Report for St. Louis River Pierhead (Minnesota) - 1886

General
District: 11th
Inspector: Lighthouse Engineer
Location: On N pier at entrance to St. Louis River, MN
Date of Report: 02/03/1886
Latitude: 46° 42' 35"
Longitude: 92° 01' 21"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Dock near boathouse for steamers etc., sunken condemned scow at boathouse for small boats.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: 1 mile from Beacon to landing near dwelling on Minnesota Point.
Means to Reach Light Station: On foot over sand barrier & pier, or by small boat from dwelling on Minnesota Point & by water from Superior, WI.
Distance to Nearest Road: 1.5 miles to Steamboat dock & 2 miles from RR depot to dwelling on Minnesota Point.
Distance to Post Office: Superior City, about 1 mile
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance: By ferry
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern:
Number of Separate Lights:
First Built or Established: 1873
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: June, 1885
Condition at This Date: Fair
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square. Battened tower
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 48'; to focal plane, 44.5'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 54'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: White lead & oil
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation: Guide to entrance of St. Louis River & Superior Bay
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden
Number of Landings: 4
Size of Glass: 10x14
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 5 sash, 4 light glass
Number of Doors: 3
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Crib work sunk in 19' of water rising 9' 6" above lake level
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sand
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Light was tested all night of 22nd June. Avg temp. inside of lens 75°. Temp before lighting 68°. Lens is not effected by heat, keeping perfectly cool. An avg. flame of 3" was kept.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern:
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 6' 6"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars:
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: 30 x 36
Number of Storm Panes: 2
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron - lower part of wood
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper covered
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Platinum point
Description of Lightning Rod: Of iron led down corner of tower thru glass insulator, discharge in water
Balustrade: Of wood, deck covered with copper
Lantern Doors: In rebates - double doors, each 7/8" thick
Floor of Lantern: Wood
Watchroom Doors: Trap door in lantern floor.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4 in lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None needed
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed in iron frame work


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: With table
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 5th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed white: 360°; entire horizon
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
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
Service Table: Cast iron
Draft Tube Description:
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:
Type of Illuminant: Gas made from gasoline by Combination Gas Machine
Number of Spare Lamps:
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 closet fitted with shelves.
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): Cellar in cribwork under center of tower - size 4 x 6 inside 6' ceiling. To hold tank of gasoline machine - machinery in lower part of tower.
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Brick
Number of Rooms: 7
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
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:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From lake or river as weather permits
Quality: Nearly always very dirty
Quantity:
Injury Possible:
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Gas machine consists of carburetter, containing gasoline, & air pump w/ necessary machinery & pipe to supply same w/ air. Carburetter placed in double wall pocket built in cribwork under tower. Air pump located on lower floor of tower, w/ weight & sheaves