Report for Pilot Island Front Range (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On Pilot Island, S'ly side of Mud Lake, St. Mary's River, MI. |
| Date of Report: | 08/29/1909 |
| Latitude: | 46° 10' 34.58" |
| Longitude: | 84° 07' 59.72" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase 5 1/2 of SW 1/4, Sec 25, T44 N, Rr E., Mich |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 06/15/1903 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 26.2 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Gravel, stone & boulders |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 25' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None, except garden & hen yard |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small landing at dwelling. Also land directly on dikes |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat only. A boat of light draft necessary to reach any of the landings. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Nearest steamboat landing is at Sailors Encampment, 6 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 6 miles to Sailors Encampment |
| Distance to Village: | Sailors Encampment on Little Neebish Isld. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By launch from Sailors Encampment, 6 miles |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1894 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1905 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 39.5' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 39' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | White, black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Range - guide from its intersection with the Winter P4 Range to lower entrance to improved channel at Sailors Encampment. |
| Building Materials: | Timber framing covered with vertical matched flooring & outside over that with narrow wood siding laid on paper. Open timberwork uncerted inside. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 6" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6" |
| Diameter at Base: | 11' 6" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | 3 flights wooden stairs & wood rails. |
| Number of Landings: | None - winders at the turns. |
| Size of Glass: | 14" x 18" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 - 2 light windows, sash 18" x 22" |
| Number of Doors: | 2 paneled doors, 1 outside door & 1 into watchroom |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone about 4' |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | On small island about 100' long & 50' wide of gravel & stone |
| Soil Susceptibility: | There is a thin & irregular growth of grass around dwelling premises. There are trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Dwelling & out buildings are on a natural knoll on point to E'd of front range. Both towers are connected to mainland by hand laid stone dike. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 5.5" |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | Lantern glass 36" x 33 7/8"; Storm panes 36" x 32" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 2 - place for 1 on each glazed side. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 2 sides @ 45 degrees = 90 degrees |
| What Bearings: | SW 5/8 S & SE 5/8 E |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron parapet lined with sheet iron & cast iron verticals; & C.I. plate dark panels. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Pyramidal cast iron, lined with zinc, held to batten strips screwed to flanges of roof plates. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass with platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/8" x 2" copper band attached to pinnacle of lantern & led down outside of tower into moist earth. |
| Balustrade: | Octagonal gallery 27" wide, of wood covered with tin. Double pipe rail with pipe fittings. |
| Lantern Doors: | 2 fold door of cast iron in parapet. Doors lined with sheet iron. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Of wood flooring on wood joists. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wood trap door in floor of lantern. Wood step ladder leads to watchroom. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet - unprotected opening outside & brass valve registers inside |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Locker of shelves built of wood for lamp supplies. 2 windows. Ground floor of tower used as cleaning room fitted with table & glass bot. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Adams & Westlake |
| Year Made: | 1908 |
| Marks and Number: | No 1065 - 23" |
| Order of Apparatus: | Reflector |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | |
| 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: | Light rectangular framed pedestal of wood upon which headlight metal case rests. |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| 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: | Headlight lamp, A. W. knit wick No. 94 white chimney |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 spare headlight complete |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Locker of shelves in watchroom for lamp supplies |
| Oil House Description: | 100' W of dwelling on shore at E end of front dike. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' 6" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Vitrified red brick, metal slate hip roof & globe ventilator. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 100 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | 1 closet & pantry, 1st floor of dwelling, 4 closets, 2nd floor. Cellar under whole house |
| Suitability: | Suitable. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | On mainland, 100' E of dike & 750' E'd from tower. |
| Coloring: | Red roof, walls bronze green on natural red brick foundation. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood frame bldg, brick foundation, metal slate roof. Interior hardwood & pine finish. |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 plus hall, pantry, 5 closets, cellar under whole house, Porch acr. front |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 12' x 20' store shed wood patent siding & wood shingle roof; 10' x 10' hen house of battened boards & metal slate roof; 4' x 5' privy of batten boards & shingle roof; dog kennel & chicken yard. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | All outbldgs metallic green with red roofs. |
| Paths and Walks: | 200' cement walk. 200' more to be laid. |
| Area Inclosed: | None, except hen yard which is 20' x 30' inclosed by wire netting fence, also garden. |
| Area of Garden: | 100 x 300' inclosed by wire fence, abt 500' SE |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | About 18 acres wooded |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 2 acres now cultivated is a hay field besides garden. Remainder in light shrubbery & scattering trees. |
| Area Cultivated: | Ground now cultivated is low-lying. |
| Character of Surroundings: | About premises is stony & gravel. To SE'd of bldgs is an alder swamp. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake by bucket or from well. |
| Quality: | Often muddy. Mud Lake very shallow. Well is clean. |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Wind & seas make water muddy & Spring ice interferes with getting good water. Well water used when such conditions occur, but that water is very strong with lime. |
| Purity Precaution: | No cistern |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | 16' deep |
| Well Diameter: | 4' (about) |
| Well Lining: | Stone cribbed |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 125' NW of dwelling. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthfulness excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | There is natural drainage. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boathouse, 16' x 36' of vert. boards, battened, metal slate roof. Painted white with yellow trim & red roof. Fitted with iron winch & roller boatways. Outside is 10' x 16' tight board crib filled with stone alongside boatways. |
| Distance and Direction: | Boathouse is abt 100' SW'ly from dwelling & just S of N dike. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Conn'd to shore by dike built of large boulders & broken stone laid by hand. Top abt. 30" wide & sides slope steeply to bottom under 5' of water at deepest point. Dike is 650' long & 3' abv water, ext. from E side of Isld to pt 100' W'ly of dwelling. |