Report for Detroit River (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. C. Bartlett & Norris M. Works |
| Location: | In about 22' of water in NW'ly part of Lake Erie, at entrance to the mouth of the Detroit River. |
| Date of Report: | 02/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 00' 09" |
| Longitude: | 83° 08' 31" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Deed from State of Michigan. Boat house site purchased. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 05/10/1884 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 660' x 660' = 10 acres. Boat house site, ashore is 1 acre. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 11' from base of tower. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Pier railing composed of 2" wrought iron pipe, with double chain railing, chain railing is made detachable in vicinity of boat cranes. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Foundation pier. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | From Rockwood, MI by road to boat house on Huron River about 4 miles, thence by boat 4 miles to Light Station. 7 miles by boat from Amherstburg, Ontario. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Public road to boat house 4 miles. Public road at Bar Point, Ont. 4 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | Rockwood, MI |
| Distance to Village: | Rockwood, 8 miles; Amherstburg, Ont. 7 miles. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By LS & MS RR to S. Rockwood, MI. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By LS & MS RR to S. Rockwood, MI. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Cast iron tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1885 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 49' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 55' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | River & distant land |
| Color of Tower: | White tower, Brown fog signal house |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Tower is large & is fitted up for the 3 keepers, 2 at a time, as quarters or dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Guide for entering the Detroit River. |
| Building Materials: | Cast iron; first 3 stairs lined with brick & plastered with cement finish 4th story, watchroom & base of lantern ceiled with 7/8" wood. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 12" brick lining, total thickness 24" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Ceiled with 7/8" wood |
| Diameter at Base: | 22' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 18' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron circular, against brick lining. |
| Number of Landings: | 4 intermediate |
| Size of Glass: | 20" x 20" - circular windows 12" dia. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8; 2 lts each 20" x 20" & 15 circular sash. |
| Number of Doors: | 16 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Water tight timber crib filled with concrete. Bottom at 23' 6" |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Water. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4 1/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 26.5" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron lined with 1/32" sheet zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass fire gilded & fitted with platinum point 2" long. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Pinnacle secured to ventilator ball by nut. Tower forms conductor to base. 1" galv. iron wire rope secured by eye bolt to base of tower, thence led over pier & down to water surface, where a 5/8" copper cable is spliced on & leads into water about 12'. |
| Balustrade: | Cast iron posts, with top & bottom rail of wrought iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | With 2 gun metal hinges & gun metal lock. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wrought iron trap door. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 11 3/4"; Lantern made by Russell Wheel & Foundry Co. of Detroit, MI. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 in lower part of lantern with brass revolving discs. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 10 brass curtain hooks, screwed into astragals. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Fitted with hooks & small bureau with drawers. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Jaynes Bros & Co, Ltd. |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 11/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white 30 sec., followed during next 30 sec by 6 consecutive white flashes - interval btwn flashes 5 sec. |
| Time of Revolution: | 1 min |
| Flash Interval: | 5 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Illuminates entire horizon, "fixed" panel covers 180 degrees Fresnel lens. |
| Number of Panels: | 7 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 6 |
| Arc of Each: | 30 degrees Bulls eye panels. |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Whole apparatus revolves. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Of iron & brass built with 4 columns, clockwork included in top. |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | 2.5" brass tube. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Made at L.H. Depot, 10th Dist. Buffalo, NY |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Weights are held in proper position by 2 guide lines, 15' 3" long, secured top & bottom by eye bolt. |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Brass case, glazed. |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Passes thru floor of lantern on E side & down to 4th story. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 20 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1/2" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick, circular |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 7 fitted with shelves & hooks. 3 closets in 1st story in brick lining of tower, fitted with shelves 13.5" deep, 3' wide; 2 closets in 2nd story fitted with 3 shelves each & hooks; 2 closets in 3rd story fitted with 3 shelves each. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil room in storeroom in 4th story of tower -- lined with galv. iron. Oil in 5-gal boxed cans. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Closets in tower used as follows: closets 1st story used for kitchen purposes; 2nd & 3rd story closets for use of Principal & asst. Keepers. Cupboard 4' wide, 8' high, 12" dia. in 4th story for keeping brushes, wicks, chimneys, etc. |
| Suitability: | Dry, suited. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 13 HP Hornsby-Akroyd oil engines, geared to 8 low pressure tanks from which auto siren is blown thru agency of Crosby Automatic Apparatus. |
| Time to Start: | 15 min. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | De La Vergne Refrigerating Mach. Co., NY |
| Year of Manufacture: | Installed June, 1905 |
| Characteristic: | 1st class compressed air siren: blasts 3 sec, silent interval 27 sec. |
| Duplication: | All in duplicate except 2 air tanks. |
| Timing Device: | Crosby Automatic apparatus in duplicate |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | 31' |
| Compass Direction: | E |
| Location: | Guides vessels to entrance of Detroit River, warning them off Bar Point Shoals. |
| Distance and Direction: | 2.5' N |
| Water Supply: | From lake direct & from tank of wood lined w/ copper, resting on top of toilet room in f.s. house supplied from lake by pumps, about 30" x 30" |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Wood, covered with corrugated iron, painted brown, 22' x 20' built of 6" x 6" studding, 2" planking placed diagonally outside & ceiled with 1" flooring inside & lined with sheet iron. Walls filled with lime & saw dust, floor of concrete, cellar underneath |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Siren Signal |
| Siren: | Cylindrical |
| Siren Diameter: | 6" |
| Siren Built Date: | 1904 |
| Siren Manufacturer: | 3rd L.H. Dist. Mach. Shop |
| Siren Ports: | 20 - 1/16" x 2 3/4" |
| Siren Revolutions: | |
| Siren Governor: | Friction blocks |
| Siren Condition: | Fair |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | H.P. tank - 2' 1" dia x 8' high; L.H. tank - 3' 7" dia. x 8' high |
| Kind: | Hornsby-Ackroyd Oil Engine |
| Manufacturer: | De LaVergne Refrig. Mach Co. |
| Date Made: | Installed 1905 |
| Nominal Size: | 11" x 15" stroke |
| Horsepower: | 13 |
| Compressor: | 8" x 8" horizontal single cyl, double acting. |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | Ingersoll Rand Co. |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Geared ratio |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 6' |
| Trumpet Diameter: | Large end 18"; small end 7" |
| Trumpet Material: | Copper |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Quarters in tower |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Cast iron lined with brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 2 sleeping rooms & kitchen |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 3; ordinarily 2 on duty. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | By fence, 1 acre at boat house |
| Area of Garden: | 1 acre at boat house site, 4 miles distant, ashore |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 1 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | At boat house - marsh about site, soil at boat house site is good, rich, black earth. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake by 1 1/4" pipe, from either of 2 intakes. |
| Quality: | Fair |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | About 30' x 30', 118 gal. built of plank & lined with copper, placed on top of toilet room in F.S. bldg. Supplied from Lake by pumps on engines |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pumps on engines, or hand pumps. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 1 intake is on E'ly side of crib. This is sometimes above water level |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | At lighthouse: foundation pier, thru boat cranes. 1 at SW angle of pier, secured to tower; 1 at NW angle secured to fog signal house; 1 at E'ly side of Fog signal house. Boathouse equipped with iron winch for hauling in boats on boatways. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Boat house on shore built in 1901, situated on Huron River, about 1 mile from mouth & about 4 miles from light station. Reached by road from Rockwood, distance about 4 mi.; Land was purchased from Point Manillee shooting club in 1900 at a cost of $350. |