Report for Grosse Isle South Channel Front Beacon (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk & Norris Works, Supt. |
| Location: | Near N'ly end of Grosse Isle, on N'ly prolongation of axis of Ballard Reef dredged channel, W'ly side of main channel of Detroit River. |
| Date of Report: | 02/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 11' 05" |
| Longitude: | 83° 08' 30" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchased |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 07/03/1890 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 20.66 acres. Area above water about 1493' + 50' + 32' = 49376 sq. ft = 1.13 acres. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Marshy muck soil |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 24' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | At boathouse 30' WSW from tower. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from Wyandotte, MI. 1 1/4 miles. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 1 1/4 miles to Wyandotte, MI. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1 1/4 miles to Wyandotte, MI. |
| Distance to Village: | 1 1/4 miles to Wyandotte, MI. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | To Wyandotte by MCRR or LS & MS RR or by electric RR |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By row boat from Wyandotte, MI. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1891 - completed April 14, 1895 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Dwelling & out bldgs moved from Marnajude Isl. Jan., 1903 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 27' 3" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 30' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | 70' NW'ly from beacon. Was moved to this location from Marnajude Isl, Jan., 1903 |
| Object of Navigation: | Range lights - main channel of Detroit River. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 10.5" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 10.5" |
| Diameter at Base: | 12' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Straight to 1st landing, winding thence to lantern |
| Number of Landings: | 1 intermediate |
| Size of Glass: | |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 windows, each with 2 sash, having 4 lts 10" x 12" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Four concrete piers on piles |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Clay. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Soil was filled in around dwelling to a depth of 16". Bank was thrown up about tower 60' wide & from Front to Rear Beacons 20' wide & 4' high in July, 1902. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 8.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2 plates, 32" x 35" & 1 plate 34" x 35" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 5 = 225 degrees. |
| What Bearings: | Bearing N 50 deg 05' E to N 84 deg 55' W; Azimuth: 50 deg 05' to 275 deg 05'; Bearing of range = N 17 deg -25' W 67.5 deg. each side of range. |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Wood |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Wood, covered with copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper, gold plated platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper, soldered to spindle, led down side of tower into water. |
| Balustrade: | Of wood, covered with galv. iron. Iron pipe railing. |
| Lantern Doors: | Double wooden doors, 1 swinging in, & 1 swinging out. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Hard wood, oiled. |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6 3/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 brass, revolving in parapet wall |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Small stool used |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | None |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | With closet, cleaning shelf, & small shelf for oil can. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co. |
| Year Made: | Installed March, 1908 |
| Marks and Number: | Constructeurs, Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 270 degrees visible for 135 deg. Bearing N 85 degrees 55' W to N 50 degrees 05' W; Azimuth: 275 - 05 to 50 05; 67.5 degrees on each side of range. Bearing of range N 17 degrees-35 W |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Wooden, octagonal, forms newel post of stairs. |
| Service Table: | Wood, over stairs with shelf underneath |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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 |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| 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: | On 1st floor a large closet under stairs, with cleaning shelf, shelf for oil can, etc., 2 corner closets on 1st landing. |
| Oil House Description: | Red, square, iron, oil house, located 87' from Front Beacon, on W'ly side of boardwalk. Fitted with iron shelves for 5-gal oil cans. Erected April, 1904. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: | Dry, suitable |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 70' NW'ly from Front Beacon |
| Coloring: | White, lead trimming |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 (Room formerly used as storeroom converted to bedroom Oct., 1902) |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Shop & privy moved from Mamajuda in 1903; Boathouse built 1905. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Shop - whitewashed; Boat & oil houses brown, privy, white with lead trim. |
| Paths and Walks: | No cement walks. Boardwalks connecting several bldgs & 2 beacons. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Marsh & water |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From river by pump |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pumps |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Pumps in kitchen & boathouse. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Keeper says "low & damp" |
| Diseases: | Keeper says "rhumatism" [sic] |
| Prevalency: | Fall & Spring |
| Local Causes: | Marshes |
| Recommended Improvements: | Sanitary condition could be improved by dredging about dwelling & raising level of grounds. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Red boathouse, 12' x 20', 8' posts, 30' WSW from tower, with half pitch roof. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Iron force pump in boathouse for furnishing water for sprinkling but is little used on account of unsuitability. |