Report for Seul Choix Pointe Light Station (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Office of Engineer, 9th LH Dist. |
| Location: | On E'ly extremity of Seul Choix Pointe, MI., N'ly end of Lake Michigan. |
| Date of Report: | 11/21/1909 |
| Latitude: | 45° 55' 22" |
| Longitude: | 85° 54' 45" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchased, warranty deed, consideration $305; & Quit claim deed, consideration $100 |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 01/23/1889 |
| Date of Permission: | 01/28/1889 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 6.1 acres, more or less |
| Area Inclosed: | 6.1 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Rocky |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 240' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Barb wire fence with top & side board extending across W line of reservation. N'ly from shore to shore, other bounds being along Lake shore. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Timber cribs filled with stone; 3 cribs = 12' x 65' |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Public road, very poor & rocky, enters immediately back of tower. Plank walks to tram car track & 2 plank walk over ties of track to landing, about 45 |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By conveyance over road or by boat. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Public road, immediately at reservation. Railroad station 10 miles, Steamer Dock, 16 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 12 miles, Gulliver PO MI (White Dale) |
| Distance to Village: | 12 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | RR to Whitedale, MI., thence to light station by public road, 10 miles or by water from Manistigne, 16 miles. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By team from White Dale, MI., distance 12 or 15 miles, according to which of 2 public roads taken. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower of brick on stone foundation. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1892 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Fog-signal station built & installed 1895 |
| Condition at This Date: | Dwelling & tower in fair condition. |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 78' 9" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 83' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded bluffs of surrounding country |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | White lead & oil paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected by brick covered way |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light, visible from all points of approach. |
| Building Materials: | Brick on stone foundation, with cast iron lantern. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 5' thick, being 20" outside wall, 29" air space & 9" inner wall. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 2' 3" thick, being 17" outside wall, 3" air space & 9" inner wall. |
| Diameter at Base: | 18' dia @ base brick work 19' 4" dia @ grade line. 20' 9" dia @ foundation |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' 8" dia. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Spiral, cast iron, open pattern, 86 risers to watchroom floor. |
| Number of Landings: | 3, 2 open & other one has cast iron trap doors fitted over same in watchroom floor. |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 in tower, double casement sash, each 14" x 34" sq. head.; 3 in watchroom, casement sash same size, semi-circular. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 at bottom, 1 trap door leading to watchroom & 1 in lantern parapet. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone, 5' more or less below grade. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rocky, with a thin covering of sand generally & in some places clay. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | By grass, shrubbery & trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | White, conical brick tower connected by brick covered way with a 1.5 story red-brick dwelling with red roof, built & installed during 1892; red-brick fog-signal bldg with red roof, built & installed during 1895; 108 lin. ft. SE'ly from light tower. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 7' 4" |
| Number of Sides: | 10, 9 light sides & 1 dark side. |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 69 3/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 31 1/4" x 69 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Lantern is not so fitted, storm sash in all tower windows. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 1, 36 degrees |
| What Bearings: | NW |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron frame on brick parapet with copper dome, plate glass panels. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper, semi-circular in form, lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper spindle on ventilator ball. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper rod, attached to metal balustrade, led down side of tower & buried at base in earth. |
| Balustrade: | Rails, posts & spindle of Upper & Lower galleries are of wrought iron, both gallery floors are of cast iron. Lower gallery 3' 1" wide, Upper gallery at level of lantern glass, 2' wide. |
| Lantern Doors: | In parapet wall, double doors. Outside single door 20.5" x 5' 6" x 1.5" hung with 1 pair 3" butts, inside doors are folding to fit same opening as outside door. Both fitted to jamb in brick wall of parapet. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron perforated, with steel plates on top of same. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Cast iron trap door, hung with 1 pair 6" hinges to cast iron floor plates. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Brick parapet, circular in plan, 8' internal dia., 9" outside wall, 5" air space, 4" inside wall; Outside dia. of parapet 11' |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5, old style radial pattern, 1/2 opening, bronze, in brick parapet of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 of wood, in poor condition; 7' long. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass, new style. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No cupboard or shelving. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry Le Paute |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 3' 3 3/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed, arc of illumination 360 degrees, visible from all points of approach by water. |
| Number of Panels: | 5 panels, 360 degree lens, with short door panel, minus lower belt. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| 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, 5' 1 1/4" high |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Tube does not go into ventilator ball, it simply connects with upper ring of lens, both ends are of brass, body of copper connected to top ring with bayonet joint. |
| 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: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Regulation 3rd order, 3 wicks Funcks, mineral oil lamp with plunger & float chamber |
| Type of Illuminant: | Mineral oil |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 3 wicks |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 2 5/8" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | SW 60' from tower, no shelving |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' 6" x 5' 3" x 7'; 7' 1.5" x 5' x 7' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick walls, metal roofs |
| Oil House Capacity: | 210 5-gal cans in larger & 144 cans in smaller oil house |
| Other (Describe): | Brick covered way is used as storeroom; is fitted with shelving, lockers & table. |
| Suitability: | Dry & well suited to purposes for which they are used. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle, power furnished by steam boilers & operated automatically by Crosby's Automatics. |
| Time to Start: | 1 hour |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Miami Valley Boiler Co., Dayton, OH. |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1895 |
| Characteristic: | 4 sec blast & 26 sec silent interval. |
| Duplication: | Boilers, automatics, whistles & everything excepting steam pump & tank. |
| Timing Device: | Old style Crosby automatics, with 3 guides on cylinder. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle, 80 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | 30' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Coast signal |
| Distance and Direction: | 108', SE from light tower to center of fog-signal. |
| Water Supply: | From Lake Michigan |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By walk to dock |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Red brick walls, hip roof covered with corrugated iron; 20' x 34' x 10' high to plate line, with 1/2 pitch roof, roof painted red. Interior walls plastered & rafters & collar ties covered with sheet iron. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | 3/8" boiler iron outer shell with semi-circular top & 5/16" inner shell having 2.5" space btwn outer & inner shells, & 14" space back of flue. |
| Kind: | Open bottom marine |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 5" |
| Length: | 6' 6" |
| Diameter: | Width 4' 9" |
| Tube Description: | 102 tubes, 5' 1 1/4" long. |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Fire box |
| Furnace Length: | 5' 11" |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 3" |
| Furnace Height: | 1' 6" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 393.95 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 20.42 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 18 double, 1 single |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | 2 bar spade end, 1 single for each set. |
| Steam Fuel: | Soft coal & wood |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever & ball |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 120 lbs H.T. |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 80 lbs |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 24" single |
| Smokestack Height: | 38' |
| Drum Dimension: | 3' 9" |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 3' |
| Steam Covering: | None |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Fair |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1895 |
| Where Built: | Dayton, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Miami Valley Boiler Co. |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | |
| 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: | 18" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 7/8" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Keeper's dwelling is in rear of the lighthouse, W & connected to same by brick covered way. |
| Coloring: | Walls, red brick; gable shingles are painted buff; roof red. |
| Construction Materials: | Red (Detroit) brick; stone foundation, rock faced above grade; roof, metal shingles. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 rooms, 5 closets, 1 pantry, drawing room 2 vestibules. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & 1 asst. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Fog signal bldg, brick 20' x 34' x 10'; oil house(2), brick 7' x 9' x 7'; boathouse, frame 16' 4" x 36' 4"; privy 6' x 6' brick. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Boathouse white, all others red brick walls, red roofs, white trim. |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks to front & rear entrances of dwelling, from boathouse to landing & landing to fog-signal bldg, & to various outbldgs of reservation. |
| Area Inclosed: | 6.1 acres, more or less, by W boundary line fence, other boundaries by shore lines |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 2 acres of shrubbery, more or less. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rocky, heavily timbered. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | N of Keeper's dwelling |
| Coloring: | Red |
| Construction Materials: | Wood construction |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 asst. |
| Outhouses: | |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 2 acres of shrubbery, more or less. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rocky, heavily timbered. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From Lake Michigan, by pump for Fog Signal, by buckets for drinking & domestic purposes. |
| Quality: | Very poor in warm or stormy weather |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not fit to use in stormy weather. |
| Purity Precaution: | Cistern cleaned out about twice a year. |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern, under kitchen portion of dwelling, 70 brls. |
| Tank Material: | Brick, lined with cement mortar. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | By pump for F.S.; by bucket for dwelling |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Lake shore 300' distant from dwelling. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing & wharf of 2 timber cribs, & 1 log crib filled w/ stone, covered w/ planks. Boat house of wood, set on brick piers, lower end abt 2' abv ground, upper end 4.5'. Road to lighthouse along beach, thence thru woods; an old logging road to Whitedale. |
| Distance and Direction: | Wharf is 290' S by E from tower; boathouse 240', road enters into reservation W of dwelling. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |