Report for Big Sable (Michigan) - 1909

General
District: 11th
Inspector: Ralph R. Tinkham
Location: At Big Sable Point, MI., S'ly shore of E'ly part of Lake Superior, btwn Whitefish Point & Grand Island
Date of Report: 06/09/1909
Latitude: 46° 40' 29.6"
Longitude: 86° 08' 37.5"
Premises
Site: Purchase, L 1, 2 Sec 1, L 1, 2, 3, 4, Se 2, L 1, 2, Sec 3, T49N R 15 W, Mich, Mer.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 09/08/1872
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 325.93 acres, according to survey
Area Inclosed: None
Character of Soil: Sand along shore & about bldgs.
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 200'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Boat landing 19' x 99'; 3 log cribs tied together with an L 38' x 14' across the end, the whole fitted with stone.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Boardwalk (to be replaced with cement, 1909) leads to wharf & tram track laid on walk.
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat or by wagon road to within 3 miles of station, thence by foot trail; this trail is cleared out so that a team without a load can get to light station. Distance to Grand Marais, MI by this road is 12 miles. By water, 8 miles.
Distance to Nearest Road: 3 miles to public road, 8 miles to Grand Marais Ry station & steamboat landing.
Distance to Post Office: 8 miles to Grand Marais
Distance to Village: 8 miles to Grand Marais
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Small boat or team from Grand Marais or by tender.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1874
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: New dwelling built & old dwelling altered 1909.
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Circular
Form of Tower: Conical
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 86'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 107'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Wooded
Color of Tower: White with black lantern
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewash & black paint
Tower Connection: Connected to double dwelling by covered way 12.5' long, 5' wide, having outer door window.
Object of Navigation: Lake coast light.
Building Materials: Cut stone base, 3' 4" above grade, sills, lintels of cut stone, tower of brick.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 4' 3"; outer wall 20", air space 19", inner wall 12"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 2' 4"; outer wall 16", air space 4", inner wall 8"
Diameter at Base: 16' 6"
Diameter at Parapet: 12' 8"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Circular winding cast iron perforated pattern, pipe stair rail.
Number of Landings: 3; 1 - 5/8 & 2 - 1/2 of cast iron
Size of Glass: 10" x 16"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 6 windows, 4 lt.; inside & storm, sash casing.
Number of Doors: Plate iron door 3' x 7.5' into passage (size 14' x 37 3/4")
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Rubble masonry 73' below surface on bed rock.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sand of varying depths above sand stone bed rock.
Soil Susceptibility: No, though small second growth has sprung up about the clearing in which bldg stands.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Main point on which lighthouse stands has been cleared of timber for 1/4 mile each way from station to facilitate visibility of light to E'd & W'd. This clearing has grown up to second growth - small stuff.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 3rd
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 8' 1 3/4"
Diameter in the Clear: 7' 8.5"
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 5' 9 1/4"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: 5' 9 5/8" x 31 1/8". 2 extra panes on hand.
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron base ring segments; wrought iron verts. Lower part of lantern is circular of brick line with vert 2.5" wood ceiling
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper dome lined with zinc held with pinching strips of wrought iron.
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Copper, platinum tip.
Description of Lightning Rod: 3/4" gas pipe leads from gallery dock down NW side of tower into dry ground. Twisted copper rope leads from stairs thru wall at floor level of tower & into dry ground.
Balustrade: Gallery circular of cast iron 35.5" wide, rail 40" high of 2 - 3/4" x 2" flat bar rails, 1.5" stanchions, ball top & 3/4" verticals, rail & gallery to lantern.
Lantern Doors: Double wood door to main gallery from lower part of lantern. Inside door is 2-fold wood paneled, outside single fold wood paneled.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron, cut out for stair well. Lantern gallery, at lens level of cast iron, ext. outside to form circular gallery 20.5" wide with rail of 1 - .5" x 2" flat & 1" stanchions.
Watchroom Doors: None. Open stairwell leads to upper part of lantern. Trap door of iron plate is in floor of lower part of lantern.
Parapet Diameter: No parapet. Inside dim. of lower part of lantern is 7' 11.5"; circular & lined with wood ceiling.
Ventilators
Location / Number: In lower part of lantern. 5 ventilators with brass ring valve registers inside & cast iron hoods outside.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 ladder 7' long, 12" wide of 7/16" x 2" flat bar strings & double treads of 2.5"
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass hooks screwed to soffit.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Stair landing below lower lantern floor serves as watchroom, has 3 windows, & is fitted with a closet of shelves set in wall for lamp supplies. Service room, fitted with bench, table & glass box is situated in dwelling near passage to tower.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: L. Sautter & Cie, Paris
Year Made: None given
Marks and Number: None
Order of Apparatus: 3rd
Inside Diameter: 39 7/16"
Light Characteristic: Fixed
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Each panel is 72 degrees of arc. There is 1 dark panel in lens apparatus, central belt of which is closed by curved brass door to protect lamp. This panel bears SE.
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: Central belt. 6 ele above, 6 below
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 11
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, resting over newel on floor of lower part of lantern.
Service Table: Base of lens apparatus has cast iron floor which serves as service table; upon which stands a lamp pedestal of ring & 3 stanchions.
Draft Tube Description: In 3 parts. Lower damper tube of Russia iron over top of chimney 2 1/8" dia. 7" high, above which is a flaring sleeve of Russia iron to top of lens 17" high. Top of lens to spider is 2.5" x 10" brass tube.
Revolving Machinery: None
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls:
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: 75' Drop tube is not used.
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time:
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection:
Regulated:
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced: Light is white
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funck Heap Hydraulic
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: Total number of lamps at station - 2
Number of Spare Burners: Total burners - 3
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 2 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1 7/8"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 small closet of shelves on top landing for lamp supplies.
Oil House Description: 50' S of dwelling & tower, fitted with wood shelves.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 5' 4" x 7' 2"
Oil House Construction Material: Brick walls, concrete floor, hip roof of #22 galv. iron on steel L rafters, steel door, 10" globe ventilator.
Oil House Capacity: 72 5-gal cans = 360 gals.
Other (Describe):
Suitability: All closets in present use are dry & suitable.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 10" steam whistle
Time to Start: 40 to 45 min.
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture: Built Aug. 1897
Characteristic: Blast 3 sec; silent interval 17 sec.
Duplication: All parts
Timing Device: Spur & worm gear operating cam.
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: Whistle, 75#
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: Same locality with lighthouse
Distance and Direction: E 800'
Water Supply: From lake. Well at outer end of landing: #2 American Fire Plug 202' of 1" steam pipe; 202' of 1 1/4" discharge pipe.
Reached from Lighthouse: By plank walk, to be replaced 1909 with concrete walk.
Description of Fog Signal Building: Of red brick, metal slate roof, red, 22' x 40' plan, 12' to plates.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Steam Signal
Steam Boiler:
Kind: Open bottom marine design of 1896
Tube: Flue tube
Dimensions: Ht. 7' 5"
Length: 6' 6 3/4"
Diameter: 4' 9 3/4" wide
Tube Description: 102, 4' 9.5" long (order 4' 10")
Steam Tube Diameter: 2.5"
Steam Furnace Kind: Internal
Furnace Length: 6'
Furnace Width: 4' 3"
Furnace Height: 19"
Steam Heat Surface: 406 sq. ft.; Steam space 50.11 cu. ft.
Steam Grate Surface: 21.5 sq. ft. Water space 66.64 cu. ft.
Number of Grate Bars: 18
Kind of Grate Bars: Double, 5' long, spade ends.
Steam Fuel: Bituminous coal
Steam Safety Valve: Lever, 2.5" single side outlet.
Steam Maximum Pressure: 150#
Steam Working Pressure: 75#
Steam Diameter of Smokestack: 20"
Smokestack Height: 40' brick chimney
Drum Dimension: 5' long
Steam Drum Diameter: 30"
Steam Covering: Compound; asbestos, felt paper, canvas.
Steam Boiler Condition: Fair. Must be retubed in 2 years.
Steam Boiler Built: 1897
Where Built: Cleveland, OH
Manufacturer: Variety Iron Works
Steam Heater: False
Kind:
Size:
Heater Time Affect:
Steam Engine Kind: Vertical
Steam Engine Revolutions: 120
Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: 4"
Steam Engine Piston Stroke: 9"
Steam Engine Pipe Size: 3/4"
Steam Engine When Built: 1897
Steam Engine Where Built: Detroit, MI
Manufacturer: Russell Wheel & Foundry Co.


Whistle Signal
Whistle Diameter: 10"
Whistle Height: 18"
Whistle Orifice: 2 3/8" to 2 11/16"
Whistle Tone: Single
Whistle Chime:
Dwelling
Location: Present dwelling attached to tower on E side by passage. This remodeled to double dwelling; also a new & separate dwelling built in 1909.
Coloring: Natural color of red brick
Construction Materials: Red brick walls, red metal slate roof, stone sills & lintels.
Number of Rooms: 8 rooms, pantry & cellar
Number of Dwellings: 3
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: Keeper & 2 assts.and families
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Oil house, woodshed, privy, hennery; Woodshed 12' x 14' x 9' to plates.
Outhouse Coloring: Oil house, red brick & iron roof; woodshed frame buff with green trim & red metal slate hip roof; red brick privy, with red metal plate roof, old board & batten lined, whitewashed.
Paths and Walks: Present walks of plank, from dwelling to all out bldgs, boathouse, fog signal & dock.
Area Inclosed: None
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: About 300 acres
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Premises & along shore line is sand on sandstone bed rock. Practically all remainder of reservation is cedar swamp.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Direct from lake
Quality: Excellent
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: None
Tank Capacity: 700 gals in NE corner of cellar
Tank Material: Of brick, plastered
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Curbed well at fog signal for emergency.
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket: By pump for signal. By bucket for domestic use.
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Excellent
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes: Large cedar swamp S of premises that seems to have an affect on health.
Recommended Improvements: None needed
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boat landing 99' x 19' with an ell at end 14' x 38.5' all of log cribs filled with stone. A crib breakwater is built on W side of landing at outer end. 32' long, 5' wide & 40' high. Log bulkhead continues along remainder of W side to shore.
Distance and Direction: 900' E of lighthouse.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Retaining wall of rubble masonry 5' high & 6.5' long extends from SW corner of boat landing W'd, resting on sandstone rock & holding sand bank in front of fog signal.
Hoisting Engines
Hoisting Engine Kind: Single cylinder, CC Woomer & Co. Detroit
Engine RPMs:
Engine Diameter: 7"
Engine Stroke: 10"
Engine Boiler: Steam from fog signal boiler; 1 3/4" steam pipe.
Engine Maker and Date:
Serial Number:
Cylinders and Size:
Horsepower:
Fuel:
Hoist Starter:
Hoist Miscellaneous: