Report for South Fox Island Light Station (Michigan) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Office of Engineer, 9th LH Dist. |
| Location: | On S'ly extremity of South Fox Island. NE'ly part of Lake Michigan. Mag. var. 0 degrees 10' E |
| Date of Report: | 12/03/1907 |
| Latitude: | 45° 22' 30" |
| Longitude: | 85° 49' 41" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase, consideration $421.86. 105.45 acres. Lot 374 Frac. Sec.16. Tp3 N R 13 W. Reservation 9.65 acres Sec 21 Tp 34 NR 13N |
| Date of Reservation: | 02/28/1885 |
| Date of Deed: | 05/26/1867 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 115.10 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 90' long x 69' wide |
| Character of Soil: | Decayed vegetation. Sand & loam. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 167' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Tight board fence, 5' high, around lighthouse & Keeper's dwelling. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Crib landing built of large logs in 1897 |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Plank walk 24" wide, 428' long |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Fish tug or sail boat from Northport or Charlevoix. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Steamboat landing, 28 miles Northport |
| Distance to Post Office: | 28 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 28 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Fish tug or sail boat from Northport |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Brick tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1867 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Parallel piped |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 45' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 68' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded land |
| Color of Tower: | Yellow |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Yellow brick, cement & ochre wash. |
| Tower Connection: | Connected, being part of dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light. Guide thru passage btwn S Fox & N Manitou islands. |
| Building Materials: | Brick superstructure. Stone foundation. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Outer wall 13" Inner (circular) wall 4" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Outer wall 13" Inner (circular) wall 4" |
| Diameter at Base: | 9' 4" x 9' 4" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' 4" x 9' 4" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular iron stairs |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3; 2' 10.5" x 2' 7" long |
| Number of Doors: | 2; Entrance to tower from outside & door from dwelling. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone. 4' below grade, 1' 6" above grade. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy |
| Soil Susceptibility: | By grass, shrubbery, trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" to top of glass, from lantern deck 6' 6.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 26 3/4 x 36 |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron. Lantern lined inside with D&M ceiling. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper with platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" dia. copper cable from lantern deck down outside of tower to earth, also copper rod from foot of stairs to earth. |
| Balustrade: | Iron with metal posts & metal rails. |
| Lantern Doors: | Fitted in panel of lantern, swings out on lantern gallery. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron, painted |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 8" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In lower part of lantern, 5 brass radial pattern half opening. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None needed. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set of regulation pattern, brass. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 4.5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co., Paris |
| Year Made: | No date on apparatus |
| Marks and Number: | Paris, 5-6-9-10-2 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 7.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red, varied by red flash every 2 minutes |
| Time of Revolution: | 4 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | Flash every 2 minutes |
| Duration of Flash: | 1 1/4 sec. |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 2 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | 2 bulls eye panels, set opposite each other. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron, with center post, 42" high. |
| Service Table: | Cast iron fastened to pedestal supported by 2 wooden legs. |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| Revolving Machinery: | 4th order clock, Sautter & Co. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | No tube. Chamber in side wall. 32' 9" |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 4.5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By brass & glass case |
| Regulated: | By fly governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | None all panels 360 degrees |
| Where Color Attached: | Chimney, attached to illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | New 4th order, 1 wick to burner |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 complete lamps. |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | 4th order clock cord, soft laid steel |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | 44' |
| How Led: | Down thru deck over 2 pulleys down weight flue. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 20 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 3/8" |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Oil house, boiler plate iron door & shelving. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' x 9' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick, metal roof |
| Oil House Capacity: | 360 gals. |
| Other (Describe): | Closets in connection with rooms of dwelling. Storeroom 8' x 10' on 2nd floor of dwelling |
| Suitability: | Dry, suited to purpose for which designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle. 2 Marine, open bottom pattern steam boilers |
| Time to Start: | About 1 hour |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Dayton, OH., Miami Valley Boiler Co. |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1895 |
| Characteristic: | Blast 3 sec., silent intervals of 17 sec. |
| Duplication: | All except whistle & smokestack. |
| Timing Device: | Cam in clockwork. Crosby automatic signal. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 90# |
| Height Above Water: | 53' 3" |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | SW from lighthouse. General warning to mariners in dangerous channels, Special guide thru passage btwn S Fox & Manitou Island. |
| Distance and Direction: | SW 400' |
| Water Supply: | Supplied by well 4' x 4' inside, 6' x 6' outside. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Plank walk |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Frame bldg 22' x 40' - brick foundation corrugated iron sides & roof, painted red. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | Steam |
| Kind: | Marine, open bottom |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 5" |
| Length: | 6' 6" |
| Diameter: | Width 4' 9" |
| Tube Description: | 102 - 5' 1 1/4" |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Part of boiler |
| Furnace Length: | 5' |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 1 1/4" |
| Furnace Height: | 1' 6" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 393-95 |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 20 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 18 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | 2 bar spade ends, cast iron |
| Steam Fuel: | Bituminous coal & wood |
| Steam Safety Valve: | 2.5" |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 135# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 90# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 24" |
| Smokestack Height: | 38' 8" |
| Drum Dimension: | 3' 9" |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 36" |
| Steam Covering: | Felt covered with canvas & lined with asbestos |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1895 |
| Where Built: | Dayton, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Miami Valley Boiler Co. |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | No. Automatic signal |
| 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: | 16" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 3/4" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single tone |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower attached to & forms part of Keepers dwelling. |
| Coloring: | Buff walls, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Brick & stone. |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Boat house, oil house, 2 privies, pump house |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Signal bldg, red walls & roof; Boat house white walls, red roof. |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks from dwelling to boathouse, to asst. keepers dwelling, to pump house, to oil house, to privies & to fog signal house. |
| Area Inclosed: | 90' x 69' tight board fence |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Entire site |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sand & loam. Shifting sand. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Frame structure |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 assistants |
| Outhouses: | Summer kitchen in rear of dwelling |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks to keepers dwelling |
| Area Inclosed: | 90' x 69' tight board fence |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Entire site |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sand & loam. Shifting sand. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By bucket from Lake |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable. |
| Purity Precaution: | None |
| Tank Capacity: | 1554 gals. Cistern under kitchen. |
| Tank Material: | Brick for residence 6' dia., 7' 4" deep; Fog signal tanks 1 metal tank 7' 6" dia., 7' high SE cor. of house, 2300 gals. 1 metal tank 4' 6" dia., 5' high, SW cor of house, 545 gal. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | None |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: | None needed |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat landing consists of log cribs 8' wide, 180' long being a dock protected by an L dock. Boat house 16' x 36' built in 1897. |
| Distance and Direction: | Boat house located 400' SE of dwelling. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |