Report for Detroit River Light Station (Michigan) - 1885
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. E. L. B. Davis, Capt. of Engrs. 10th LH Dist |
| Location: | Near mouth of Detroit River, Lake Erie, MI. In 22' of water, 6 1/7 miles below Bois Blanc light |
| Date of Report: | 09/03/1885 |
| Latitude: | 42° 00' 00" |
| Longitude: | 83° 08' 22" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Submarine |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 10 acres |
| 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 detachable chain-railing in vicinity of boat crane. 8 house chocks, & iron snubbing posts are located in most suitable locations. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Foundation of Tower - stone pier. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | 7 miles to Amherstburg, Ont. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | Amherstburg, Ont., 7 miles. |
| Distance to Village: | Amherstburg, Ont., 7 miles. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat from Amherstburg, Ont. |
| 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: | New |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Cylindrical |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | Focal plane 45' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 56' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Distant trees |
| Color of Tower: | Brown |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Iron ore paint. |
| Tower Connection: | Keepers (3) occupy tower as dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Range for entering & leaving mouth of the River. |
| Building Materials: | Iron, 1st 3 stories lined with brick & plastered with cement finish; 4th story, watchroom & lantern ceiled with 7/8" ceiling. |
| General Description: | Tower of cast iron shell, shell 3/4" in thickness. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 12" brick lining. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Ceiled with wood 7/8" ceiling. |
| Diameter at Base: | 22' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 18' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron. circular, continuous against brick lining. |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 20" x 20" - circular windows 12" dia. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8 - 20" x 20" & 15 circular, each 12" |
| Number of Doors: | 13 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Water tight timber crib filled with concrete 23' 6" below lake level (water). |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | None |
| Soil Susceptibility: | None |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | A water closet 3' x 5' is located in NE corner of house, furnished with a "Buick", hopper, flushed from tank, a 6" wrought iron soil pipe with the blow-off of 2 boilers to cleanse the same. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| 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: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron, lined with 1/32" sheet zinc. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass, fire gilded & fitted with platinum point, 2" long. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Pinnacle secured to cowl by nut. |
| Balustrade: | Cast iron posts with top & bottom rail of wrought iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | Fitted with 2 gun metal hinges |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wrought iron trap door. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None - none necessary |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 10 Brass curtain hooks screwed into astragals. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Table & cupboard |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 2.5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white by white flashes. |
| Time of Revolution: | Fixed white for 1 minute, followed in next minute by 6 white flashes at 10 sec intervals. |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Entire horizon. |
| Number of Panels: | |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 9 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 6 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Iron |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| Revolving Machinery: | Revolving |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 8' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 2.5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | In case |
| Regulated: | By governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Wire |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Passes thru floor of lantern on E side then follows ceiling of watchroom to W side of tower, then passes thru floor of watchroom into 4th story. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 7 - fitted with shelves & hooks. 3 closets in 1st story, in brick lining of tower, fitted with 3 shelves, 13.5" deep & 3' wide. 2 closets each in 2nd & 3rd stories, fitted with 3 shelves each. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil house space partitioned off under fog signal & fitted with shelves. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 14' wide x 19' long |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Closets in tower used for this purpose: Closets in 1st story used for kitchen. 2nd & 3rd story closets for use of Principal & 2 Asst. keepers. Cupboard 4' wide, 8' high, 1' deep in 4th story for keeping brushes, wicks, chimneys, etc. |
| Suitability: | Suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" whistle & machinery in duplicate. Locomotive Boiler & vertical engines. |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | Blasts of 5 sec duration, followed by silent interval of 25 sec. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Situated N of Lighthouse with special object of warning vessels of Bar Point Shoals entering & leaving Detroit River, MI. |
| Distance and Direction: | 2.5' |
| Water Supply: | Lake, & water tank (of boiler iron) |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Fog signal house of corrugated iron, painted brown, 22' x 30', built of 6" x 6" studding, 2" planking placed diagonally outside & ceiled w/ 1" flooring inside, roof covered w/ corrugated iron, inside lined w/ sheet iron & painted light color. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake |
| Quality: | |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | None |
| Tank Capacity: | None |
| Tank Material: | None |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump & bucket from lake |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Stone Pier, 85' x 43' 6". Boat cranes - 1 in SW angle of pier secured to tower & 1 in NW end angle secured to fog signal house. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | |
| Lens Covers: | |
| Damper Tube and Key: | |
| Spare Damper and Key: | |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | |
| Time Marker: | |
| Gauge: | |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | |
| Curtain Hanger: | |
| Heater: | |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | |
| Lamp Stand: | |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | 1 in use, of wire rope |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | Cast iron - 6.5" in drain, x 2" thick. |
| Clutch: | |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | |
| Feather Brushes: | |
| Linen Towels: | |
| Sponges: | |
| Chamois Skins: | |
| Scissors: | |
| Chimney Filters: | |
| Coupling Pliers: | |
| Service Box and Implements: | |
| Cleaning Materials: | |
| Keepers Aprons: | |
| Wicks: |