Report for Marquette Light Station (Michigan) - 1919

General
District: 9th
Inspector: Ralph R. Tinkham
Location: Marquette Light Station, On the point off the N'ly side of Marquette Harbor, Mich. S'ly side of Lake Superior.
Date of Report: 06/24/1919
Latitude: 46° 32' 48.12"
Longitude: 87° 22' 33.72"
Premises
Site: Reservation. Part of fractional sec. 24, T48N, R25W, Mich. Meridan
Date of Reservation: 06/03/1852
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 10.14 acres
Area Inclosed: None.
Character of Soil: Rock, some sand on rear & along beach.
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 150 feet
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Small crib landing against rocks at fog signals.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: A wood trestle walk leads to signals from dwelling & a flight of stairs leads down to landing.
Means to Reach Light Station: By railroad or steamboat to City of Marquette, in which the reservation is situated.
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office: Situated in the City of Marquette.
Distance to Village: Situated in the City of Marquette.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: By street car to within 1/4 mile.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By launch, rig or on foot.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1853
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1866
Condition at This Date: Good.
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square.
Form of Tower: Square prism.
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 38' 9"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 77'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Wooded.
Color of Tower: Buff tower, black lantern.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Connected, forms center front of dwelling.
Object of Navigation: Lake coast light.
Building Materials: Brick, stone foundation, cut stone lintels & sills.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 13"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 13"
Diameter at Base: 9' 4"
Diameter at Parapet: 9' 4"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Circular winding, cast iron.
Number of Landings: 3 - 1/4 landings.
Size of Glass: 10" x 14"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 2 6light & 1 12 light, sash 32" x 34.5"
Number of Doors: 2, 1 outside 5-panel wood, 1 into dwelling, 3 wood panels, 2 glass.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Stone on bed rock at surface.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Trap rock.
Soil Susceptibility: No. There is some bruch growing in places around the tower that have become filled with earch.
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal.
Diameter to Glass: 7' 10"
Diameter in the Clear: 6' 5.25"
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars: Vertical.
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 35"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side: 1
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates:
Number of Storm Panes: None.
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 3 plates each 36 degrees (108 degrees)
What Bearings: Between 252 degrees & 0 degrees
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron parapet lined with wood ceiling; wrought iron verticals.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron pyramidal roof lined with zinc. No lens protector.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron.
Lightning Spindle: Brass with Platinum point.
Description of Lightning Rod: 5/8" copper rod leads from gallery deck down outside of tower & soins 5/8" copper rod leading thru wass from newels. The join a 7/8" iron rod outside of tower & then 75' down bank into damp ground.
Balustrade: Balustrade of flat iron rails, with 1.25" round stanchions, ball tops. Gallery cast iron.
Lantern Doors: Single fold cast iron door in parapet fitted with brass spring bolt & hinges. Opening in floor for trap door but no door used.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron flanged plates.
Watchroom Doors: No watchroom
Parapet Diameter: 6' 7.25"
Ventilators
Location / Number: 5 brass valve ventilators in parapet. Cast iron hooks outside.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None needed.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass hooks screwed to soffit.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: No watchroom
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Barbier, benard & Turenne
Year Made: Unknown.
Marks and Number: None.
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 19.75"
Light Characteristic: Flashing red.
Time of Revolution: 20 seconds
Flash Interval: 5 seconds
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: No fixed part.
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels: 4
Arc of Each: 90 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: Bullseye & 2 concentric elements
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 2 concentric prisms & 4 prisms, 6
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 2 concentric prisms & 2 prisms, 4
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: 4 post brass pedestal 42" high, the top enclosed, forming a brass-bound glass case for the clockwork.
Service Table: None.
Draft Tube Description: None.
Revolving Machinery: French clockwork runs by weight, & driving vertical shaft connected with split sleeve.
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Ball bearing.
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: 27'
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time:
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: A brass-bound glass case in pedestal.
Regulated: Wing governor & adding or subtracting weights.
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced: By ruby lamp chimney. or ruby ele. globe.
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached: To illuminating apparatus.
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 50 cp electric globe. This light as well as the breadwater beacon, is wired & fitten with ele. globe of ruby glass. power being obtained from the city electric plant.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2 auxiliary oil lamps if ele. power is lost.
Number of Spare Burners: 1 burner for each lamp.
Candle Power:


Chariot Balls
Balls Description: V-grooves in both top & bottom plates.
Cage to Separate Balls: False
Number of Balls: 19
Diameter of Balls: 1/2"
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None.
Oil House Description: 25' NW of dwelling fitted with wood shelving.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 11' 4" x 15' 4"
Oil House Construction Material: Wood frame, vertical battened boards, shingle roof.
Oil House Capacity: 50 5 gal. cans.
Other (Describe): 1 large closet or storeroom off living room & 2 closets on 2nd floor.
Suitability: Suitable.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 10" steam whistle.
Time to Start: 30 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: Not known.
Year of Manufacture: Not known.
Characteristic: 5 sec. blast, 25 sec. silent, 5 sec. blast, 25 sec. silent.
Duplication: All parts.
Timing Device: Spur & worm gear operating cam & lever to whistle rod.
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: 60 lbs.
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: On the extreme east end of the point & 300' from the lighthouse.
Distance and Direction: 300' E'ly
Water Supply: Pumped direct from lake into steel tank 4' high, 3' diam.
Reached from Lighthouse: By board walk & flights of steps leading down the rock ledges.
Description of Fog Signal Building: 2 frame buildings, clapboard covered & shingle roof. Inside walls sheathed, no ceiling, rafters unsheathed. Floor is cement in poor condition.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Steam Signal
Steam Boiler:
Kind: Upright.
Tube: Flue-tube.
Dimensions: 7' 0" high
Length: 54" inc. fire box.
Diameter: 36"
Tube Description: 88 tubes 5' long
Steam Tube Diameter: 2"
Steam Furnace Kind: Iron water jacketed
Furnace Length: 46"
Furnace Width: 29"
Furnace Height: 19"
Steam Heat Surface: 284 sq. feet
Steam Grate Surface: 8.64 sq. feet
Number of Grate Bars: Semicircular grates, side bars 46" long.
Kind of Grate Bars: Cast iron 4 pcs. semicircular end to grate.
Steam Fuel: Bituminous coal.
Steam Safety Valve: Lever, 2.5" single side outlet.
Steam Maximum Pressure: Not known.
Steam Working Pressure: 60 lbs., 80 lbs used in heavy weather.
Steam Diameter of Smokestack: 20"
Smokestack Height: 30'
Drum Dimension: None.
Steam Drum Diameter:
Steam Covering: None.
Steam Boiler Condition: 1 boiler in poor condition; other fair.
Steam Boiler Built: Not known.
Where Built: Not known.
Manufacturer: Not known.
Steam Heater: False
Kind:
Size:
Heater Time Affect:
Steam Engine Kind:
Steam Engine Revolutions:
Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter:
Steam Engine Piston Stroke:
Steam Engine Pipe Size:
Steam Engine When Built:
Steam Engine Where Built:
Manufacturer:
Dwelling
Location: Keepers dwelling attached to tower on W side. Rear to be remodled in 1909.
Coloring: Buff painted, painted red roof.
Construction Materials: Brick with cut stone sills & lintels, metal-slate roof:
Number of Rooms: 7
Number of Dwellings: 2, Keepers & Assistants
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper & family, 1 asst. & family
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 2 store sheds, 2 privies, oilhouse, barn, outside cellar.
Outhouse Coloring: Store sheds & oilhouse, whitewashed. Brick privy painted buff with red roof. Barn painted buff
Paths and Walks: All buildings connected by board wolks & stairs.
Area Inclosed: No inclosure. A fence of wire runs from barn to foot of stairs leading up to dwelling; 75' long.
Area of Garden: No garden.
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None, except some brush & a few jack pines.
Cultivation Area Available: None.
Area Cultivated: None.
Character of Surroundings: Trap rock of very rough contour. The rear of reservation is sand, as is the beach on the NW & SW beaches.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Assistant Keepers Dwellings
Location: Assistants' dwelling is about 75' SW of keeper's dwelling
Coloring: Painted buff with painted red roof.
Construction Materials: Frame, sided, shingle hip roof, 1 story, 28' x 24' in plan.
Number of Rooms: 4 rooms, pantry, stormhouse & small cellar.
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From lake for fog signal, from Marquette water mains for dwelling.
Quality: Good.
Quantity: Ample.
Injury Possible: No.
Purity Precaution: No cistern.
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: None.
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthfulness has been good; during the fall months typhoid fever has been common in Marquette.
Diseases: Typhoid fever in the city.
Prevalency: In September to November.
Local Causes: No. The city water is the cause of the disease due to the position of the intake.
Recommended Improvements: No. The sanitary dondition of the station itself is excellent.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: A small timber crib 25' long & wedge-shaped is built against the rocks, 4' above water at the base of the rock upon which stands fig signals. No boathouse.
Distance and Direction: 300' E'ly of tower.
Miscellaneous Remarks: On the rear of reservation is a US Life Saving Station which occupies parts of res. by permission. Some of their buildings stand over the prescribed lines. Same problem with US Engineers work site for construction of the breakwater.