Report for Thunder Bay Island (Michigan) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Oliver G. Brown |
| Location: | On Thunder Bay Island near its SE'ly point |
| Date of Report: | 06/15/1910 |
| Latitude: | 45° 02' 15" |
| Longitude: | 83° 11' 38" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation Secs. 33 & 34 T 31 N, R 10 E & Sec. 3, T 30 N, R 10 E |
| Date of Reservation: | 08/26/1842 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Area of island, 160.55 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | About 2/3 acre |
| Character of Soil: | Thin layer of gravel & soil |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Dwelling & out bldgs enclosed by white picket fence. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Crib landing at SE end of island for fog signal house. Small crib landing at boathouse. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Path & tramway from fog signal landing to tower, 1630'. Boat house landing by path thru woods 3/4 mile. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from Alpena or by rig to N Point & by boat from N Point to island. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 14 miles to Alpena |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 14 miles |
| Distance to Village: | About 14 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By small boat from Alpena, 14 miles away. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1832 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Tower re-built about 1857, new keeper's dwelling built 1868, old keeper's dwelling altered 1900 (no. 28) |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 61' 9" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 59' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | Yellow |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected to dwelling by covered way 22' long at 1st floor. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light. |
| Building Materials: | Brick, white washed on inside. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 6' 7" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 20" |
| Diameter at Base: | 21' 2" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 11' 4" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circ. cast iron stairs with pipe railing. |
| Number of Landings: | 2 & lantern floor. |
| Size of Glass: | Inside windows, 11" x 11"; outside 15 1/4" x 10.5" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 windows in tower, sash 2' 11 3/4" x 2' 1.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 wooden 2-fold door leads from passage into tower at base. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Limestone bed rock, 3' below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Limestone rock covered with thin layer of sand & gravel. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Grass & trees cover most of island. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 1/2" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 2 7/8" x 3' |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | All sides glazed. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Parapet of cast iron outside, & lined with vert. wood ceiling inside. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | 10 sided pyramidal roof. Outside of copper plates & inside lined with zinc plates. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper with platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" wire cable is fastened to floor of gallery & leads down side of tower into ground below. |
| Balustrade: | 3 rail balustrade of 2" x 1/2" iron bars, top rail horizontal, 2 lower rails vertical; plain 1 1/4" stanchions. Floor of gallery of 1/2" cast iron & circular in plan. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 cast iron door leads from parapet to outside gallery. |
| Floor of Lantern: | 3/4" cast iron. |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 9 5/8" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 ventilators in upper part of parapet. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 wooden step ladder 2' 6" high. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 2.5 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sauttier & Co., Paris |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | None given |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 8 1/16" from bullseye to bullseye. |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing white every 90 sec. |
| Time of Revolution: | 9 min. |
| Flash Interval: | 90 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | No fixed part. |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 6 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 bullseye in each panel composed of 1 circ. lens & 3 concentric elements. |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 concentric with bullseye |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 concentric with bullseye |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Both lens & lamp revolve on table pedestal by clockwork. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron pedestal bolted to lantern floor. |
| Service Table: | Of cast iron supported by iron braces fastened to pedestal. |
| Draft Tube Description: | A tin conical shaped ventilator flue leads from top of lens up into ventilator ball. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Cogs in base of lens work into horizontal cog connected with clock machinery. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Revolves on pivot bearing & in oil. |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | No drop tube. Weights drop down center of toer. |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 2.5 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By brass sheet case with glass door. |
| Regulated: | By fan governor. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | No colored light. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funck Heap |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 5/16" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Wound on drum in clock case, leads down thru lantern floor, thru 2 sheaves & down thru a sheave fastened to weights & then up to lantern floor where it is fastened. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| 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: | 1 small cupboard at 2nd landing used to keep cleaning rags in. |
| Oil House Description: | About 100' SE'ly from dwelling |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' 2" x 5' 6" x 9' 2" high |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | 6 closets in keeper's dwelling - 3 on 1st floor & 3 on 2nd floor. Cellar under both dwellings. |
| Suitability: | Dry, closets suitable, but storeroom is not adequate to needs of family. Cellar under asst keeper's dwelling is not waterproof. In the spring, water leaks in & floor is sometimes covered to a depth of 12". |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle. |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 8 sec blast, 10 sec silent interval, 2 sec blast, 40 sec silent interval. |
| Duplication: | All parts. |
| Timing Device: | Spur & worm gear operating cam. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle at 75# |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Located on E'ly shore of island about 800' S'ly from tower. |
| Distance and Direction: | About 800' S from tower. |
| Water Supply: | A well blasted in rock, 10' deep & 10' dia. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By path along tramway. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Brick bldg., 40' x 22.5' in plan, corrugated iron roof, concrete floor. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | Open bottom, small locomotive. |
| Kind: | |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Ht. 5' 3" |
| Length: | 12' |
| Diameter: | 3' 8 1/4" |
| Tube Description: | 58 - 5' 8" long. |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Locomotive |
| Furnace Length: | 52" |
| Furnace Width: | 38" |
| Furnace Height: | 30" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 263 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 13.72 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 16 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double bars, 5' long |
| Steam Fuel: | Soft coal & wood |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever, 2.5" valve |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 70# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 20" inside |
| Smokestack Height: | 38' 6" brick stack 40' high. |
| Drum Dimension: | 24" high |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 24" |
| Steam Covering: | Combination |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1894 |
| Where Built: | Detroit, MI |
| Manufacturer: | John Brennan & Co. |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Horizontal |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 120 rpm |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 4" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 6" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 3/4" |
| Steam Engine When Built: | 1894 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Detroit, MI |
| Manufacturer: | Detroit Locomotive Works. |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 18" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 3/8" to 2 11/16" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Connected to tower by covered way 22' long |
| Coloring: | Yellow |
| Construction Materials: | Brick with shingled roof |
| Number of Rooms: | 9 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 2 barns, 3 privies, oil house & fog signal bldg. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Barns & 1 privy, white; 1 privy red; oil house & fog signal house, brick color. |
| Paths and Walks: | Cement walks around dwelling & to all outhouses except fog signal. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | No garden |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | About 3/4 of island covered with timber & shrubbery |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rock with thin layer of sand & gravel. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Stone with shingled roof |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 asst keepers |
| Outhouses: | 2 barns, 3 privies, oil house & fog signal bldg. |
| 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: | Drinking water from lake. |
| Quality: | Fiar |
| Quantity: | |
| Injury Possible: | |
| Purity Precaution: | Brick filter in 1 corner of cistern. |
| Tank Capacity: | 3400 gal placed in rear of kitchen |
| Tank Material: | Brick, plastered inside & out. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Driven well, 260' deep. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | There is no boat belonging to Lighthouse Est. Landing is out near fog signal. Runs out about 250' into about 2' of water. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | There is a cellar under Keeper's dwelling. A well has been driven 260' deep. There is lots of water in it but pump in use is not of sufficient force to draw water up, so is of no practical use. Cellar under Asst. Keeper's dwelling is in bad shape. |