Report for Point Iroquois (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On S'ly shore of head of St. Mary's River & E'ly end of Whitefish Bay, MI. |
| Date of Report: | 07/31/1909 |
| Latitude: | 46° 29' 04.04" |
| Longitude: | 84° 37' 55.49" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation, Lot 4, Sec.12, T47 N, R 3W, Mich. meridian. |
| Date of Reservation: | 03/15/1854 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 54.85 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | Abt 1/2 acre (18720 sq. ft.) around dwelling. About 3 acres cultivated. |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy loam, gravel & stone. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 200' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Barbed ribbon wire fence with top soil incloses dwelling, tower, oil house & privy. Inclosures 126' x 145'. A netting wire fence incloses garden & a plain wire fence incloses 2 acres of cultivated clearing. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small boat landing. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | 2' board walk leads from fog signal to landing. Concrete walk dwelling to fog signal. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat, or by rig from Bay Mills or from Sault Ste. Marie; or by rail SSS & A RR from Sault Ste. Marie to Brimley, thence to Pt. Iroquois via Bay Mills by rig. Roads sandy. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 4 miles to RR station at Bay Mills. 15 miles by water to Sault Ste. Marie |
| Distance to Post Office: | 4 miles to Bay Mills, 7 miles to Brimley. |
| Distance to Village: | 4 miles to Bay Mills, 7 miles to Brimley. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By rig or boat from Bay Mills, 4 miles; or by boat from Sault Ste. Marie, 15 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1855 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1871. Dwelling remodeled 1902. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 61' 9" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 72' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewash |
| Tower Connection: | Connected by covered passage, 8' 6" long. |
| Object of Navigation: | Lake coast light & guide to & from St. Mary's River. |
| Building Materials: | Cut stone foundation, brick walls. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 4' 6"; 22" outer wall, 24" air space, 8" inner wall. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 18"; 12" outer wall, 2" air space, 4" inner wall. |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' at floor level - top of foundation |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular winding iron. Stairwell, 7' dia. |
| Number of Landings: | 2; 1/2 & 5/8, also lantern floor. Pipe handrail. |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 16" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3; 4-lt. sash, 27.5" x 38" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 entrance door of iron plate, with steel single frame. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone, 2' 8" above & 7' below grade. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy loam, gravel & stone. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Premises grass grown & trees grow around & into premises. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Station is built on small plateau of light sandy soil of a general elevation of 16' above lake level. Fog signal & boathouse are situated on gravel beach below this plateau. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 6 1/4" |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 3.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 26 3/4" x 40" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 2 dark panels each 36 degrees - 72 degrees |
| What Bearings: | Btwn 54 degrees & 126 degrees. N = 0 degrees. |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron. Parapet lined with wood. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron plates (10) lined with zinc. Roof pyramidal. A tin cone lens protector suspended beneath ventilator bar. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass with platinum tip. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 5/8" copper wire rope attached to under side of lantern deck & led down outside of tower into wet soil. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery circular of cast iron. Balustrade of 2 3/4" x 2.5" flat bar & 1 1/4" stanchions with ball tops. |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron single-fold door in parapet, brass fitted with hinges & bolt. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron, flanged plates, extended outside parapet to form gallery. |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom, an iron plate trap door leads thru floor of lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7 3/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 in parapet. Iron inside & outside brass register valves inside. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed to soffit. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Cie, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not given |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 11/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing white |
| Time of Revolution: | 5 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | 30 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | No fixed part. 2 bulls-eye panels each 36 degrees = 72 degrees form door mounted on brass hinges. |
| Number of Panels: | 10 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 10 |
| Arc of Each: | 36 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Bullseye & 2 concentric elements |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5, mounted in 5 panels. |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3, mounted in 10 panels. |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| 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 circular top, 22 1/4" dia. & 38.5", floor of lantern to top of pedestal. |
| Service Table: | Fan shaped cast iron table attached to pedestal & supporting clock case. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork operating horizontal spur gear that drives a circular spur rack 42 1/4" dia, forming base ring of lens apparatus. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Pivot bearing. |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 47' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass paneled, brass bound case. |
| Regulated: | Single fan governor & by adding & subtracting weights. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Not colored |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funk Heap, 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 spare, 2 in use, Total 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3. 1 to each lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Wire cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 3/16" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Wound on drum in clock case, led over a brass roller beneath clock case, thru lantern floor, over a sheave into flue in tower wall. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 round wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | A locker closet of shelves in the wall at the top landing for storage of lamp fittings, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Circular, with conical roof & vent, 100' SW'ly from dwelling |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' dia. |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Steel plate lined with brick, concrete floor. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 72 5-gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 4 closets & pantry in part of dwelling attached to tower; 4 closets & pantry in new part of dwelling. Also 2 wood sheds, in rear part of old part of dwelling. Cellar under both parts. |
| Suitability: | Suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle |
| Time to Start: | 30 to 45 min. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Built by Thos. K. Miller |
| Year of Manufacture: | Built in Sept. & Oct. 1890. |
| Characteristic: | Blast 5 sec., silent interval 13 sec., blast 2 sec., silent interval 4 sec. |
| Duplication: | All parts |
| Timing Device: | Spur & worm gear operating cam. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle, at 75# |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Marks the Iroquois at entrance to Whitefish Bay. |
| Distance and Direction: | 400' NE by E from light tower. |
| Water Supply: | From well; 1 tank 4.5' diam, 5' high, cap. 600 gals.; Well is 4' dia. & 12.5' deep, circular & bricked up. Well stands 10' from bldg. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By concrete walk |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Frame bldg 22 x 40 plan, 12' to plates, brick foundation. Exterior & roof sheathed with 2" plank & covered with #18 corr. iron. Interior sheathed with 1" x 12" boards, covered with #26 smooth iron. Brick chimney. Bldg encircled by 4' plank walk. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Standard locomotive |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Ht. 5' 3.5" |
| Length: | 15' 6" |
| Diameter: | 3' 10" across |
| Tube Description: | 58 - 8' long. |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Locomotive |
| Furnace Length: | 5' |
| Furnace Width: | 3' 3/4" |
| Furnace Height: | 3' 11" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 371 Steam space 48.88 cu. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 16 1/4 Water space 69.84 cu. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 16 - 4 center, 2 side |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double 58" long |
| 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: | 4' long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Compound; asbestos, felt paper, canvas |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good, so far as known |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1890 |
| Where Built: | Cleveland, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Variety Iron Works |
| Steam Heater: | True |
| Kind: | Gurney #402 |
| 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: | 1890 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Cleveland, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Thos. Manning, Jr. & 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: | Double dwelling attached to tower by covered passage leading from old part of dwelling & 8' 6" long. |
| Coloring: | Natural cement walls, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Old part common brick cement washed on cut-stone foundation. New part of sand lime brick on cement block foundation. Gables of cement plaster. Metal plate roof. |
| Number of Rooms: | Old part: 8 rooms, 4 closets. New part: 6 rooms. Both parts: , hall, pantry, woodshed & cellar |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & family in old part. Asst. & family in new part. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy, 5' x 7'; well house, 7' sq.; barn, 16' x 24'; cow barn, 12' x 12'; smoke house, 4' x 4'; chicken house, old board shack (condemned), old log shed not used. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Privy, whitewashed, red shingle roof; Well house weathered shingle walls, red shingle roof, brick floor. Barn, metallic brown, shingled upper part & roof of lower walls boarded & battened. Cow barn, whitewashed, natural shingle roof. |
| Paths and Walks: | 550' concrete walk. |
| Area Inclosed: | 12 x 15 |
| Area of Garden: | Garden in 2 parts. total about 1 acre. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Btwn 45 & 50 acres |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None, besides garden. Other part under par for cultivation- too stony & sandy. |
| Area Cultivated: | Abt. 2 acres seeded for hay. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sand & gravel |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From drive well |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | 4" filter wall of porous brick with no bond to cistern walls 3' radius, built in 1 end of cistern in each part of dwelling. |
| Tank Capacity: | 1 cistern in NW cor. old cellar. cap 208 cu. ft. (1556 gal). 1 cistern in SE cor. new cellar - cap. 216 cu. ft. (1616 gal) |
| Tank Material: | Built of brick, arched top. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Partly curbed & part driven pipe, 15' deep. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 50' N of tower or front door of Keeper's dwelling. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | None needed. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing crib of timber & plank, 12' wide, 90' long with 4' water at outer end. Also, 16 x 24 crib, on E side of boatways. Boathouse, 16' x 36' plan, stands about 30' back from shore. A good wagon road runs from station to Bay Mills & Sault Ste. Marie. |
| Distance and Direction: | 450' NE x E from dwelling & reached by concrete walk. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Smoke house of weathered boards is near garden opposite the barn. Chicken house is of boards, tar paper & battens, natural colors. Old condemned shack of boards & tar paper was formerly used by 2nd asst. It is unsightly & in wretched condition. Abt 12x16' |