Report for Granite Island (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On Granite Island, MI, S'ly side of Lake Superior, about 12.5 miles N'd of Marquette, MI |
| Date of Report: | 06/22/1909 |
| Latitude: | 46° 43' 15.2" |
| Longitude: | 87° 24' 42.66" |
| Premises |
| Site: | By condemnation & purchase from State of MI, FR> Sec 22, T50N, R25W |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/18/1868 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 2.5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Granite rock |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None. Land directly on rock in a natural boat harbor, N side of island, or same on S side. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat only |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 12.5 miles to Marquette Harbor. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 12.5 miles to Marquette, MI |
| Distance to Village: | 12.5 miles to Marquette, MI |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By launch, tug or tender from Marquette. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1869 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Square prism |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 40' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 89' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Clear horizon |
| Color of Tower: | Natural dark granite |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | |
| Tower Connection: | Connected, forming the center front wall. |
| Object of Navigation: | Lake coast light & guide to Marquette Harbor from N'd & W'd |
| Building Materials: | Cut granite blocks, rough-hammered |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 21" thinnest part on sides |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 21" thinnest part on sides |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron, circular winding. Circular stair well 6' 6" diam. |
| Number of Landings: | 4 landings; one 1/8, three 1/4. |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4; 3 12-lt, 1 6-lt. sash 32" x 34 3/4" |
| Number of Doors: | 2; 1 into house, of cleated boards; 1 outside wood, 5 panels. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Built on surface of granite rock. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Bare granite rock. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Small brush & grass grows in crevices. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Platform or trestled walk, 5' wide, with wood rail outside, extends entirely around house & tower. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 0.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 6" |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 26 3/4" x 35.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron parapet lined with wood. Veritcals wrought iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Pyramidal, cast iron, copper lined. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper, platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper rod down outside of tower & 4' into rock; also similar rod from stair newel through wall joining the above. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery cast iron, 12' square; balustrade, 2 - 0.5" x 2" flat bar rails, 1 1/4" stanchions, ball tops. |
| Lantern Doors: | Single fold, cast iron door in parapet, brass fittings |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron plates |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron plate trap door in floor of lantern, with hand hole lift. No watchroom |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 in parapet, brass valves inside |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed to verticals. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute |
| Year Made: | Not given |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white varied by red flash |
| Time of Revolution: | 4 min. 30 sec. |
| Flash Interval: | 90 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed part in 4 panels, each 90 degrees - 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 3 |
| Arc of Each: | Size of flash panels; 12.5" wide by 23" |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Fixed central belt, 2 elements above & below |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | Fixed 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | Fixed 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | 3 panels of vertical elements revolving together on 1 frame outside of fixed part of apparatus. |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | Central belt & 2 elements each side |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | Entire height apparatus; central drum & 8 prisms |
| Pedestal: | Old pattern cast iron |
| Service Table: | Fan shaped, cast iron, attached to pedestal & supporting clockwork |
| Draft Tube Description: | Conical draft tube leads from top of lens to ventilator ball. Tin, painted & 8" diam. at base. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork drives horizontal spur gear running in large circular spur rack attached to flash panels. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Chariot |
| Chariot Description: | Fixed part of lens is supported on 4 2" wheels, flash panel ring runs on 9 chariot wheels, 3-1/16" diam, & guided by 3, 1.5" rollers. Places for 12 guide rollers. |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 28' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Brass-bound glass paneled case. |
| Regulated: | Wing governor & by changing weights |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | By ruby glass screens hung in brass frames outside of flash panels. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Ruby glass screens |
| Lamp Description: | Funk-Heap 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 (1 to each lamp) |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | 1/8" wire cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Down thru lantern floor, over brass drum, into weight flue in tower wall. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | 150' SE'ly from tower at front of rock. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' 6" x 8' 8" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick, concrete floor & ceiling, metal-slate roof. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 100 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | 3 closets & pantry in dwelling |
| Suitability: | Suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Fog bell, mounted in wood skeleton tower. |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Cast by J. Bernhard & Co., Philadelphia |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1856 |
| Characteristic: | Struck by hammer every 12 seconds |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Bell hung on top of skeleton wood tower, 9.5' sq. at top, 15' sq. at base; Upper part enclosed containing striking apparatus. Wood step ladders lead to bell. Wood canopy over bell. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1,500 lbs |
| Metal: | Bronze |
| Diameter: | 45.5" |
| Height: | 32" |
| Time: | 5.5 hours |
| Manufacturer: | J. Bernhard & Co., Philadelphia |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Dwelling attached to tower, S'ly side, & situated on high point of rock, NW'ly part of island |
| Coloring: | Natural dark granite |
| Construction Materials: | Rough cut granite blocks, with cut limestone corners, door & window trim & steps. Shingle roof over main part, metal slates over rear part. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 rooms & pantry |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & 1 Assistant |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame boathouse, shingle roof; board & batten shed, shingle roof; brick privy, tin roof; brick oil house; fog signal tower. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Boathouse, drab red roof; shed & bell tower, white; oil house & privy red brick, red roof; |
| Paths and Walks: | Wood walks & steps connecting all buildings |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Bare granite rock |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake by bucket hoist on platform 25' SE'ly of house. |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No. Wire rope anchored in lake at foor of rock, slopes up to platform at top of rock. Bucket runs on cable by small pulley & is lowered & hoisted by manila rope wound on wood winch. |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | None |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | No well |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | None needed. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boathouse stands about middle of island, 150' back from natural boat harbor on N side of island. Roller boatway leads from water up steep slope to boathouse. Iron winch in boathouse handles boat. Boathouse is 14' x 28' frame, with shingle roof. |
| Distance and Direction: | 50' E'ly of lighthouse & at foot of rock on which it stands. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | On S'ly side of island, on ledge of rock somewhat below general level of island at that place, is a lrg stiff-leg derrick, built of steel shapes, used for hoisting up a boat when weather prevents landing in boat harbor on N'ly side. |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Hand winch |
| Engine RPMs: | |
| Engine Diameter: | |
| Engine Stroke: | |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |