Report for Tawas (Michigan) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Oliver G. Brown |
| Location: | On Tawas Point, MI., E'ly side of Tawas Bay. NW'ly shore of Saginaw Bay, W'ly side of Lake Huron. |
| Date of Report: | 06/10/1910 |
| Latitude: | 44° 15' 14" |
| Longitude: | 83° 26' 57" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 03/07/1852 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 71.09 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 125' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | No inclosure |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small boats can land at boat house which is connected to land by 1200' board walk on crib piers. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | No road except walk to boat house. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat to boat landing or by sandy road from East Tawas, or by launch to USLS boat house, about 3/4 mile N'ly from tower. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 6 miles by road to East Tawas RR station, or 4 miles by boat. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 6 miles by road to East Tawas |
| Distance to Village: | 6 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | 6 miles by road to East Tawas & D & M RR station, or 4 miles by boat to same place. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1853 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1876 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 67' 3" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 70' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewash |
| Tower Connection: | Connected with keeper's dwelling by covered passage. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast & harbor light. |
| Building Materials: | Solid brick |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 4' 6"; outer wall 22", air space 2', lining wall 8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 16" |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' 8" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron circular winding stairway with pipe railing. |
| Number of Landings: | 3 landings & lantern floor. |
| Size of Glass: | 10 x 16 |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 windows 3' 2" x 2' 4"; 2-fold of 2 panes to sash. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 iron door leads to tower at base. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone on wood piles & sills 12' below floor. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | All sandy |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Nothing but sand grass & bushes grow here. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Add'l deed 4/2/1876. Point of land on which station stands has been & is making in SW'ly & W'ly direction. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 3" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 2 3/4" x 3' 4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | All sides glazed. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Parapet of cast iron plates & lined inside with vertical wood ceiling - glazed portion of 3/8" glass plates. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | 10 sided pyramidal dome of cast iron. There is no lens protector in roof. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | A 3/4" iron pipe is attached to lantern deck & runs down side of tower into wet sand below. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade is of circular rail, top & bottom of 2" x 1/2" iron bars. Rail is 3' high. 1 1/4" iron stanchions with ball top. Gallery is circular in plan of 1/2" cast iron flanged 6" wide to outside. |
| Lantern Doors: | A single cast iron door 2' 10.5" x 2' x 1/2" swinging out leads from parapet to gallery. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 10 sided. 6' 10.5" dia. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators in parapet near top. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | An iron ladder 8' long - broken at this time. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 5 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Sauttier, Lemmonier & Cie, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1890 |
| Marks and Number: | 349 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 7 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flash 25 sec., eclipse 5 sec., White light except in SW quadrant where it shows red |
| Time of Revolution: | Not moveable |
| Flash Interval: | 5 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | 25 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Flashes produced by hood occulting device connected with clockwork. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | All of cast iron, 18" circ. table supported by 5" cyl. std & 18" circ. base, bolted to floor of lantern. Illuminating apparatus is screwed to table of pedestal. Pedestal is 3' 6" above lantern floor. |
| Service Table: | Of cast iron plate supported on rods bolted to floor. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Not revolving |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Full height of tower - 56'. |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 5 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By sheet brass case with glass door in side. |
| Regulated: | Fan governor so fixed that fans can be turned at different angles & thus regulate speed. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | By red screen attached to outside of lens. |
| Red Sectors Description: | Red screen is so placed as to show red over point of land toward fog signal - arc of sector is 83 degrees in SW quadrant. |
| Where Color Attached: | Attached to outside of lens & to base of illuminating apparatus. |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funk Heap |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None except the 1 with the spare lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Wire cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 1/4" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | From drum in clock case down thru floor of lantern & thru 2 sheaves into drop tube in walls of tower. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Occulting Light |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec eclipse, 25 sec flash. |
| Time Limit: | |
| Eclipse Type: | Sleeve |
| Size and Amplitude: | 3.5" x 7" sleeve; raises about 6" |
| Axis Rotation: | |
| Axis Relation: | |
| Screen Revolution: | |
| Screen Number: | |
| Screen Time: | |
| Screen Form: | |
| Screen Mounting: | |
| Screen Order: | |
| Screen Date: | |
| Valve Maker: | |
| Valve Pattern: | |
| Reliability: | Yes |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 small cupboard set in wall of tower at 3rd landing. Is 1' deep & has 3 shelves. Used by keepers to store cleaning rags etc. |
| Oil House Description: | About 100' W'ly from tower. Fitted with shelves. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 5' 3" x 7' 1" x 8' 6" high |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick |
| Oil House Capacity: | 100 5-gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 3 closets on 1st floor of keepers dwelling. 2 on 2nd floor. A large cellar, 1 room 11' x 21' 6"; the other 11' x 26' 6"; closets used as clothes presses & cellar used for storeroom. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle |
| Time to Start: | About 40 min. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec blast, 15 sec silent interval, 5 sec blast, 35 sec silent interval. |
| Duplication: | All parts |
| Timing Device: | Spur & worm gear operating cam |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle at 70# |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | About 5/8 mile SW'ly from tower. |
| Distance and Direction: | S 40 degrees W; about 5/8 mile |
| Water Supply: | Well, 6' dia., 6' deep, brick & located about 15' W of bldg. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By walk, 3390' in length - small strip of concrete walk at each end & connected with a board walk. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | 1 bldg of brick painted red. 42' x 22' in plan outside - 10' 6" from floor to plates. Hip roof covered with metal slates. Floor is concrete. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Open bottom marine design of 1896 |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | 7' 5" high |
| Length: | 6' 6 3/4" |
| Diameter: | 4' 9 3/4" |
| Tube Description: | 102 - 4' 9.5" long |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Internal |
| Furnace Length: | 6' |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 3" |
| Furnace Height: | 19" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 406 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 21.5 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 18 do. bars, 5' long |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double, spade ends |
| Steam Fuel: | Wood & soft coal. |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever 2.5" single side outlet. |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 70# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 20" inside; brick chimney, 8" walls. |
| Smokestack Height: | 38' 6" |
| Drum Dimension: | 5' long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Magnesia |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1899 |
| Where Built: | Detroit, MI |
| Manufacturer: | Central Boiler Works, Detroit, MI. |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Vertical |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 120 rpm |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 4" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 9" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 3/4" |
| Steam Engine When Built: | 1899 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Detroit, MI |
| Manufacturer: | Fulton Iron & Engine Works. |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 18" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 3/8" - 2 11/16" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Connected to tower by covered passage. |
| Coloring: | Keeper's dwelling brick red. |
| Construction Materials: | Brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 2 privies |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Concrete walks on 3 sides of keeper's dwelling. Board walks lead to other bldgs. Concrete walk slabs delivered for walk to fog signal house. |
| Area Inclosed: | None inclosed. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy & shifting sands |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | |
| Coloring: | White with red roof. 2nd asst. frame barn painted red. |
| Construction Materials: | Frame |
| Number of Rooms: | 3 in each |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Asst. keeper & family |
| Outhouses: | Woodshed, chickenhouse & ice house under 1 roof |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Board walks lead to other bldgs. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy & shifting sands |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | 2 driven wells near Keeper's dwelling |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | No cisterns |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | 2 driven wells 16' deep |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Both wells about 15'; 1 well on S side & 1 on NW side. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat house painted white & W'ly from keepers dwelling & connected with it by 1200' of boardwalk supported by timber cribs. There are 3 broken docks N of fog signal but they are not serviceable. Water about 3' deep around boathouse & fog signal docks. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower & premises are in good condition & well kept. Illuminating apparatus is in good shape & working perfectly & outhouses seem to be in good condition. Keeper's dwelling surrounded by concrete retaining wall 1' thick at top & 4' above ground. |