | In rebate cast iron iron & glass in parapet walls & lantern, stiles of upper portions of doors forming astragals of glass, & astragals form jambs; open out. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron in sections, 1/2" thick with connecting ribs. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in lantern floor forming 1/4 section of same. 5/16 O.S. radius, 3 - 5 3/4 at angle of 45 degrees in rebate. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 7' |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Not needed |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Spring rollers. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Portable cupboard |
| How is Relief Called: | Bell wires |
| Where is Call System Led: | To Keeper's quarters |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 2 hrs. 30 min. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Benard, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not on apparatus |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 18" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing red |
| Time of Revolution: | 4 panels, 20 sec revolutions. |
| Flash Interval: | 5 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 - bullseye |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 4 |
| Arc of Each: | 90 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 4 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 2 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Light illuminates 288 degrees of horizon; dark sector, caused by smokestack, lying to W'd of light E by N & E by S |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | 4 columns, brass |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | None needed |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 21' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 2 hrs. 30 min. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass case |
| Regulated: | By fan governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | New 4th order, 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 complete lamps |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V-grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 14 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 5/8" dia. |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Shelving & clothes hooks; for general purposes |
| Oil House Description: | 1/2 of 3rd floor fitted up with shelving. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | 3 closets. 1st floor, 2 closets on 2nd floor. Pantry on 1st floor & large storeroom on 2nd floor. |
| Suitability: | Dry & well suited for various purposes. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 2 Boilers & Crosby Automatic clockwork for operating whistle which is a 10" steam new style whistle |
| Time to Start: | 45 min |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Automatic made in 3rd District |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1906 |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec blast with intervals of 25 sec. |
| Duplication: | All but duplex pump & whistle & piping to whistle |
| Timing Device: | Crosby Automatics |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle - 100# |
| Height Above Water: | 53' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Whistle located on E gable of bldg |
| Distance and Direction: | Incorporated in Light House tower |
| Water Supply: | Well sunk under floor of fog signal room into crib, & connected with Lake by pipe |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Thru floor of Fog signal room |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | At 1st landing of Lighthouse 24' x 16' 6" masonry walls, concrete floor & ceiling. Floor of Fog signal room 8' below level of pier with 2 coal rooms 5' 8" x 9' x 8' |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | Steam; Kingsford Foundry & Machine Works, Oswego, NY |
| Kind: | Kingsford Compact. |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 10" |
| Length: | 5', width 5' |
| Diameter: | Semi-dia at top 5' |
| Tube Description: | 238, 27.5" long |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Part of boiler |
| Furnace Length: | 4-6 |
| Furnace Width: | 4-6 |
| Furnace Height: | 1-8 |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 467 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 19 1/4 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 14 - 3 bar castings, 2 - 4 bar & 1 - 2 bar casting |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | 3 bar spade, 50" long |
| Steam Fuel: | Bituminous coal |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Cast iron with weight & lever |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150 # |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 100# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 20" |
| Smokestack Height: | 62' |
| Drum Dimension: | 3' |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 3' |
| Steam Covering: | None |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | 1st class |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1906 |
| Where Built: | Oswego NY |
| Manufacturer: | Kingsford Foundry & Machine works |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Crosby auto used from Gen. LH Depot, Staten Island |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | |
| Steam Engine When Built: | |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | |
| Manufacturer: |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 22 1/8" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 5/8" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 1st & 2nd floors of Lighthouse |
| Coloring: | Lower portion brown brick, upper portion & 4 gables, white brick, roof covered with copper natural color, cast iron gallery & cylindrical lantern, painted black. |
| Construction Materials: | Same as lighthouse, with Ferro-inclave & cement partitions, Floors, concrete base & tile & monolithic surfaces. |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 rooms on 1st & 2nd floors inc bath & large storeroom on 2nd floor; Also, toilet under 1st landing. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 Keeper & 2 assistants |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Steel frame & 1/4" iron plate boathouse 8' x 8' x 20' & 3' 5" away SW side additional steel coal bin 10' x 12' x 8' 6", contiguous to lighthouse on NW side |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Black |
| Paths and Walks: | Concrete pier only |
| Area Inclosed: | Octagonal pier top 56' inscribed dia; iron chain railing. |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Water, Lake Michigan |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By well inside Lighthouse |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | 200 gallons; in storeroom above living rooms |
| Tank Material: | Galvanized iron |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Inside lighthouse, under floor of Fog signal room |
| Well Diameter: | 3' dia; 16' deep, 5' water in well. |
| Well Lining: | Built in concrete core |
| Pump or Bucket: | Steam pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | In same bldg |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Generally good health prevails |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: | Already well provided with drain. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Octagonal concrete base at foot of lighthouse |
| Distance and Direction: | At lighthouse |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Hand boat crane 4000# cap. |
| Engine RPMs: | |
| Engine Diameter: | |
| Engine Stroke: | |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |