Report for Vidal Shoals Channel, Rear Range (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | Near RR embankment at S'ly end of International RR Bridge, Sault Ste. Marie, MI., & about 1400' ENE 3/4 E in rear of front light. |
| Date of Report: | 08/05/1909 |
| Latitude: | Not computed |
| Longitude: | Not computed |
| Premises |
| Site: | Concession of War Dept. Tower on crib in St. Marys River. Dwelling site on S canal embankment. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 1700 sq. ft. at dwelling. Tower stands on crib. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Sandstone fragments filled in from canal excavation; sodded. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Tower stands on crib in river. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Picket fence runs length of dwelling site on Portage av. side. Premises lie btwn lock canal on N & Portage av. on S & adjoins railway right of way on E. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Directly on canal wall or pier. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Tower reached only by boat from dwelling, except by going around locks on foot. A city street passes boat house, oil house & dwelling. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Station may be reached directly by boat, or by rig from any part of Sault Ste. Marie, MI. RR station is 3/8 mile E of dwelling & steamboat landings 1.5 miles E below locks. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | Little over mile to Sault Ste. Marie PO |
| Distance to Village: | Is in city of Sault Ste. Marie, MI. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Street car to railway station, then 3/8 mile by public automobile, if desired. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By launch or rig, or on foot. City walks & walk along canal lead to station. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1899 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1904 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 56.5' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 57' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Against high RR embankment. |
| Color of Tower: | White with black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached; reached from dwelling by rowboat or on foot around by lock gates. |
| Object of Navigation: | Rear light of range to guide to W'ly entrance to St. Marys Falls Canal. |
| Building Materials: | Of 8 - 6x8" corner posts of wood with horizontal & diagonal bracing of 4x4" timbers. Entire tower inclosed with outside sheathing of vertical matched lumber, over which is tar paper & siding. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 1" thickness of outside sheathing. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6", Watchroom or service beneath lantern is ceiled inside with wood. |
| Diameter at Base: | 14' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | 6 flights of wood stairs with winders. Wood hand rail. |
| Number of Landings: | None |
| Size of Glass: | 14" x 18" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 - 2-lt. Sash 18" x 22", both in watchroom. |
| Number of Doors: | 2 - outer door & watchroom door, both wood panel. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Crib. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Tower crib in water on sandstone bed rock. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Premises around dwelling are sodded & grow shrubbery. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Crib for tower is 24' square, built of sawed & fitted timbers, closed construction. Crib filled with stone & decked with 3" plank. It is reached from RR embankment by boardwalk. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 5.5" |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11 3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | Lantern glass 34" x 36"; Storm panes 32" x 36". |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None in place. 2 on hand. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 5 dark panels each 45 degrees (225 degrees) |
| What Bearings: | About 320.5 degrees to 185.5 degrees on large arc; N = 0 degrees. |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron. Parapet lined with sheet iron. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Pyramidal, cast iron, lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass with platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper band, 1/8" x 1.5", from ventilator ball down outside of tower into water. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery of wood, covered with tin, is octagonal & 27" wide. Balustrade octagonal, 36" high, double pipe rail & stanchions, with pipe fittings. |
| Lantern Doors: | 2-fold cast iron lined with sheet iron, in parapet. Have brass fittings. Door does not close tightly. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Of wood flooring. |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet, brass register valves on inside, unprotected openings outside. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 2 windows, wood step ladder to lantern & small wood locker for lamp supplies. Lower part of tower used as cleaning room & contains table & glass box. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier, Benard & Turenne, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not given |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Lens & prisms are mounted to form umbrella-shaped apparatus, convex toward range, having an arc of nearly 180 degrees vertically & horizontally. Whole is mounted on 2 cast iron vertical supports bolted to pedestal. |
| Number of Panels: | 1. Glass mounted in brass frames. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 bullseye & 2 concentric circular elements. |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 concentric, circ. prisms around central bullseye |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | Opp. bullseye is spherical segmental brass door |
| 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: | Old pattern cast iron, with oval top, 20" x 32" dia. An ornamental brass stand screwed to pedestal top & 7 1/4" high holds lamp. |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | None |
| 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 light produced by ruby lamp chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To illuminating apparatus. |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Lamp chimney. |
| Lamp Description: | Funk-Heap |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 (1 to each lamp) |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | Single circular wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Small locker of shelves in watchroom for lamp supplies. |
| Oil House Description: | About 50' N of dwelling, wood shelving. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' 6" x 8' 8" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Of vit. brick with metal slate roof, concrete floor & ceiling. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 100 5-gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 2 closets & pantry 1st floor of dwelling; 2 closets 2nd floor; attic reached by ladder thru trap door in ceiling of upper hall, & cellar under entire house. Storeroom 1st floor under stairs. |
| Suitability: | Ample & suitable. Dry. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Almost directly S of tower & about 100' therefrom. |
| Coloring: | Metallic brown, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood frame construction on stone foundation. Shingle roof. Plastered inside. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 rooms, 4 closets, storeroom, hall, attic & cellar under entire house. |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy 8.5x9', sided, with metal slate roof; Oil house & boat house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Privy & boat house, metallic brown walls & red roof; Oil house natural red vitrified brick walls & red roof. |
| Paths and Walks: | About 200' of newly laid concrete walk. Also a cement walk past front of premises & belonging to canal property. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | All ground where bldgs are situated was made by filling in from excavation of canal, & is mostly fragments of sandstone; whole is sodded over. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | City water main |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | No cistern |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| 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 |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | None necessary. House is connected w/ sewer leading into canal. This was put in for these premises only & by permission of canal authorities. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boathouse is of vertical boards, battened, & metallic slate roof. It is 20' x 50' in plan, & besides winch & roller boatways, contains lumber loft, work bench, a closet & locker for tools. Used also to store bulky material. |
| Distance and Direction: | Boat house about 75' E of dwelling. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Btwn rear tower & RR embankment is an old crib, on which stands an old 3-posted skeleton-iron range tower, with winch & sheaves, but no longer in use. On E side of boat house are 2 old wood frame oil houses w/ shingle roofs, 8' sq. in plan. No longer used |