Report for Little Traverse Light Station (Michigan) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Office of Engineer, 9th Dist. |
| Location: | Guide into Little Traverse Bay. |
| Date of Report: | 12/03/1907 |
| Latitude: | 45° 25' 07" N |
| Longitude: | 84° 58' 05" W |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase; being Frac Section 24. Tp 35N, R 6W Emmet County, MI |
| Date of Reservation: | 07/25/1883 |
| Date of Deed: | 10/29/1883 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 3-62 acres more or less & right of way 4 rods wide. |
| Area Inclosed: | 1.72 acres. |
| Character of Soil: | Coarse gravel |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 225' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | By fence with posts 8' centers, cap & top board finish & 3 strands galvanized twisted ribbon wire. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None, small boats land on beach. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By driving or walking (distance 1 1/4 mi) from Harbor Springs MI or by small boat (distance 3/4 mi by water) from Harbor Springs. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1 1/4 miles to Grand Rapids & Indiana RR station. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1.5 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 1 1/4 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Good 1.5 miles |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Brick tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1884 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Parallel opiped |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 40' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 41' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Resort bldgs of Resort Assoc. & wooded bluffs |
| Color of Tower: | Red |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Red brick |
| Tower Connection: | Attached to S'ly end of dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor light for general purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Brick, stone & iron |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 20" stone foundation, 12" brick wall above |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 12" brick |
| Diameter at Base: | 8' 6" x 8' 6" square |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' 6" x 8' 6" square |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | None. Treads wind around newel posts. |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2, 10 x 14 - 12 lts each, 1 5/4 sash. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 frame, at entrnace to tower. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone, 9' 6" total height, 2' 9" sq. above ground. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & gravel |
| Soil Susceptibility: | By certain wild grasses, but not to trees other than poplars, Balm of Gilead's & like. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | In conveying site to US, Harbor Point Assoc. received a strip of land, 4 rods in width, commencing on NW corner of site & following line of shore around point to SE corner to be used for roadway or drive. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" To top of glass from Lantern deck 6' 6" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 26 3/4" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Lantern not so fitted |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | 3' long 1.5" sq. at base. Upper half brass, fire gilded, fitted with platinum point, 2" long. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/8" x 1.5" copper band, about 45' in length from lantern deck down outside of tower, & grounded in earth. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery floor, cast iron 3/4 metal with CI cornice, 12' x 12'. Balustrade, 20 metal posts with 2 iron guardrails, 6" & 36" from gallery floor. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 door fitted in panel of lantern parapet, swings outward; 1 door of boiler plate hinged to deck of lantern, both fitted. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron in 4 sections |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In metal panels of lantern parapet, radial pattern, brass front, 4 in number. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set of common brass hooks, secured to posts. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter, Lemonier & Co., Paris |
| Year Made: | 1881 |
| Marks and Number: | 332 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fresnel lens, 4th order, fixed red with prismatic reflector. |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 3 fixed sections of 90 degrees each. 1 reflector section of 90 degrees, total 360 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: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| 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 |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Lens shield in proper position |
| 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: | Chimney of illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | New 4th order, 1 wick to burner. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 complete lamps |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Brick bldg, 7' x 9' with metal door & globe ventilator. Fitted with shelves & has capacity of 450 gals. Located about 140' NW of dwelling. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 450 gal. |
| Other (Describe): | 3 closets in connection with bedrooms of dwellings. 2 pantries in connection with Kitchen & summer Kitchen & 1 store closet off hall, 1st floor. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable for purposes designed for them. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell struck by machinery |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Boston Mass., Wm Blake & Co. |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1881 |
| Characteristic: | Bell struck a double blow every 30 seconds. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | Cam in clockwork |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | 15' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Guide to Little Traverse Bay & around Harbor Point, MI. |
| Distance and Direction: | About 100' SE 1/2 S from tower. |
| Water Supply: | None required |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By walk, 2' wide |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Square pyramidal wooden tower about 25' high. Lower part enclosed; 12' x 12' at base, painted white & buff, red roof. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1,800 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | 3' 7 1/4" |
| Height: | 2' 7.5" |
| Time: | 3 hrs 15 min. |
| Manufacturer: | Wm Blake & Co. |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower attached to & forms part of dwelling, stairs from 2nd floor hall leading to deck of gallery of lantern. |
| Coloring: | Red brick - red roof |
| Construction Materials: | Stone foundation, brick superstructure & shingled roof. |
| Number of Rooms: | 9 inc. summer kitchen with closets & pantries prev. stated. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Barn, 14' 4" x 28' 4"; Oil house 7' x 9'; privy; Fog bell tower 12' sq. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Barn, white; oil house, red; Bell tower, white & cream, red roof. |
| Paths and Walks: | Cement walks to & around entire dwelling to various stations & 4 gates on reservation fence; except 50' plank walk to barn. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 1.72 acres, by fence of cap & top board construction with 3 strands ribbon wire. painted red. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Very shrubbery |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None whatever |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy with some clay soil |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From Harbor Springs village water works |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | About 830 gals. Located in basement under kitchen |
| Tank Material: | Brick thoroughly cement coated, 4' x 8' 9" x 5' |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Old well at station not in use |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Faucet located in summer kitchen |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good health generally prevails. |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No boat landing or boat house at station. Road to lighthouse from Harbor Springs, MI is very good; greater portion thru Resort Assoc grounds is planked. |
| Distance and Direction: | There is a good wharf in deep water on property of Harbor Point Assoc. about 1000' from lighthouse at which a landing can be made in all weather. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |