Report for Grosse Isle North Channel Front Beacon (Michigan) - 1909

General
District: 10th
Inspector: Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk & Norris Works, Supt.
Location: In 3.5' of water, about 175' to E'd of E'ly shore of Grosse Isle, MI., & nearly abreast of S'ly end of Fighting Island, main channel of Detroit River.
Date of Report: 02/03/1909
Latitude: 42° 10' 03"
Longitude: 83° 08' 22"
Premises
Site: Submarine lot conveyed to US by state of Michigan.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 01/25/1894
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 150' x 100' = 15,000 sq. ft.
Area Inclosed: Concrete foundation pier 20' x 20'
Character of Soil: None
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat from Wyandotte, MI., to Grosse Isle, about 3 miles, in summertime. In wintertime, over ice - from dwelling to Rear Beacon: by public street 1870' to shore, thence on elevated walk 161' to beacon.
Distance to Nearest Road: RR station at Wyandotte, MI., 3 3/4 miles. About 1/2 mile to steamboat landing.
Distance to Post Office: Grosse Isle, about 1/2 mile
Distance to Village: Wyandotte, 3 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: By L.S. & M. S. Ry. to Wyandotte or Mich. Cent. RR or trolley Toledo or Detroit to Wyandotte.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: From Wyandotte, MI., by regular steamer in summer, distance 3 miles.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Wooden tower
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1894
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: New tower in 1906
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Octagonal
Form of Tower: Right prism surmounted by frustrium of a pyramid
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 43' 2"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 45'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Fields & trees
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: Forms range with rear light for Grosse Isle North Channel, Detroit River
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 12"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 8"
Diameter at Base: 12' 9"
Diameter at Parapet: 8' 10"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden winding
Number of Landings: 2 intermediate
Size of Glass: 9" x 16" - 9" x 20"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 1 - 4 lights 9" x 16"; 3 - 4 lights 9" x 20"
Number of Doors: 1 door swinging in with a storm door swinging out.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Concrete on piles & rubble stone
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Water
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Old tower & timber foundation removed in 1906 & replaced with present concrete foundation & wooden tower.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: Radius 3' 7 1/4"
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 1 plate 33" x 36"
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 5 = 225 degrees
What Bearings: Bearing S 78 degrees 52' W to S 56 degrees 08' E; Azimuth: 258 degrees 52' to 123 degrees 52'; Bearing of range = S 11 degrees -22 W
Construction Material Lantern: Wood
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Wood, copper covered, zinc lining
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Brass
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper attached to top of copper ball, led down side of tower to concrete foundation, thence thru ventilator & thence down.
Balustrade: Wood, copper covered - iron pipe railing.
Lantern Doors: 1 swinging in. a storm door swinging out
Floor of Lantern: Wood, hard maple
Watchroom Doors: None
Parapet Diameter: 6' 7"
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4 in parapet, revolving brass discs valves.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass, screwed into top of corner posts.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 90 degree lens lantern
Inside Diameter: 11 13/16"
Light Characteristic: Fixed white 90 degrees
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 90 degrees visible between Bearing S 33 degrees 38' E to S 56 degrees 22' W; Azimuth: 146 - 22 to 236 22; 45 degrees on each side of range. Bearing of range S 11-22 W
Number of Panels: One
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 1
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 5
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, over stairs, 2 shelves underneath
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:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lens lantern lamps with 5th order burners
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: None
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 round wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1 1/4"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Large closet under stairs on 1st story.
Oil House Description: Square, red, iron oil house with black roof in rear of tower, on wharf, 11' from toewr, on S side of wharf.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe):
Suitability:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boathouse 16' x 24' on & alongside of wharf, 10' from beacon. Boat may be floated into house & hoisted out with tackle.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: