Report for St. Joseph Pierhead, Rear Range (Michigan) - 1909

General
District: 9th
Inspector: Francis J. Otter, Draftsman, Office of Dist. Engr.
Location: At N pier, 314' (1/16 mile) ESE 3/8 E in rear of preceding, at entrance to St. Joseph & Benton Harbors, MI., E'ly side of S'ly part of Lake Michigan.
Date of Report: 06/10/1909
Latitude: 42° 06' 56"
Longitude: 86° 29' 39"
Premises
Site: Built on N entrance pier to Harbor, Keepers Double dwelling built on land purchased for same contiguous to Range lights on N side of N pier.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 07/27/1908
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 100' x 150' about 1/3 of an acre
Area Inclosed: None as yet
Character of Soil: Sand
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: On entrance pier to Harbor
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None as yet
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Pier
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Pier
Means to Reach Light Station: Boat
Distance to Nearest Road: 3/4 mile
Distance to Post Office: 3/4 mile
Distance to Village: 1/2 mile
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By boat 1/2 mile
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1898
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1907
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Octagonal
Form of Tower: Octagonal on square base
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 57' 8"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 52' 6" above lake level
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Piers & Harbor entrance; Wooded bluff & houses of City.
Color of Tower: White, black lantern
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Rises off roof of Fog-signal house.
Object of Navigation: Entrance to Channel & Harbor & forms a range for approaching the cut entrance to piers from Lake Michigan. Rear light is Harbor light.
Building Materials: Concrete, metal & brick, wrought steel, riveted construction
General Description: Structural steel lined outside with metal.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base: 10' 6"
Diameter at Parapet: 10' 6"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: 1 ladder & 2 stairways
Number of Landings: 2
Size of Glass: Bullseye 15" dia.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 3 - 15.5" dia.
Number of Doors: 2
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Fog-signal house for base.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Water, built on pier in Lake Michigan.
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower of structural steel framing covered with metal on outside. Cover plates are 3/16" metal.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Cylindrical
Diameter to Glass: 7' 8 1/16"
Diameter in the Clear: 7' 7 5/16"
Number of Sides: Cylindrical
Type of Bars: Helical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 3'
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: 23 in all, wholes & halfs
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 6 - 2' 10 3/4" x 2' 10 3/4"; 1 - 2' 6 3/4" x 2' 10 3/16"; 16 - 17 3/8" x 2' 10 3/4"
Number of Storm Panes: Not so fitted
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron parapet, lined with sheet steel, cast iron astragals & cornice. cast iron roof lined with zinc.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron lined with zinc
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron
Lightning Spindle: Brass spindle with 5.5" platinum point on ventilator ball
Description of Lightning Rod: None
Balustrade: Cast iron deck, iron newels, rails & spindles.
Lantern Doors: Cast iron door, with glass panel, with bolt & hinges.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron
Watchroom Doors: Trap door in floor, fitted with rebates.
Parapet Diameter: Cylindrical, 7' 9/16" dia.
Ventilators
Location / Number: In parapet, 4 in all, brass, radial pattern.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Fitted with spring rollers.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Cleaning table.
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Chance Bros., Birmingham, England.
Year Made:
Marks and Number: No marks
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 1' 7 5/8"
Light Characteristic: Fixed red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 4 fixed panels, 360 degrees
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 7
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6
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, 3' 6.5" above floor, supported on 4 legs, legs covered with brass tubing.
Service Table: None
Draft Tube Description: Cast iron 18" dia.
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 chimney of lamps
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached: To lamps
Form of Colored Glass: Chimneys of lamps
Lamp Description: 4th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1.5"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None
Oil House Description: 5' 8" E from Fog-Signal house on pier
Oil House Inside Dimension: 6' 7" x 8'
Oil House Construction Material: Wood frame covered with metal
Oil House Capacity: 240 5-gal cans
Other (Describe): Over coal bin in Fog-signal house.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Marine boiler, Kingsford pattern & upright steam engine.
Time to Start: 30 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: J.P. McGuire, now Variety Iron Works, Cleveland, OH.
Year of Manufacture: 1896
Characteristic: 3 sec blast then 17 sec silent interval & repeat.
Duplication: Boilers & engines.
Timing Device: Cam & worm gear on engine
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: Whistle, 75#
Height Above Water: 35' 9"
Compass Direction: WNW 3/8 W
Location: Channel & harbor entrance & forms base of rear range tower.
Distance and Direction: Base of Rear range tower
Water Supply: Well in pier
Reached from Lighthouse: By elevated walk & pier
Description of Fog Signal Building: Bldg of steel construction square on plan 24' x 24', with pyramidal roof, surrounded by octagon tower & black lantern, painted white.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Steam Signal
Steam Boiler: Marine open bottom, horizontal return tubular boiler.
Kind: Marine, Kingsford pattern
Tube: Flue tube
Dimensions: 4' 9" x 6' 6" x 7' 5"
Length: 6' 6"
Diameter: 4' 9"
Tube Description: 102, 58" long
Steam Tube Diameter: 2.5"
Steam Furnace Kind: Metal, part of boiler
Furnace Length: 6'
Furnace Width: 4' 3.5"
Furnace Height: 1' 6"
Steam Heat Surface: 393.95 sq. ft.
Steam Grate Surface: 21.25 sq. ft.
Number of Grate Bars: 18 double bars & 1 single bar.
Kind of Grate Bars: Spade end, double bar, cast iron
Steam Fuel: Soft coal
Steam Safety Valve: Cast iron, 2.5" dia. with weight & lever
Steam Maximum Pressure: 120# hydrostatic pressure.
Steam Working Pressure: 75#
Steam Diameter of Smokestack: 24"
Smokestack Height: 45' to top of smokestack.
Drum Dimension: 5' 3.5"
Steam Drum Diameter: 2' 6.5"
Steam Covering: Not any
Steam Boiler Condition: Good
Steam Boiler Built: 1896
Where Built: Cleveland, OH
Manufacturer: J.P. McGuire, now Variety Iron Works.
Steam Heater: False
Kind:
Size:
Heater Time Affect:
Steam Engine Kind: Upright
Steam Engine Revolutions: 120 rpm
Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: 4"
Steam Engine Piston Stroke: 8 1/4"
Steam Engine Pipe Size: 1"
Steam Engine When Built: 1896
Steam Engine Where Built: Detroit, MI.
Manufacturer: Russell Wheel & Foundry Co.


Whistle Signal
Whistle Diameter: 10"
Whistle Height: 16 7/8"
Whistle Orifice: 4 3/8"
Whistle Tone: Single
Whistle Chime:
Dwelling
Location: On inner end of N pier, near shore line
Coloring: Lower portion, red brick, upper frame shingles, green, white trimmings & shingle roofs, stained green.
Construction Materials: Brick walls & wood frame construction, shingle roof.
Number of Rooms: 7 each side, erected Fall, 1908
Number of Dwellings: Double dwelling
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper & 1 asst.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: None, all conveniences in dwelling
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: Not any as yet
Area Inclosed: None enclosed
Area of Garden: Not any, shifting sand.
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: Not any
Character of Surroundings: Sandy, shifting.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Fog signal house, well in pier; Dwelling, driven well in each dwelling.
Quality: Fog-signal for engine only; Dwelling, good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: 595 gals in SE corner of FS house
Tank Material: Steel tank 4' 6" dia, 5' high.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: F.S. well, 15' deep from floor; Dwellings, 2 drive wells 18' deep
Well Diameter: F.S. 2'; Dwellings, wrought iron pipe.
Well Lining: Lined with concrete with plank top in Fog Signal House floor.
Pump or Bucket: Pumps
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: Over sinks in pantrys, force pumps on same.
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Pier in front of dwellings.
Distance and Direction: 64' 10" S'ly to inner face of pier.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Grounds under repairs; tower, Fog Signal house, elevated walks and dwellings in good condition. Width btwn piers at entrance 325'. N pier extends into Lake in WNW 3/8 W direction. Life Saving Station near inner end of N pier.