Report for Ecarse Front Beacon (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. C. Bartlett & Norris M. Works |
| Location: | In 3.5' of water on W'ly side of Detroit River, 550' S 2 degrees 36' E from Rear Beacon |
| Date of Report: | 02/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 14' 45" |
| Longitude: | 83° 07' 48" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Patent from State of Michigan |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 08/29/1893 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 700,000 sq. ft, 100' x 700', 1.607 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | Not inclosed |
| Character of Soil: | Mostly under water, except embankment about & btwn the 2 beacons. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small dock on W side of embankment 42' from dwelling - boat house on E side, 37' distant. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By row boat or launch 1 mile from Ecarse, MI. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Ecarse, MI, 1 mile - Worcester salt dock 1/8 mile NE |
| Distance to Post Office: | Ecarse, 1 mile |
| Distance to Village: | Ecarse, 1 mile |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | LS & MS RR & Mich. Cent. RR to Ecarse, MI., thence by small boat to station 1 mile. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower forming part of dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1895 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1904 - dwelling & tower built new. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square, forming part of dwelling. |
| Form of Tower: | Right prism/ top foundation well & base res. ball |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | General ground level to top foundation total 32' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 31' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Village of River Range & woods |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected, Tower projects slightly from front of dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Range - Detroit River Channel |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 6" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6" |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' 4" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' 4" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood, house stairs to 2nd story - winding to lantern |
| Number of Landings: | 1 at 2nd floor |
| Size of Glass: | 24" x 28" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 window - 2 sash for 24" x 28" glass |
| Number of Doors: | 1 door, entrance to tower, 2nd floor landing. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Piles supporting concrete blocks & brick. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Light sand & black earth, protected by rip-rap - marsh surrounding. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Soil is sodded with grass & protected by willow trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Old tower removed in 1903 & replaced with present structure. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | Radius 3' 7.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35 1/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 1 plate 35" x 36", flanked on each side by a plate 33" x 36", 3 extra frames of glass at station. |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 5 - 225 degrees |
| What Bearings: | Bearing N 64 degrees - 54' E by S to N 70 - 06 W; Azimuth - 64 degrees - 54 to 289 - 54; Bearing of range N 2 degrees - 36' |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Wood |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Of wood, copper covered, zinc lining. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper, platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper cord, twisted around ball, led down into water about 3'. |
| Balustrade: | Wood, covered with 14 oz. copper pipe railing. |
| Lantern Doors: | Of wood, swinging in with wooden storm door swinging out. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 with brass revolving disc valves, in parapet wall of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass, screwed into corner posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Closet, 3' 7" x 5' 2" with shelves. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | USLH Depot Lamp shop, Staten Is., NY |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | 6th order |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th - 270 degrees |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 13/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 270 degrees; Illuminates 135 degrees of horizon btwn Bearing N 70 degrees - 06 W to N 64 - 54 E; Azimuth 289 - 54 to 64 - 54; 67.5 degrees on each side of range; Bearing of range = N 2 degrees - 36' |
| Number of Panels: | 3 & metal door, silvered reflector. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 3 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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: | Wood |
| Service Table: | Wood |
| Draft Tube Description: | Copper tube 2.5" dia, 36.5" long. |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| 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: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order improved |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | Brown, square iron oil house, located 85' 11" N of dwelling. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Closet in upper story, fitted with shelves, on W side of dwelling. |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Built together, forming a single structure |
| Coloring: | Red, tower painted white. |
| Construction Materials: | Piles support concrete & brick foundation & basement. |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 rooms & storeroom, pantry & cellar |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Concrete walk from dwelling to Rear Beacon & to boat launch. |
| Area Inclosed: | Not inclosed |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Row of willow trees on each side of embankment btwn beacons. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Marsh |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By bucket from Detroit River. |
| Quality: | |
| Quantity: | |
| Injury Possible: | |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | By bucket from Detroit River |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | From 50 to 100' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: | Extensive swamps about vicinity of station, but they do not seem to make it unhealthful. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Red, frame, boat house 16' 4" x 24' 4", 37' N'ly from dwelling on E side of embankment. Timber boat ways covered with boards, from boat house to water, with small landing at foot of ways. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Grounds around dwelling are in very bad condition, as rats have undermined it & earth has washed out, leaving holes the size of a barrel. |