Report for Whitefish Point (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On Whitefish Point, MI., S'ly shore of SE'ly part of Lake Superior |
| Date of Report: | 07/15/1909 |
| Latitude: | 46° 46' 16.74" |
| Longitude: | 84° 57' 25.91" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation. All of Fr. Sec. 32. T 51 N, R5W, MI. meridian. |
| Date of Reservation: | 04/05/1847 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 115.5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | About 2 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Sand & gravel |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Wire fence surrounds dwellings, oil house & tower. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Road leads from both fog signal & tower to booth dock, about 1/4 mile distant |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat to station, or by boat to Whitefish Pt. dock, thence by rig to station; or by stage from Eckerman to Whitefish Pt. PO which is 2.5 miles by road from light station. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1/4 mile to steamboat dock at Whitefish Point, belonging to Booth Co. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 2.5 miles to Whitefish |
| Distance to Village: | 2.5 miles to Whitefish; 40 miles by water to Sault Ste. Marie |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Rig or small boat from Whitefish Point PO 2.5 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Skeleton tower built in 4 sections. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1849 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1861 |
| Condition at This Date: | Excellent |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Skeleton iron with cylindrical stair well. |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 78' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 76' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected by covered passage at level of 2nd floor of dwelling. Passage 20' long. |
| Object of Navigation: | Lake coast light & guide to & from Whitefish Bay. |
| Building Materials: | Iron & steel |
| General Description: | Bottom section is of 4 6' vert. corner posts, fitting into cast iron sockets & 6" center post supporting ends of 4 12" I-beams that support stairwell & also taking load of central stair col. & lens apparatus. 4.5" struts connect bottoms of these posts. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | 26' sq. to center of corner posts. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 6' to center of corner posts. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular winding of cast iron with pipe railing. Rises from level of top of bottom section, 17.5' abv ground to lantern floor. |
| Number of Landings: | 2 & lantern floor |
| Size of Glass: | 14" x 15.5" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 - casement sash; 19.5" x 18" of iron. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 door into passage at base of stair cylinder - 2-fold wood. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone piers under each post. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & gravel |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Nothing by sand, grass & brush that grow here. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Add'l reservation 12/9/1852 |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 9.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 7' 7 3/4" |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical with horizontal sash bars. |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 5' 9 3/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | Bottom plate 29.5" x 18"; middle 29.5" x 25.5"; top 29.5" x 26" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 2 panels each 36 degrees |
| What Bearings: | Btwn 207 degrees & 279 degrees with 0 degrees at N. |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Lower part cast iron, remainder wrought iron. Lower part lined with vertical wood ceiling. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Sheet copper dome 10 sided on 10 wrought iron rails, lined with zinc. Tin cone lens protector is supported on lateral radiating rods attached to spider. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper, with platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade: top & bottom rails of 3/4 x 2" bars with 5/8 verticals spaced 5" no center & 1 1/4" stanchions with ball tops. Gallery 32" wide, octagonal cast iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | Double (inside & outside) 2-fold wood panel door leads from lower part of lantern to main gallery deck. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron. Upper gallery circular inside & extends outside to form circular gallery 24" wide with 22" rail of 1 flat & 1" stanchions. |
| Watchroom Doors: | No Watchroom. An iron plate trap door fitted with brass handle & hinges in lantern floor. |
| Parapet Diameter: | No parapet. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 9 ventilators in lower part of lantern at top of panels. Cast iron loose slides in cast iron recesses. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 17" ladder leads from main gallery to upper lantern gallery thru manhole. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 5 hrs, 15 min. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Benard, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1895 |
| Marks and Number: | B.F. 102 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd (3.5 30-jul-1966) |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 7/8" from center of burner to inside face of bullseye |
| Light Characteristic: | White flash |
| Time of Revolution: | 10 sec |
| Flash Interval: | 10 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | No fixed part. There is but 1 bullseye with 4 concentric elements, outside of which are 4 radiating panels of prisms, each 60 degrees & 3 (beneath bullseye) each 140 degrees. |
| Number of Panels: | |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | |
| 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, resting on lantern floor, & hollow, containing shaft & pivot bearing of apparatus & horiz. spur driving gear. Upper part of pedestal has 4 sets of helical lugs for lowering apparatus. |
| Service Table: | Cast iron, attached to pedestal & supporting the clock case. |
| Draft Tube Description: | A damper tube 2 7/8" dia. of Russia iron leads from chimney into ventilator flue at spider. Ventilator flue is 8" dia. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork driving a horizontal spur gear working in another attached to vertical shaft on pedestal. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Mercury float. Lower end of shaft has a pivot bearing. |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 60.5', is cylindrical sheet iron shaft 12" x 15" dia. leading down outside of stair cylinder from lantern deck to ground. |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 5 hrs, 15 min. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By bronzed sheet iron case with glass panels. |
| Regulated: | 2 weights suspended from a circle at top of case. Friction pads attached to top of these weight hangers bear on a horiz. fixed circle that acts as brake when apparatus speeds up & weights move outward. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | A white light. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Hydraulic float lamp |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Wire rope |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 5/16" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Wound on drum in clock case, leads down thru lantern floor over 2 brass sheaves into drop tube outside of tower. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 3 wicks |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 2 5/8" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Circular, conical roof; 100' S of tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Steel plate, brick lined. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 72 5-gal cans, 360 gals. |
| Other (Describe): | 1 closet in 1 part of dwelling; 2 closets in other part, pantry in each. 11' x 12' cellar under kitchen of each part. Attic over 1 part. |
| Suitability: | Suitable, but not adequate to use of occupants of dwelling. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle |
| Time to Start: | 30 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Rebuilt by Robt. E. Wrege |
| Year of Manufacture: | Rebuilt in 1896 |
| Characteristic: | Blast 5 sec, silent interval 13 sec; blast 2 sec, silent interval 40 sec. |
| 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: | Situated near end of point NE of tower. 2 old frame fog-signal houses near new one used as shop & storehouse. |
| Distance and Direction: | 900' NE of tower. |
| Water Supply: | Well, 6' dia. 12' deep brick lined, 16' from SE corner of house. Tank 4.5' x 5' of steel. Cap. 600 gals. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By 950' of concrete walk. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Frame structure 22' x 40' plan, 12' to plates, hip roof, brick foundation. Outside & roof sheathed with 2" plank & covered with #18 corr. iron. Inside sheathed with 1" x 12" boards & covered with #26 smooth iron. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Kingsford compact marine, open bottom, Pat. 1894 |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 9" |
| Length: | 6' 6 3/4" |
| Diameter: | 4' 9 3/4" wide |
| Tube Description: | 102, 4' 9.5" lone (order 4' 10") |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Internal |
| Furnace Length: | 6' |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 3" |
| Furnace Height: | 19" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 413.88 sq. ft.; steam space 53.75 cu. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 21 1/4 sq. ft.; water space 62.29 cu. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 17 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double bars - 5' long |
| Steam Fuel: | Bituminous coal |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever - 2.5" |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 75# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 20" |
| Smokestack Height: | 40' |
| Drum Dimension: | 5' long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Compound; asbestos, felt, paper, canvas. |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1896 |
| Where Built: | Oswego, NY |
| Manufacturer: | Thomson Kingsford |
| Steam Heater: | True |
| Kind: | Gurney, #402 |
| 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: | 1896 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Detroit, MI. |
| Manufacturer: | Russel Wheel & Foundry Co. |
| 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 passage leading from 2nd story. A double dwelling. |
| Coloring: | Buff with white trimmings, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Frame, shingle roof, brick foundation. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms, hall, pantry, cellar to each part & attic, 3 closets, vestibule & passage to tower. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Principal keeper & family & 1st asst. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Woodshed, double privy, chicken house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Woodshed, whitewashed; chicken house, painted white with red roof; privy buff with red roof. |
| Paths and Walks: | 1290' concrete walk & 300' board walk connecting all bldgs. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 2 acres |
| Area of Garden: | 1/2 acre |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | About 80 acres in jack pine & brush. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 1/2 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/2 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Along N side & NW part is shifting sand. Remainder has considerable gravel, & small part along W side is marsh. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | |
| Coloring: | A 16 x 24 sided & shingled (unsealed inside) house painted maroon upper story buff, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | On posts, 1st story sided, 2nd story shingled. |
| Number of Rooms: | 3 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2nd asst. |
| 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 well |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample, except once in winter. |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | No cisterns |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Stone curbed well 4' dia. 10' deep with a barrel at bottom. |
| Well Diameter: | 4' |
| Well Lining: | Curbed with cobblestone. |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump at well & 1 in each kitchen. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 25' N of rear of dwelling. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthfulness good |
| Diseases: | None prevalent. Recent cases of scarlet fever at Whitefish Point PO |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | None needed |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No landing. Boathouse of boards battened, shingle roof, whole painted maroon. Double doors in each end & tramway track runs thru it. Size 14' x 26'. |
| Distance and Direction: | 1200' E by N |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tramway, 370' long, leads from beach, 60' to boathouse, thru boathouse & to fog-signal house. |