Report for Grand Traverse Light Station (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Office of Engineer, 9th LH Dist. |
| Location: | On NW'ly extremity of Lighthouse Point, MI., W'ly side of entrance to Grand Traverse Bay; NE'ly part of Lake Michigan. |
| Date of Report: | 03/12/1909 |
| Latitude: | 45° 12' 39" N |
| Longitude: | 85° 32' 27" W |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation, Frac. Sec 6. Tp32, N. R10W. |
| Date of Reservation: | 07/02/1851 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 58.75 |
| Area Inclosed: | 2 sides of premises adjoining L-H enclosed by fence, about 2 1/3 acres, whole reservation enclosed on 2 sides to water with wire fencing. |
| Character of Soil: | Gravel & loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 200' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Picket & close board fences around light-house & fog signal bldg. Wire fencing around reservation area. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wood crib boat landing. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Sand & gravel road, part of beach 428-0 from light tower to wharf. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By public road from town of Northport, MI., or by water from same town. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 9 miles to nearest steam boat landing. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 9 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 9 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By public road |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By good wagon road from Northport, 9 miles or by small boat. Boat landing difficult. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower from roof of Keeper's dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1852 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1858. Keepers dwelling converted into double quarters 1900. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Prism of quadrangular form. |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 42' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | About 50' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded land |
| Color of Tower: | White tower |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted with white lead paint |
| Tower Connection: | Tower on roof of brick Keeper's dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light, guide to Grand Traverse Bay & to passage between Manitous & Mainland. |
| Building Materials: | Wood framework, 8" x 8" sq. timber; ext. walls covered with 7/8 lumber & sided with 7/8"x 6" pine flooring; interior walls plastered. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 8" frame |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6" frame |
| Diameter at Base: | 7' 6" x 7' 6" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 7' 6" x 7' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Stairs from 1st to 2nd floors. Steps 2nd floor to landing of deck. Wood. |
| Number of Landings: | 5 landings - 41 steps |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1; 10" x 14" - 4 lights |
| Number of Doors: | 1, from 2nd floor hall of residence |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone, about 3' below & 2.5' above grade for residence. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Gravel & loam. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower built of square timbers, & built on roof in front of Keeper's residence. Painted white & sheathed with matched flooring on ext. walls. Deck of same is covered with copper. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 9 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 28 x 36 |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Lantern not so fitted |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 3 sides unglazed 120 degrees |
| What Bearings: | To rearward of lighthouse |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Muntons btwn plate glass, steel; 6 lights of plate glass. General frame of tower, wood w/ ceiling. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Frame covered with copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper cable, leads down from cowl of lantern outside, down from end of dwelling to earth, 4' below surface & out 6" from cellar wall. 40' long & patched with pieces of iron rod. |
| Balustrade: | Wood; chamfered & moulded newels, moulded rails, gallery floor supported on cut brackets. |
| Lantern Doors: | Pine flooring 7/8" x 6", battened, & swings out. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Pine flooring, 7/8" x 6" covered with copper. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door fitted to lantern floor. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet wall, 4 cast iron sliding pattern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set regulation pattern |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Finestre |
| Year Made: | Not on apparatus |
| Marks and Number: | None visible |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white fresnel. 270 degrees arc of illumination 3 light panels 90 degrees each. 1 reflector panel (glass) 90 degrees |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 90 degrees Fixed, arc of illumination 270 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4; 3 light & 1 reflector |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| 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, 1 piece |
| Service Table: | Sheet iron on wrought iron frame. |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| 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: | White, by lens, lamp & chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | New 4th order. May 1898. 1 wick to burner. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 complete lamps |
| Number of Spare Burners: | Burner attached to & form part of lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | With shelves & cases for wicks, chimneys, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Placed 11' 4" S & 53' W. Fitted with steel shelving & standards, 4 shelves on each side |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 9' x 7' 9" (outside) |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Walls, common red brick; roof, cornice, door & frame, iron; Cut stone sills & caps. Pressed metal steel ceiling. |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Closet for every bedroom on 2nd floor, storeroom in attic |
| Suitability: | Suited for purposes for which designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle, Marine boilers |
| Time to Start: | 55 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Geo. F. Motter & Sons, York, PA, under contract with Ellicott Co., Balto, MD |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1899 |
| Characteristic: | 3 sec blast, 12 sec silent, 6 sec blast, 24 sec silent |
| Duplication: | All exc. smokestack, which is of brick & part of fog signal bldg. |
| Timing Device: | Cams on worm wheel on engine |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 85 # |
| Height Above Water: | 36' 11" |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Guide to Grand Traverse Bay & to passage between Manitous & Mainland. |
| Distance and Direction: | 95' S 110' W |
| Water Supply: | Well, 20' W at bldg. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By 2' plank walk from dwelling |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Ext. walls, buff pressed brick. Roof laid with metallic shingles. Painted red. Walls, brick faced. Partitions & ceiling covered with metal. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | Marine, open bottom, in dupe. |
| Kind: | Steam |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 5" |
| Length: | 6' 6" |
| Diameter: | Width 4' 9" |
| Tube Description: | 102 in each of boilers, 58 1/4" long |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Part of boiler |
| Furnace Length: | 5' |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 1 1/4" |
| Furnace Height: | 1' 6" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 393.95 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 20 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 17 double & 1 single |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | 2 bar spade end |
| Steam Fuel: | Wood |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Cast iron with weight & lever |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 130# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 85# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 18" x 18" brick stack |
| Smokestack Height: | 34' |
| Drum Dimension: | 3' 9" |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 36" |
| Steam Covering: | Comb. fitting comp. of layer asbestos board 1/16" thick, hairfelt 1" thick, layer of non-porous paper, whole covered with 10 oz canvas. |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1899 |
| Where Built: | York, PA. |
| Manufacturer: | Geo. F. Motter & Sons |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Upright |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 122 RPM |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 4" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 9" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 3/4 |
| Steam Engine When Built: | 1899 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | York, PA. |
| Manufacturer: | Geo. F. Motter & Sons |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 16" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2.5" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower of lighthouse of roof of dwelling. |
| Coloring: | Buff walls, dark roof (slate) Tower, white. |
| Construction Materials: | Foundation walls, stone; Walls, brick faced with buff bricks. Frame floors & roof. Roof covered with slate. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8, with 4 closets. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 Keeper & 1 Assistant |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Oil House, 9' x 7' 9"; Barn, 24.5' x 18' 3"; Shed, 24.5' x 14' 4"; Crib 3' 10" x 9' 3"; Hen coop 8' 4" x 12' 2"; Privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Generally painted cream white, red roofs; Roof of barn not painted. |
| Paths and Walks: | 340 linear ft. of plankwalk & 96' of cement walk. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 2 1/3 acres. Premises around dwelling enclosed by picket fence on S side & on E by rail board fence entire reservation enc on 2 sides to water line with wire fencing |
| Area of Garden: | 3 acres |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 15 acres timber; mostly all cedar, birch & balsam |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 20 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | 3 acres |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy & gravelly loam |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From well |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample for all seasons of year |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | None |
| Tank Capacity: | 1450 gals for house, placed under kitchen floor. |
| Tank Material: | House cistern of common brick, plastered with Portland cement mortar. Tank for fog signal, steel 7' 6" dia. 7' high; 2300 gal cap. in SW corner of fog bldg. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Residence, 19' 8" deep |
| Well Diameter: | Residence 3' dia. |
| Well Lining: | Residence lined with stone. |
| Pump or Bucket: | Residence, hand pump; Fog signal by steam pump. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Residence, 28' N of kitchen door; Fog signal, 20' W of bldg. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | Not any |
| Prevalency: | Not any |
| Local Causes: | Not any |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Good public road from lighthouse site to town of Northport. Boat landing constructed 1902; consisting of 2 cribs 1 - 8' x 12' & 1 - 8' x 20'. Outer crib connected to inner 1 by 11' span & inner crib connected at shoreline by 11' span. |
| Distance and Direction: | Wharf, 428' from lighthouse, direction WSW |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Premises & dwelling are in fairly good condition, & tower, illuminating apparatus & fog signal apparatus are in good condition. |