Report for Manitowoc Pierhead (Wisconsin) - 1909

General
District: 9th
Inspector: Francis J. Otter, Draftsman
Location: On a stub end pier on N side of entrance to Manitowoc Harbor & River, WI.,W'ly side of Lake Michigan
Date of Report: 12/06/1909
Latitude: 44° 05' 36" N
Longitude: 87° 39' 33" W
Premises
Site: Purchase consideration $502; Warranty deed from Wm. & Anna Jones & others cons'n $250 7/3/1838; Quit claim deed from John Hathaway & AS Ellis, cons'n $250, 7/7/1838; Quit claim deed from John C. & Sarah C. Doty, cons'n $1, 7/7/1839;
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 07/05/1838
Date of Permission: 09/09/1839
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 2 city lots, 100 x 110' approx. 1/4 acre, see letter to LH Board 2/14/1903
Area Inclosed: Retaining walls on street fronts only
Character of Soil: Clay, with sandy loam on top.
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: Stands on N'ly entrance pier, 5' above mean water line.
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Enclosed on W side by Smalley Mf'g Co's shops, on S side there is no fence, there are stone retaining walls along street fronts of E & N sides.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Can land alongside tower with steamboat or tug.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Can walk from city street, about 900' away, to tower over Gooderich Co's clock.
Means to Reach Light Station: By steam RR, steamboat or any means of conveyance over city streets.
Distance to Nearest Road: Tower located near Gooderich Steamboat dock, also near the city street; 1/2 mile to nearest RR depot.
Distance to Post Office: 1/3 mile, mail delivered to dwelling by carrier.
Distance to Village: Situated in city of Manitowoc, WI.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: Can be reached by any means of travel generally used.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Over city street; 1/2 mile from RR Depot, Light station is close by Steamboat landing.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Square frame pyramidal tower entirely enclosed.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1840
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: December 1, 1907
Condition at This Date: Generally in good conditioin
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower: Pyramidal
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 34' 4.5" (29' to focal plane)
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 34'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Steamboat warehouse & city bldgs.
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: By white lead & oil paint
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: Harbor & river light. N pier extends into lake in a NE direction.
Building Materials: Wooden framework, cased with sheathing & siding.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 12" x 12" corner posts on 12" x 12" sills, sheathed inside & outside.
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 12" x 12" posts, 8" walls.
Diameter at Base: 15' 6" square
Diameter at Parapet: 10' square
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden ladder steps
Number of Landings: 2 landings
Size of Glass: 7.5" x 18" & 12" x 18"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 1-sash 3' 3 3/4" x 2' 1" & 2-sash 3' 3 3/4" x 1' 6.5"
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Bolted to pier superstructure, of wooden construction
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Dwelling site: clay with loam top, tower: built on pier superstructure
Soil Susceptibility: Dwelling site: by grass, shrubbery & trees
Miscellaneous Remarks: Add'l quit claim deed from Samuel & Phebe Stocking, cons'n $1 10/7/1839. Tower stands on short stub of pier, at outer end of harbor entrance at E end of Gooderich Co's warehouse.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 5th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 6' 3"
Diameter in the Clear: 6' 3.5"
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: 30" x 36"
Number of Storm Panes: None, lantern is not so fitted.
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron framework, sheet copper roof & cowl. Wooden parapet, pine ceiling, varnished inside, zinc sheathing, black outside
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron frame or ribs, covered with copper roof.
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Copper with platinum tip
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper band, 1/8" thick, 1.5" wide, leading from bottom of lantern down outside of tower over piers into water.
Balustrade: 1 1/4" gas pipe railing & posts form balustrade, Gallery floor, wood, covered with copper, painted black.
Lantern Doors: Wooden doors, fitted into parapet panel, swings out onto gallery.
Floor of Lantern: Hardwood floor, painted lead color.
Watchroom Doors: Trap door of wood, hung on hinges.
Parapet Diameter: Circular on inside, 6' 1.5" dia.
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4, sliding pattern, cast iron ventilators in parapet of lantern, old style.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: 1 set regulation pattern, brass hooks, tapped into astragals.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Square room, 10' x 10' with 2 closets, 2' x 2'; cleaning table btwn closets, 1 window over same. Walls lined with D & M ceiling, varnished; there is also a stove.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Barbier & Fenestre, Paris
Year Made:
Marks and Number: G7s A Paris
Order of Apparatus: 6th
Inside Diameter: 11 13/16"
Light Characteristic: Fresnel, Fixed red, 180 degree lens; 2 pneumatic reflectors.
Time of Revolution: Fixed
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 180 degrees
Number of Panels: 4; 2 light panels over 2 reflecting panels.
Number of Flash Panels: None
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 pedestal 3' 7" high, 15" dia. on top, & bolted to floor with lag bolts.
Service Table: Sheet iron plate fastened to pedestal shaft, supported by round iron braces.
Draft Tube Description:
Revolving Machinery: Fixed
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 lens, lamp & ruby chimney on lamp
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Improved 5th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare, 2 others in regular commission
Number of Spare Burners: Burners form part of lamp.
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 2 closets in watchroom, 1 for hanging up lens covers, brooms, etc., other fitted up with shelving.
Oil House Description: On LH dwelling site; fitted up with iron shelving.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 6' x 7' 9"
Oil House Construction Material: Brick walls, metal roof & door, cement floor
Oil House Capacity: 90 5-gal cans
Other (Describe): Woodshed on SW corner of site 15' 2" x 24' 4" frame construction, board over batten, painted buff, which is used for general storage purposes.
Suitability: Dry & suited to purpose for which it is used.
Dwelling
Location: About 3 city blocks away from Pierhead light tower, approx. 950 linear ft.
Coloring: Buff
Construction Materials: Frame on brick foundation forming a basement beneath entire house. Covered with siding on 1st story & shingled on 2nd story.
Number of Rooms: 6 rooms, closets & pantry each side.
Number of Dwellings: Double frame dwelling
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: Keeper & 1st asst each have 1/2 of dwelling. 2nd asst. boards with private family
Furnished Quarters: Keeper & 1st asst.
NOT Furnished Quarters: 2nd asst.
Outhouses: Double privy, 1 for each family. Frame woodshed or storehouse 15' 2" x 24' 4" & brick oil house 7' 8" x 9' 7"
Outhouse Coloring: Buff
Paths and Walks: Wooden sidewalks around dwelling, about 600 sq. ft.
Area Inclosed: No fences, retaining walls along 2 street fronts.
Area of Garden: None, all of bldg site around bldg is in grass.
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Clay with sandy loam on top.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From city water works for domestic use.
Quality: Excellent
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible:
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Very healthy
Diseases: No prevailing diseases in this vicinity
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Landing is alongside of light-tower, which is placed on pierhead & entrance to Harbor.
Distance and Direction: Boats can land alongside of tower, which is about 3 city blocks from dwelling.
Miscellaneous Remarks: A Weather Bureau signal station is located at Manitowoc, WI., being a steel tower; on the river front, 2 blocks from lake, electric lights.