Report for Squaw Island (Michigan) - 1911

General
District: 12th
Inspector: Francis J. Otter, Draftsman
Location: On N'ly point of Squaw Island, most N'ly of Beaver Island Group, N'ly end of Lake Michigan.
Date of Report: 12/21/1911
Latitude: 45° 50' 25" North
Longitude: 85° 35' 13" West
Premises
Site: Purchase from Jas H & Jane Donner & Stephen & Bridget O'Dowd consideration $2000. Lots 1 & 2, Sec. 19 T40 N of R 10 W & Frac. Sec. 30 T40 N of R 10 W
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 03/02/1892
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 69 acres
Area Inclosed: 2 acres
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 310'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Rail fence
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Log crib, 8' wide, 64' long, Planked deck with tramway, SE side of Island.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By tug, motor or sail boat from St. James, Beaver Island, MI. 9 miles to steamboat landing, St. James, Beaver Island, MI.
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Brick tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1892
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: Sundry repairs, 1909
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 57'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Forest of brick, evergreens & cedars. All small timbers.
Color of Tower: Red
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Natural color of brick
Tower Connection: Connected, being NW corner of dwelling.
Object of Navigation: Coast light for general navigation.
Building Materials: Stone foundation, brick structure.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Cast iron, circular
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 12" x 15" in shaft. 16" dia. in watchroom
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 2 in shaft, 4 in watchroom.
Number of Doors: 1 entrance door, Iron, 2' 8" x 7'
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Island is from 5-12' high above mean lake level & composed chiefly of limestone containing fossils - soil thin - Water is shoal all around it, but deepest on E side where there is good landing for small boats.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 8 - 34" x 36" plate glass
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron with steel lining, brass glass stops
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron with zinc lining.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron perforated with holes for vent for lantern.
Lightning Spindle: Copper with platinum tip.
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Cast iron
Lantern Doors: Double cast iron doors, fitted to swing outwards.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron
Watchroom Doors: Iron trap door, hinged to lantern deck.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4, radial pattern, brass, in lower part of lantern.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None required.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: 1 set of brass hooks, tapped in angle of lantern.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Box for spare glass.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 3 hrs., 40 minutes
Intensity in Candles: (Red Light) Fixed - 130 cp; Flash 1400 cp.
Name of Maker: Sautter, Lemonier & CO.
Year Made: 1891
Marks and Number: Sautter, Lemonier & Co., 1891
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 1' 7 11/16"
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution: Complete revolution every 15 sec.
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 2 flash panels of 60 degrees each, 4 fixed panels of 60 degrees each.
Number of Panels: 6
Number of Flash Panels: 2, bullseye
Arc of Each: 60 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5, bullseye 4
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 4
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Cast iron, 3' 9" to base of lens.
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: None
Revolving Machinery:
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Balls
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: 28'
Clock Weight: 50 lbs
Length of Winding Time: 3 hrs., 40 minutes
Drive During Rewind: No
Machinery Protection: By brass & glass case
Regulated: By fan governor
Lens Protection: Metal shield, over head.
How Color is Produced: By red chimney surrounding lamp.
Red Sectors Description: None
Where Color Attached: To lamp
Form of Colored Glass: Regular 4th order red lamp chimney.
Lamp Description: Reg. 4th order, 1 wick
Type of Illuminant: Oil
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: Burners are attached to & form part of lamp.
Candle Power: 52


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord: Wire cord, 4th order
Size of Clock Cord: 1/4"
Length of Clock Cord: 80'
How Led: Thru drop tube
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: 3" dia., 5 1/4" long


Chariot Balls
Balls Description: On v groove
Cage to Separate Balls: False
Number of Balls: 20
Diameter of Balls: 3/8


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1.5"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None
Oil House Description: 59' 6" E of NE cor. of dwelling; wood shelving
Oil House Inside Dimension: 5' 6" x 7' 4"
Oil House Construction Material: Brick, ordinary construction.
Oil House Capacity: 72 butts (360 gals)
Other (Describe): Cleaning room in passge way to tower base, used for service fixtures & for cleaning lamps. Fitted with 2 closets & cleaning table.
Suitability: Dry & suited to purpose for which it is used.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 10" steam whistle, operated by locomotive steam boilers & controlled by upright engines.
Time to Start: 40 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 5 sec blast, 20 sec silent, 5 sec blast, 40 sec silent.
Duplication: Engines, boilers & whistles
Timing Device: Cams on cog wheel of engine
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: 75%
Height Above Water: About 30'
Compass Direction: All points of compass.
Location: N'ly about 170' from lighthouse. Coast guide in foggy weather.
Distance and Direction: 170' N'ly.
Water Supply: From dug well.
Reached from Lighthouse: By concrete walk to tram on track, thence by walk on ties of track.
Description of Fog Signal Building: Red brick, ordinary frame construction roof covered with corrugated iron. Size 22' x 40'
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Steam Signal
Steam Boiler: Locomotive, 24 HP
Kind:
Tube:
Dimensions:
Length: 15' 6"
Diameter: 3' 8"
Tube Description:
Steam Tube Diameter:
Steam Furnace Kind:
Furnace Length:
Furnace Width:
Furnace Height:
Steam Heat Surface:
Steam Grate Surface:
Number of Grate Bars:
Kind of Grate Bars:
Steam Fuel:
Steam Safety Valve:
Steam Maximum Pressure:
Steam Working Pressure:
Steam Diameter of Smokestack:
Smokestack Height:
Drum Dimension:
Steam Drum Diameter:
Steam Covering:
Steam Boiler Condition:
Steam Boiler Built: 1891
Where Built:
Manufacturer: D. Connolly & Co., for Thos. Manning Jr. Contract.
Steam Heater: False
Kind:
Size:
Heater Time Affect:
Steam Engine Kind: Upright, 5.01 HP
Steam Engine Revolutions: 120 rpm
Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: 4" x 10"
Steam Engine Piston Stroke: 9"
Steam Engine Pipe Size:
Steam Engine When Built: 1891
Steam Engine Where Built: Cleveland, OH.
Manufacturer: Thos. J. Manning Jr.


Whistle Signal
Whistle Diameter: 10"
Whistle Height: 18"
Whistle Orifice: 2 3/4 - 2 5/8"
Whistle Tone: Single tone
Whistle Chime:
Dwelling
Location: Tower is on NW corner of dwelling.
Coloring: Red brick, pea green trimmings & red roof.
Construction Materials: Brick & ordinary wood construction.
Number of Rooms: 8
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: Keeper & 2nd asst.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Woodshed, 14' 3" x 10' 5"; Privy, 6' x 6'; Oil house, 7' x 9'; Boathouse 16' 4" x 36' 4"
Outhouse Coloring: Woodshed, whitewashed, red roof; Privy, green, red roof; Oil house, red brick, red roof; boathouse, white, red roof.
Paths and Walks: 1177 lin. ft. plank walk btwn boathouse & Fog signal bldg. 170' plank walk btwn rails of car track. Concrete walks 324 lin ft. 3' wide, 74 lin. ft. 2' 6" wide.
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: About 2 acres
Area Cultivated: About 2 acres, generally used for garden.
Character of Surroundings: Sand & gravel.
Stove, Maker: Security
Stove, Size: No. 9
Sink, Maker: Raymond
Sink, Size: 28 x 16
Pump, Maker: Myers
Pump, Size: 1 1/4"
Lamps: 2 Funck-Heap, 1 hand lamp.
Assistant Keepers Dwellings
Location:
Coloring: Dark green, pea green trimmings & red roof.
Construction Materials: Wood frame construction
Number of Rooms: 5
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1st asst.
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: L & G
Sink, Size: 30 x 18
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: 1 Funck-Heap, 1 hand lamp.
Water
How Procured: Fog signal, dug well; Domestic use, drilled well.
Quality: Good
Quantity: Domestic, ample; Fog signal, not
Injury Possible: Not liable
Purity Precaution: Cistern under kitchen of Keeper's dwelling is not cleaned regularly, no precautions taken.
Tank Capacity: Size 10' 8" x 10' 8" x 3' 5" to overflow, 2977 gals.
Tank Material: Cistern, brick, cement-coated.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Drilled well, to below rocks, 29'
Well Diameter: 5"
Well Lining: 5" casing to rock
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: 15' rear of dwelling.
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Generally good health prevails
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: Drainage unnecessary
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boat landing is 910 lin. ft. E'ly from tower. Harbor is formed by crib work at right angles with shore line. There is about 4' 6" of water at outer end of crib. Harbor is 29' wide.
Distance and Direction: 910' E'ly from tower.
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 161
Type: Motor Boat
Length: 8' 6"
Width: 28'
When Built: 1901
Date Harbored at Station: May, 1901
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes
 
Boat #2
Boat Number:
Type: Whale boat converted, Carvel built
Length: 5' 2"
Width: 17'
When Built: 1902
Date Harbored at Station: July, 1902
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes
 
Boat #3
Boat Number: 0
Type: Smooth seam Clinker
Length: 4'
Width: 15'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station: May, 1911
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes


Power Boat
Engine Type: Gasoline, Kabelenberg
Horsepower: 6 HP - 2 cyl
Engine Maker: Kahlenberg Bros., Co. Eng. #71-D; Oct. 14, 1909
Spare Coil: Type QA143; Knoblock-Heideman
Magnet: Wizard, Hercules Electric Co.
Battery: Acme #8, size of cell 3.5" x 8" - 6 batteries.
Propeller Diameter: 18" 2 blade
Propeller Pitch: 20"


Miscellaneous
General Information:
Boats on Station: In suitable boat house.