Report for Guard Island (Alaska) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 13th |
| Inspector: | Maj. JF McIndoe, Corps of Engineers, USA |
| Location: | At N'ly entrance to Tongass Narrows on N'ly Guard Island. |
| Date of Report: | 02/18/1910 |
| Latitude: | 55° 26' 42" |
| Longitude: | 131° 52' 49" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reserved by Executive Order |
| Date of Reservation: | 01/06/1901 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 9.5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Rock |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 65' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing made at NE'ly extremity of island. Landing can be made at any stage of tide & at boatways at a stage of 5' above low water. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Cement footwalk 200' to head of boatways; boatways 3' gauge, 200' long. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from passing steamers, by hired steamer, launch or sailboat from Ketchikan. Landing can be made at almost any time except in strong N'ly wind at boatways |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Ketchikan, Alaska, 10.5 miles SE'ly in Tangoes Narrows |
| Distance to Post Office: | Ketchikan, Alaska, 10.5 miles |
| Distance to Village: | Ketchikan, Alaska, 10.5 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None except by small boat from passing steamers |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Boat may be hired in Ketchikan, Alaska, distant 10.5 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower also carrying bell |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | September 15, 1904 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 39' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 79' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Approached from N'd, a dark background about 3 miles distant - from S'd faint background 15 miles distant |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | For vessels entering & leaving N'ly entrance to Tongass Narrows. |
| Building Materials: | Frame & concrete foundation |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 10" cement foundation, frame about 8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' square |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' square at top |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden stairway |
| Number of Landings: | 1 landing in 1st floor stair; then clock room; then 1 flight to lantern |
| Size of Glass: | 1st floor, 14" x 26 - 4 lights; 2nd floor, 18" x 20" - 2 lights all 21 oz. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 - 1st floor 18" x 30" 2-sash each; 4 - 2nd floor 22" x 25" - 2 sash each |
| Number of Doors: | 1 outside door at base of tower, 1 trap door to lantern, 1 door lantern parapet. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete foundation, 3' deep to rock |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rocky |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No growth can be cultivated except what is planted by nature. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower is on highest point of N'ly island. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' across faces |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| 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: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | Regular glass - 2' 10 1/4" - 3' 5/8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 3 - 3' 8 1/4" x 3' 5/8" |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | Glazed all around |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron sills, bronze posts, cast iron soffit wrought iron rafters & purlins - main parapet wood |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper with opening at base |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass spindle with platinum on top screwed into ball on dome |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | Wooden balcony rail around gallery, gallery floor covered with copper |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 hinged trap door in floor 20" x 26"; 1 door hinged parapet 26" x 33" with galvanized hinge & brass lock. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door from clockroom in lantern floor hinged. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Balcony rail 10' square. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 cast iron ventilators, 5" dia. with brass damper plate on inside |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Wooden portable step ladders |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtains hung on Hartshorn spring rollers in bronze brackets. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 1st floor of tower is used as watchroom with locker, desk, 2 chairs, stove, coat & hat hooks |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Supplied from Thompkinsville |
| Year Made: | 1904 |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | Lens lantern |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | White lens lantern, 360 degrees 5-day |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 panels in lantern |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | None |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | None |
| 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 pedestal to bring lens lantern to focal plane of 4th order lantern. |
| Service Table: | None - lamps filled in oil room. |
| 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: | By ruby panels in lantern |
| Red Sectors Description: | 297 degrees 45' & 381 degrees 40' covering Roca Reef & Vallinar Point. |
| Where Color Attached: | To lantern inside of plate glass. |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Strips of ruby glass of necessary width secured by wooden cleats at top & bottom. |
| Lamp Description: | Lens lantern lamp, 5th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 - note there are 2 lens lanterns complete at station, 1 is 5-day |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Lockers in 1st floor fitted with 1 shelf & coat & hat hooks. |
| Oil House Description: | 40' E'ly of tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 8' x 7' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Concrete, galv. iron wood |
| Oil House Capacity: | 1700 gallons |
| Other (Describe): | None except in dwelling |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Stevens improved fog-bell striker & 1200 lb bell operating weight 800 lbs, 3/8" steel wire cable 50' long. |
| Time to Start: | Ready for immediate service |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Boston, George M. Stevens |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1904 |
| Characteristic: | 1 blow every 20 sec. |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Bell hung from beam on N'ly face of tower on 2nd floor, clockwork placed on 2nd floor, weights passing thru to 1st floor. |
| Distance and Direction: | Attached to lighthouse |
| Water Supply: | None required |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Bell tower supports lantern |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1200 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | 40" |
| Height: | 28 5/8" |
| Time: | 2 1/4 hours |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 1 dwelling about 100' N'ly from tower |
| Coloring: | White with brown roof |
| Construction Materials: | Lower story cement - this story, on acct of hillside, shows as basement on W side - Upper story is frame, shingled. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 living rooms, fuel room, cellar, pastry bathroom & garret. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & 1 asst. keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 1 boathouse & 1 car house, both frame |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White with brown roof |
| Paths and Walks: | Cement walks from dwelling to all bldgs at station. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 1/2 acre in all, bulk being on S island which can be reached dry shod at half-tide |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rocky |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water off roofs |
| Quality: | Fair |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Well protected in cement cistern 10' above high water. |
| Purity Precaution: | Filtered thru brick walls, cistern painted inside with P&B paint |
| Tank Capacity: | 1, 12000 gal cap, placed 6' from N'ly end of bldg |
| Tank Material: | Cement concrete |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | Hand force |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Pumped at sink in dwelling to tank in attic thence piped to fixtures |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: | Nothing required; grounds slope away from bldg. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing made at boatways abt 300' from tower. Boats can land at any stage of tide but cannot reach ways below a 5' stage. Boathouse, 16' x 40' contains 2 boats, 1 boat car & carpenter shop, stands at head of boatways up which cars are hauled by windlass. |
| Distance and Direction: | 300' NE'ly |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Gauge of boatway - 3'; length 20'. A push car stored in 7' x 9' car house connecting with turntable in front of boathouse. |