Report for Grande Pointe au Sable (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter |
| Location: | On Grande Pointe au Sable, MI., 45 miles to S'd of Pointe Betsie, E'ly side of Lake Michigan. |
| Date of Report: | 06/10/1909 |
| Latitude: | 44° 03' 29" |
| Longitude: | 86° 30' 53" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reserved by President of US; Apparently on different dates, according to data in office, 1st order 6/4/1856, 2nd order 5/28/1858 & as per A.R. Flint's survey of 1883, 10/16/1866. |
| Date of Reservation: | 06/06/1856 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 857.72 acres according to original tracings in office files; 933 acres according to survey of A.R. Fiint, June 14 - 18. 1883 |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Shifting yellow sand. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 385' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None, sand beach for landing with small boats. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By driving along beach from Ludington, or by boat from Ludington in fair weather. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | No public road, 9 miles to Pere Marquette RR & boat landing at Ludington, MI. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 9 miles, Ludington, MI |
| Distance to Village: | 9 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By driving along beach. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower, brick encase with steel |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1867 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Tower 1900, Dwelling remodeled, 1908 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 112' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 106' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Moveable sand dune surmounted by fringe of green. |
| Color of Tower: | Middle 3rd black, rest of tower (top & bottom 3rds) white. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected to Keeper's dwelling by covered way, 14' long. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light for general navigation purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Brick walls, encased with steel filled in btwn brick walls & steel casing with concrete. Plates 3/8" metal. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 5' 7 3/4" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 20" |
| Diameter at Base: | 19' 2" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 13' 4" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron, spiral |
| Number of Landings: | 5 besides watchroom |
| Size of Glass: | 14 3/8" dia. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8 circular windows, 16.5" outside dia. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 in base of tower opening into covered way. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone foundation, 6' 6" below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Drifting yellow sand. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | None |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' 9" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 8' 8 3/8" |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 69 3/4 |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One; 7 glass sides, 3 blind sides filled with sheet metal. |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 31.5 x 69 3/4 |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Not so fitted |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 3, 108 degrees |
| What Bearings: | N & S to E'd |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron frame, glass sides, roof, cast iron frame with copper covering, zinc lining under roof. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron ribs, covered with copper, lined inside with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper, perforated for ventilation. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Spindle attached to cowl. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" dia. copper rod, fastened to lantern deck extends down east side of tower to ground. |
| Balustrade: | Upper gallery, liveable with glass sides, has small railing 18" high, deck 18" wide outside & 28" wide inside; Lower gallery 3' 6" wide, partly supported by cast iron brackets 3' 4' high. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron trap door from watchroom; Double inside doors & sing. outside storm door, leading from Watchroom to lower outside gallery hung with hinges & bolts for fasteners. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron plates on level with upper gallery, which is reached by iron stairs from watchroom floor, lens extends up thru this floor. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron trap door in floor of watchroom, from top of stairs. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Brick, 8' inside dia. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators, 1/2 opening, bronze, 4 3/8 openings. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 iron ladder, detachable, 7' long. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set regulation pattern, screwed in astragals of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | With cupboard, recessed in walls of tower, having 3 shelves, 3 circular windows. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co., Paris |
| Year Made: | No date on lens |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 39 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white, fresnel lens, arc of illumination 288 degrees |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed, 4 sections of glass, 1 section open, each 72 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 13 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 11 |
| 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 |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Planished iron with bronze ring on each end, damper tube slips inside of connecting tube. |
| 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: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 3rd order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 3 wicks |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 2 5/8", 1 3/4", 1" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 in watchroom, recessed in wall of parapet |
| Oil House Description: | 2, 50' SW of dwelling, 1 fitted with shelving |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7.1 dia, 9' high; 5' 4.5" x 7' 6" x 9' 1" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Circular house steel; other house brick walls. |
| Oil House Capacity: | Round house - 84 5-gal cans on shelves; Brick house will hold 200 5-gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | Cellar & connecting passage are used for storage. |
| Suitability: | Suited. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Compressed air siren, operated by oil engines |
| Time to Start: | 10 min with gasoline; 25 min with kerosene |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | Twice, about 63 sec. |
| Manufacturer: | Fairbanks Morse Co., Beloit, WI |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1908 |
| Characteristic: | 3 sec blast, 12 sec silent interval, 3 sec blast, 27 sec silent interval. |
| Duplication: | All parts excepting tanks for air storage. |
| Timing Device: | Crosby Automatic in duplicate |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Siren, 75# |
| Height Above Water: | 33' |
| Compass Direction: | Due W |
| Location: | W by S from lighthouse, to cover points where boats sailing along E shore change their course. |
| Distance and Direction: | 216' WSW 1/4 W |
| Water Supply: | Well, E of Fog Signal bldg |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By 30" boardwalk |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Buff brick with hip roof covered with red asbestos shingles, size 23.6 x 36 |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | |
| Tube: | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Length: | |
| Diameter: | |
| Tube Description: | |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | |
| Furnace Length: | |
| Furnace Width: | |
| Furnace Height: | |
| Steam Heat Surface: | |
| Steam Grate Surface: | |
| Number of Grate Bars: | |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | |
| Steam Fuel: | Kerosene oil |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever safety valve |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | Tested at 150# |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 80# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | |
| Smokestack Height: | |
| Drum Dimension: | |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | |
| Steam Covering: | |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | |
| Steam Boiler Built: | |
| Where Built: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | |
| Steam Engine When Built: | |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | |
| Manufacturer: |
| Siren Signal |
| Siren: | Cylindrical |
| Siren Diameter: | 4 23/64" |
| Siren Built Date: | 1908 |
| Siren Manufacturer: | A & F Brown |
| Siren Ports: | 11, 1/4" x 1 1/8" |
| Siren Revolutions: | |
| Siren Governor: | Friction |
| Siren Condition: | Good |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | |
| Kind: | Oil engine |
| Manufacturer: | Fairbanks, Morse & Co |
| Date Made: | 1908 |
| Nominal Size: | 22 HP |
| Horsepower: | Will carry overload to 25 |
| Compressor: | Single acting |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | Fairbanks Morse Co. |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Same bed, direct connected. |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 6' |
| Trumpet Diameter: | 4' at bottom, 9" at top |
| Trumpet Material: | Copper |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Adjoining tower to S'd connected by covered way 14' long |
| Coloring: | Buff walls |
| Construction Materials: | Stone cellar walls, Milwaukee buff brick walls, shingle roof. 1.5 stories. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 rooms in Keeper's portion; 2 assts apts of 3 rooms each with pantry & 2 closets. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper, 2 assts. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 3, brick privy 6' 6" x 5' 7"; Frame shed 8' x 10' double sheds 30' 4" x 37' 8" & 2 oil houses |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Small shed, white, dbl shed bronze green |
| Paths and Walks: | 30" plank walks, all around dwelling & to various out bldgs & fog signal bldg & to beach |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy, full of water holes, about 3000' back from beach, there is timber; pine, cedar, hemlock, beech & birch. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | 1 drive well inside of Fog Signal bldg & 1 encased well outside for lavatory purposes. For dwelling, 2 driven wells N & S of bldg. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | None, cannot be easily got at for cleaning purposes. |
| Tank Capacity: | 150 brls, built in cellar of dwelling |
| Tank Material: | Brick laid in cement, & lined with cement |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | 2 driven wells, N & S of dwelling |
| Well Diameter: | 1 1/4" |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pumps |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Adjacent |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | Entire reservation is covered with small lakes & water holes. |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Sand around Fog Signal bldg has blown away until there is over 6' of foundation exposed. Rest of grounds are as good as could be expected, considering that soil is shifting yellow sand. Foundation of F.S. bldg will be protected by suitable means. |