Report for Kalamazoo (Michigan) - 1910

General
District: 9th
Inspector: Francis J. Otter, Draftsman, 9th Dist.
Location: On N'ly side of mouth of Kalamazoo River, MI., & at old entrance to harbor of Saugatuck & Douglas, E'ly side of S'ly part of Lake Michigan.
Date of Report: 04/30/1910
Latitude: 42° 40' 00" N
Longitude: 86° 12' 50" W
Premises
Site: Purchase, consideration $250 from Horace H. & Sarah Comstock; Village lots 10 thru 18, Blk 2 of village plat of Kalamazoo, MI.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 03/07/1838
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: Undetermined
Area Inclosed: None
Character of Soil: Sandy
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 200'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: No inclosure
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Boatways & landing in front of dwelling, 3' wide 32' long.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: 3' walk, partly over trestle work, with 2 sets of steps, distance of about 200'
Means to Reach Light Station: By ferry across Kalamazoo River at Saugatuck & walk 1.5 miles over sand hills to S side of river in front of Light station, or by driving from Saugatuck to station about 5 miles over sandy road.
Distance to Nearest Road: Electric RR at Saugatuck connects with Pere Marquette RR at Holland, MI.; By ferry across river twice, distance is about 2 miles; & by driving around the river.
Distance to Post Office: 4 miles to Saugatuck P.O.
Distance to Village: 2 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By driving over sandy road.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Wooden tower over dwelling.
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1839
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1859 & minor repairs since year by year.
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square tower on yellow frame dwelling.
Form of Tower: Rectangular prism.
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 46' 6"; Height of focal plane above base 42'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 53'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Sand hills & trees
Color of Tower: Buff walls, white gallery & cornice, black lantern.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: By lead & oil paint.
Tower Connection: Tower is on dwelling & forms part of roof.
Object of Navigation: Coast light
Building Materials: Wood & iron
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 8"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 8"
Diameter at Base: 7' 9" sq.
Diameter at Parapet: 7' 9" sq.
Kind of Stairway and Steps: 3 sets wooden steps
Number of Landings: 3 landings
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 1 window
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Brick wall under dwelling
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Shifting sand
Soil Susceptibility: Yes, there are a few poplar & Balm of Gilead trees on site.
Miscellaneous Remarks: No information whatever could be obtained in Registrar's Office, Oct., 1903, regarding size of lots at mouth of Kalamazoo River, nor is there the plat referred to (above) on file in the office.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 7' 2"
Diameter in the Clear: 6' 7"
Number of Sides: 9
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: 28" x 36", 6 glazed sides.
Number of Storm Panes: Lantern not so fitted
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 3
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wooden parapet with cast iron rim above parapet; lantern, cast iron frame & cornice, plate glass lts
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron frame, covered with copper & lined with zinc.
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper globe
Lightning Spindle: Copper spindle on top of ventilator ball
Description of Lightning Rod: 3/4" copper cable, continued down & grounded in earth.
Balustrade: Balustrade, iron rail & posts; Gallery, wood construction, covered with copper, square with octagon corners.
Lantern Doors: In parapet of lantern, hinged.
Floor of Lantern: Pine wood floor & painted
Watchroom Doors: Trap door, walnut wood.
Parapet Diameter: 6' 7" (inscribed diam.)
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4 in parapet wall
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None required
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: 1 set, new pattern hooks, screwed into astragals.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Barbier & Fenestre Cie, Paris
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 5th
Inside Diameter: 1' 2 3/4"
Light Characteristic: Fresnel. fixed white.
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed white, arc of illumination 270 degrees
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5
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: Cast iron, 43 1/4" high
Service Table: Sheet iron plate on wrought iron frame, 2' x 13" x 3' 2" high.
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: Fixed white
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Regular 5th order, 1 wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: One
Number of Spare Burners: Burners attached to & form part of lamp.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Front part of attic of dwelling is used for service room, fitted with shelves, cleaning table, etc.
Oil House Description: Near Keeper's dwelling, no shelving.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 6' 2" x 8' 1"
Oil House Construction Material: Wood frame walls, covered with metal ceiling.
Oil House Capacity: 80 5-gal cans
Other (Describe): Closet & storeroom in upper part of dwelling, used for storing supplies.
Suitability: Suited for purpose used.
Dwelling
Location: Tower attached to Keepers dwelling on top of front gable.
Coloring: Buff
Construction Materials: Frame ordinary construction, 1st floor exterior walls are sided & 2nd story walls & roof are shingled.
Number of Rooms: 7; 4 on 1st floor, 3 on 2nd.
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Boathouse, barn, well house, oil house & old frame woodshed.
Outhouse Coloring: Walls buff, white trim & red roof
Paths and Walks: Trestle walk from boathouse to dwelling around E side of dwelling to platform at kitchen door. Trestle walk with step down bluff.
Area Inclosed: None
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: A few poplar & Balm of Gilead trees are on the site.
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Sandy loam, but generally shifting sand.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: By pump from a drive well, driven Oct. 1903
Quality: Fairly good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Cleaned out occasionally
Tank Capacity: 20 bbls, near Keepers dwelling
Tank Material: Brick & plastered with cement.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Driven well, 52' of pipe
Well Diameter: 1 1/4" pipe, well curb 8' deep; curbing 2' 10" sq.
Well Lining: Curbed with plank, below pump cylinder
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: About 12' from kitchen door.
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Excellent
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: None
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boatways with rollers & landing at foot of bluff near old channel bank; Boathouse at end of same, 12' x 24' on posts; nearest road abt. 3 miles from lighthouse
Distance and Direction: S'ly
Miscellaneous Remarks: