Report for St. Helena Light Station (Michigan) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, 9th Lighthouse Dist. |
| Location: | N side of entrance to Lake Michigan from Straits of Mackinac. |
| Date of Report: | 12/03/1907 |
| Latitude: | 45° 51' 20" |
| Longitude: | 84° 51' 46" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Site reserved by President of US, Feb 8th, 1871 |
| Date of Reservation: | 02/10/1871 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 0.69 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Sand & gravel |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 40' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing crib for small boats |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Walk, 2' wide 180' from tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from St. Ignace, Mackinaw City or Groscap, MI. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 8.5 miles to St. Ignace. Duluth, S shore & Atlantic RR. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3.5 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 3.5 miles, Groscap, MI |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By small boat from St. Ignace, a distance of 8.5 miles |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Brick tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 only |
| First Built or Established: | 1873 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Not since construction |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 71' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 71' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | St. Helena Island. Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewash |
| Tower Connection: | Connected with dwelling by covered way. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast & harbor light; guide under lee of island & leading mark thru Straits of Mackinac |
| Building Materials: | Concrete & stone foundations 3' above grade. Brick shaft. cast iron deck, cornice, iron deck & lantern. Cast iron stairs. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Hollow brick wall 4' 6" thick over all |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Hollow brick wall 1' 6" thick over all |
| Diameter at Base: | 15' 2" at base of brick work of tower. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron, circular |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 16" x 9" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4; 3' x 1' 2", 1 1/8" thick |
| Number of Doors: | Opening only from passage way, connecting with Keeper's house. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Piles; concrete 3'; stone masonry 7' 3" thick |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & gravel |
| Soil Susceptibility: | By grass, shrubbery & trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3 1/2 |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 40" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 26 3/4" x 40" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Not fitted with storm sash |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | No unglazed side |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron in 10 sections. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Bronze with platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | A flat copper band 1/8 x 1.5 wide, led from lantern deck down outside of tower to earth 60' with large cast iron plate for ground connection. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery of cast iron, metal posts for handrail secured to deck plates. |
| Lantern Doors: | In rabbet of lantern panels, swinging outwards |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Hinged to floor of watchroom. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 8" dia. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set of brass hooks, secured to lantern posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No fittings |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | H. LePaute |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | No marks on apparatus - polished out. |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3.5 |
| Inside Diameter: | 2' 3 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed - 315 degrees total arc of radiation. |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 8 |
| 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: | Cast iron - 1 piece |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Not needed |
| 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: | By ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Regulation 3.5 order Float lamp - 2 wicks |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Located 105' N of tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' x 9' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick, metal roof & iron door. |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | In keepers dwelling there are 2 closets on 2nd floor off bedrooms; Pantry & storeroom 9' x 8' 10" on 1st floor. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable for purpose for which they were designed. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Connected by covered way with tower |
| Coloring: | Red |
| Construction Materials: | Brick, stone & wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Principal Keeper only |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy 5' 6" x 7' 6"; Boathouse 16' x 32'; Oil house 7' x 9' |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Oil house red; other bldgs white |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks from entrances of dwelling & tower to all bldgs on Lighthouse reservation. |
| Area Inclosed: | Premises not inclosed |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | A cedar tree here & there. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | Area covered with stones. not susceptible |
| Area Cultivated: | None prepared |
| Character of Surroundings: | Soil sandy & gravelly |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From Lake Michigan |
| Quality: | Poor |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | High seas stir up mud around station, making bad water. |
| Purity Precaution: | None |
| Tank Capacity: | None |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | No well |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good health generally prevails. |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: | No need of draining. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Pier 8' x 61'; Boathouse 16' x 32'; Plank side walk from boathouse to lighthouse 166' long |
| Distance and Direction: | Almost directly N of lighthouse, 161'. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |