Report for Michigan City East Pierhead (Indiana) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Draftsman 9th LH District |
| Location: | At entrance to Michigan City Harbor, Ind., E'ly side of S'ly end of Lake Michigan |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1910 |
| Latitude: | 41° 43' 45" N |
| Longitude: | 86° 54' 43" W |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase, consideration $100. Part of Sec 29 Tp 38 N of R4 W, County of Laporte, IN., from Isaac & Maria Elston; orig. site 175' on S line & 260' on E line to Lake, accretion since 1835 has added about 3 acres of land. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 06/25/1835 |
| Date of Permission: | 06/25/1835 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 3 acres more or less as per soundings survey April, 1900; On 12/29/1906 a plot 175' x 300' was retained for dwelling & balance given to Michigan City for park purposes under revocable license. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy with black earth top dressing |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Tower on entrance pier. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | 175' of revetment [sp?] along entire front of reservation being a portion of the Harbor improvement. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Public Park (Washington) runs to side of pier |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By RR, electric cars or steamboat. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | In Michigan City, In. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1/4 mile, mail is delivered at dwelling. |
| Distance to Village: | In city |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Electric cars & RR within 1400' of dwelling. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | 300' to Public road on street. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1904 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1904 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Octagonal prism |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 49' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 49' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Buildings of Michigan City, IN |
| Color of Tower: | Buff |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Metal elevated walk to shoreline |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast & Harbor light |
| Building Materials: | Steel with concrete pier for base. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Part of fog signal bldg |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 3/16" |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' 6" unscribed diam. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' 6" unscribed diam. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Metal stairs & ladders |
| Number of Landings: | 5 |
| Size of Glass: | 14 3/4" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 circular windows 15 3/4" diam. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Water at towers, dwelling site sandy w/ top dressing of soil |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Shrubbery & trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 5th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 7 5/16" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 7' 1 9/16" |
| Number of Sides: | Cylindrical |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | See 1898 drawings for lantern for 4th, 5th & 6th O |
| Thickness of Plates: | 7/16" & 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | See drawings lantern design of 1898 |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Lantern not so fitted |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron & plate glass |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron with zinc lining |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Regular spindle with platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Metal tower |
| Balustrade: | Gallery, steel plate construction; Balustrade, iron newels & railings. |
| Lantern Doors: | Metal, leading to outside gallery with hinges & locks with glass panels; also trap door in floor. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor |
| Parapet Diameter: | 7' 1 9/16" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Patent spring rollers for shades |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Cleaning table |
| 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: | No marks |
| Marks and Number: | No marks on apparatus |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 2 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| 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: | 3' 8" high, cast iron |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | None required |
| 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: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order, 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | Burners attached to & 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: | None |
| Oil House Description: | SE of dwelling (50') fitted with steel shelving |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' x 12' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick & metal roof |
| Oil House Capacity: | 300 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | Dwellings of keepers are supplied with good closets for use of Keeper's families |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purpose for which designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Steam Fog signal apparatus, 10 # steam whistle operated by Crosby automatics |
| Time to Start: | 40 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Kingsford Foundry & Machine Works, Oswego, NY, 1904; Pat. June 1884 |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1904 |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec blast, silent interval of 55 sec & repeat |
| Duplication: | Boilers & automatics |
| Timing Device: | Crosby Automatic |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 100 # |
| Height Above Water: | 27' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Light tower over center of Fog Signal bldg; Harbor & channel guide |
| Distance and Direction: | Directly below light tower |
| Water Supply: | Well in pier |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Elevated walk on pier |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Steel construction, lined with brick 24' sq., 14' 10" to plate line, hipped roof. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | Semi-circular head, sheet steel, with inner & outer shells |
| Kind: | Compact marine, steam |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 8" |
| Length: | 5' |
| Diameter: | Width 5' |
| Tube Description: | 238 - 37" long |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Drop crown, part of boiler |
| Furnace Length: | 4' 2" |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 4" |
| Furnace Height: | Avg 21" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 467.85 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 19.25 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 23; 18 - 2 bar; 2 - 3 bar; 1 - 1 bar |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Spade ends, cast iron |
| Steam Fuel: | Soft coal |
| Steam Safety Valve: | 2.5" cast iron with lever & ball |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150 # |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 100# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 24" |
| Smokestack Height: | 45' 3" |
| Drum Dimension: | 3' 6" long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 36" |
| Steam Covering: | None |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1904 |
| Where Built: | Oswego, NY |
| Manufacturer: | Kingsford Foundry & Machine Works |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | None used |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | |
| Steam Engine When Built: | |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | |
| Manufacturer: |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 22" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 4" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | On plat of ground at shore end of E'ly entrance pier |
| Coloring: | Walls, buff; bronze green trim, red roof |
| Construction Materials: | Lower story, brick; upper story, shingled |
| Number of Rooms: | Keeper has 4 rooms & asst keepers 3 rms each |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 dwelling for Keeper & 2 assts. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 1 double privy, & coal shed 12' x 32' |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Buff walls, red roofs |
| Paths and Walks: | Concrete walks around dwelling |
| Area Inclosed: | Revetiment along river front of premises |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Fog-signal, well in pier; Dwelling, city water |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| 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: | Good |
| Diseases: | None especially prevalent |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Revetiment on S boundary of dwelling site. Boathouse on E entrance pier. Lights generally attended by boat; otherwise reached by crossing river over city bridge 300' E'ly from dwelling thence along W'ly pier to Pierhead light. |
| Distance and Direction: | 300' to public road |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |