Report for Pipe Island (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On SW'ly shore of Pipe Island, MI. E'ly side of channel, about 2 miles N 1/2 W of Frying Pan Island. |
| Date of Report: | 08/23/1909 |
| Latitude: | 46° 00' 59.14" |
| Longitude: | 83° 53' 57.57" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase. Fractional Section 23, T 42 N, R 4 E, Mich., mer. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 10/15/1885 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 13.35 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Gravel & boulders of limestone |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 90' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Crib landing & boat harbor to be rebuilt of concrete |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat only from Detour Village, which can be reached only by steamboat from Cheboygan, MI., or Sault Ste. Marie, MI. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Steamboat landing at Detour Village about 2 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 2 miles to Detour |
| Distance to Village: | 2 miles to Detour |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By launch from Detour, or by tender. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1888 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 32.5' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 37.5' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | Buff |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of buff face brick |
| Tower Connection: | Detached. Lands about 50' SW'ly from dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast Light. Makes a range with Frying Pan delt Light for entering & leaving Detour Passage & marks turning point in channel. |
| Building Materials: | Buff brick walls cut stone foundation, concrete floor. Plastered inside to plaster whitewashed. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' 10" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 2' |
| Diameter at Base: | 14' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular winding, cast iron with pipe rail. |
| Number of Landings: | 1 - 1/2 landing beneath lantern |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 5 - 2 lt. windows - sash 14" x 17.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 outer door, wood panelled. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Cut limestone, rough stone below, 5' |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Limestone gravel & boulders |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No grass or sod. Station is closely surrounded by light woods. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Add'l deed 11/2/1885. A cast iron newel 12" dia. with rectangular perforations supports lantern & stairs. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 5 5/8" |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35 3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 34 1/4" x 36" lantern glass, 32 1/4" x 36" storm panes. |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None in place |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron parapet lined with sheet iron, cast iron verticals & soffit. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Pyramidal cast iron, flanged plates, lined with painted canvas. Small tin cone lens protector is suspended from roof over lens apparatus. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass with platinum tip. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1" copper band leads from lantern deck down side of tower, into a 6" iron pipe set into ground & filled with charcoal. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery formed by lantern floor plates extended. It is octagonal. Rail of 3 hor. flat bars 1/2 x 2.5 with 5/8 verticals & 2" stanchions, ball to post. |
| Lantern Doors: | 2 fold cast iron, sheet iron lined doors in parapet, brass fittings. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron flanged plates. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Square trap door of steel plate in floor of lantern leads to landing below by iron ladder of steel plate strings & double rounds. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 ventilators in parapet - brass valve registers inside. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Large hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No watchroom. Landing below lantern serves as such, having 4 windows at that level. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not given |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 3 panels each 90 degrees = 270 degrees. 4th panel, 90 degrees is open. |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Central belt & 2 ele above & below. |
| 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: | Old pattern cast iron |
| Service Table: | Cast iron attached to pedestal |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | Mounted on cross & ring & 4 - 1 3/4" wheels bearing on pedestal top fixed with brass pin. Apparatus moveable for cleaning purposes only. |
| Length of Drop Tube: | |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby lamp chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Lamp chimney. |
| Lamp Description: | Haines lamp, single wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1, total of 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 to each lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | 50' S'ly from dwelling & E'ly from tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Cylindrical steel plate, lined with brick. Conical steel roof. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 45 5-gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | Pantry on 1st floor of dwelling & cellar under front part of house. 2 closets 2nd floor & attic. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | About 50' NE'ly from tower, fronting S. |
| Coloring: | Body of house white with lead trims, roof red. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood frame construction on stone foundation, & metal slate roof. |
| Number of Rooms: | 1st floor, 4 rooms, hall, pantry & kitchen leanto; 2nd floor, 3 rooms, 2 closets; Attic, cellar. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy boarded & battened, shingle roof. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks connecting all bldgs with dwelling. Replaced 1909 by concrete slab walks. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | All of reservation except site of bldgs, abt 1 acre. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Limestone gravel & boulders. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From the river |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| 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: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | Natural drainage. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat house 12' x 30' plan, of battened boards painted white, shingle roof. Fitted w/ roller boat ways & iron winch. Boat landing of 4 cribs forming boat harbor. 1- 6 x 16', 1- 8' x 47', 1- 8' x 22', 1- 8' x 50'; all of logs filled w/ stone & plank decked. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Log cribs now in place are to be partly removed, remaining cribs to be taken down to below water line, & new harbor formed by constructing concrete piers on the crib foundation. New harbor will be rectangular & piers 3, 4, 5 & 7' wide & 3' high. |