Report for Passage Island (Michigan) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Oliver G. Brown |
| Location: | Passage island light on the SW'ly point of Passage Island, Mich. to the N'd & E'ly end of Isle Royale, Mich. N'ly side of Lake Superior |
| Date of Report: | 09/14/1910 |
| Latitude: | 48° 13' 29" |
| Longitude: | 88° 21' 56" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation, T67N, R31W, Mich. Meridan |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | |
| Area Inclosed: | No inclosure |
| Character of Soil: | Vegetable mount |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 53 feet |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | No inclosure |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Crib landing in crevice in rocks near fog signal, crib landing at boathouse on E'ly side is island. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Tramway leads from fog sig. to 1 landing. Rough trail from dwelling 1/2 mile to landing at boathouse |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat only. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Nearest steam boat landing is Tobins Harbor where Booth Boats land, about 6 miles |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | Post Arthur, Can. 48.5 miles Portage Lake Ship Canals, Mich. 68 miles Duluth about 202 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Launch from Tobine Harbor or tug from Port Arthur, Can. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1882 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Tower is square at base & merges into an octagonal priamd at 2nd floor |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 43' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 78' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Thinly wooded. |
| Color of Tower: | Dark gray |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of stone |
| Tower Connection: | Tower is attached to 1 corner of dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light-guide through channel between Isle Royale & Passage Island. |
| Building Materials: | Dark trap rock. |
| General Description: | Gray stone tower, octagonal rises from gray stone dwelling. Of natural trap rock. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 2' 1" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 2' 1" |
| Diameter at Base: | 11' 2" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 11' 2" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular cast iron stairs-no rail, 7' diam. |
| Number of Landings: | 2 landings & lantern floor |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 windows-single fold, each 33" x 24" |
| Number of Doors: | 3 windows lead to tower, 1 from basement, 1 from 1st & 1 from 2nd floor |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone, 5 feet below surface |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | All rocky |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Some grass grows here. Island totally covered with trees except cleared portion around tower. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 11.75" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 36" x 27" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | All sides glazed. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Upper & lower part of cast iron. Lower part is lined inside with vert. wood ceiling. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Pyramidal dome-cast iron, lined insode with sheet zinc. Small tin cone lens protector is attached to roof. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper with platinum tip. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 3/4" iron pipe is attached to gallery floor, runs down outside of tower into rocks below. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade of 2 rails, upper rail is 2" x 1/2" iron bar, lower is 2.5" x 3/8" iron bar. Cast iron floor. Polygonal in plan. |
| Lantern Doors: | Single fold cast iron door leads from parapet to outside gallery. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Floor is cast iron, trap door leads down to stairs. |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watch room. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators in lower part of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks screwed to upper ends of vertical bars. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No watch room. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hours, 25 minutes |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Benard |
| Year Made: | 1896 |
| Marks and Number: | BB/107 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | White flash every 10 seconds. |
| Time of Revolution: | Once every minute |
| Flash Interval: | 10 seconds |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | No part fixed |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees each |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Eacg is made up of 1 central bulls-eye surrounded by 2 concentric rings. |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Clock work drives a vertical shaft with a horizontal gear wheel, that works into cogs at base of lens. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron & cylindrical. Pedestal contains the scoket in which the balls revolve |
| Service Table: | Cast iron fastened to pedestal & supported at 1 end by 2 rods fastened to floor of lantern. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clock work drives a vertical shaft with a horizontal gear wheel. This wheel works into gears at base of lens. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Full length of tower to 1st floor |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hours, 25 minutes |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By brass clock case with glass panels. |
| Regulated: | Regulated by fan governers. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funk Heap |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Iron cable wound around drum in clock case. |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 1/4" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Runs down through lantern floor, over 2 sheaves into drop tube, thence through a pulley on weights & up & fastened at top of drop tube. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | Semi-circular grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 8 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 3/8" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 small closet at top of landing used to store cleaning gear, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | About 75' N'ly from tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 9' 4" x 7' 4" x 7' high |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Concrete blocks |
| Oil House Capacity: | 100 5 gal. cans |
| Other (Describe): | 3 closets on 1st floor, 1 on 2nd floor. Basement also used as a store room. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle |
| Time to Start: | 45 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | B. A. Todt. |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1884 |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec. blast, 25 sec. silent, 5 sec. blast, 25 sec silent |
| Duplication: | All parts in duplicate |
| Timing Device: | Spur & worm gear operating cam. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 75 lbs. |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Located on southernmost point of Passage Island. |
| Distance and Direction: | About 30' SW of tower. |
| Water Supply: | Pire plug draws water from a natural well in rocks. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By board walk. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Corrugated iron building. Roof also of corrugated iron. Concrete floor 22' x 40'. Small frame house attached to fog signal bldg. used to house hoisting engine 6' x 8'. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Return flue tubular. |
| Tube: | Flue tube. |
| Dimensions: | |
| Length: | 12' 0" |
| Diameter: | 3' 6" |
| Tube Description: | 41 tubes, 12' 0" long |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 3" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Brick inside |
| Furnace Length: | 4' 0" |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 0" |
| Furnace Height: | 18" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 463 sq. feet |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 16 sq. feet |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 18 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double-50" long |
| Steam Fuel: | Soft coal |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever, 2.5" valve, signle side outlet |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150 lbs. |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 75 lbs. |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 20" |
| Smokestack Height: | 45' brick chimney. |
| Drum Dimension: | 4' long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Compound |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Fair |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1883 |
| Where Built: | Detroit, Mich. |
| Manufacturer: | Buhl Iron Works |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Vertical |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 120 rpm |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 4" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 9" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 3/4" |
| Steam Engine When Built: | 1883 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Detroit, Mich. |
| Manufacturer: | Buhl Iron Works |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 18" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2-3/8" to 2-11/16" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower is attached to corner of dwelling |
| Coloring: | Dark gray |
| Construction Materials: | Dark gray trap rock. |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & family & 2 assts. live in 1 dwelling. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy, work-shop & hen house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | All outbuildings white. |
| Paths and Walks: | Wooden walks. |
| Area Inclosed: | No enclosure. |
| Area of Garden: | No garden |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Whole area timbered except small spot around light-house site. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | All rocky, Main part of island is thinly wooded. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake for drinking purposes. |
| Quality: | Good. |
| Quantity: | Ample. |
| Injury Possible: | No. |
| Purity Precaution: | Cistern under kitchen but no filter. |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | Brick |
| 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 excellent. |
| Diseases: | None. |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No. |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | A rough trail leads from the dwelling to the boat house. |
| Distance and Direction: | Boat house is located in natural harbor on E'ly shore of island. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | There are 2 landings on premises, 1 is near fog signal building & is a crib landing & approached by a tram way from fog signal. 1 landing & boat house is about 1/2 mile NE'ly from dwelling. |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | 2 cyl. Horizontal reversible engine. |
| Engine RPMs: | 200 |
| Engine Diameter: | 6" |
| Engine Stroke: | 6" |
| Engine Boiler: | Steam taken from fog signal boilers. |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |