Report for Point Retreat Lightstation (Alaska) - 1923
| General |
| District: | 17th |
| Inspector: | Various |
| Location: | Most northerly point of Mansfield Peninsula on Admiralty Island, at junction of Saginaw Channel & Lynn Canal. On sharp point. |
| Date of Report: | 12/12/1923 |
| Latitude: | 58° 24' 36" |
| Longitude: | 134° 56' 33" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Public land reserved by Executive Order. |
| Date of Reservation: | 01/06/1901 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 1683 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None. |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 46' to center of tower. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | No fence. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wharf. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Reached only by boat from Juneau, Alaska. 2 passages; high water passage requiring 14' tide for small boat over Mendenhall bar 20 miles. Any tide 383 miles around Doughlas Island. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Reinforced concrete fog signal building surmounted by a square concrete tower. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1904 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1923 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 44 feet. |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky or distant timbered mountains, the latter dark of snow covered; nearby timber from some postions. |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Plastered with white medusa cement. |
| Tower Connection: | Detached; 170 feet distant. |
| Object of Navigation: | General navigation, main inside route. All ocean going vessels for Western Alaska, Sitka vessels, & local fishing & gas boats must pass this station. |
| Building Materials: | Reinforced concrete. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron spiral stairway to lantern rower. |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 12" x 12", 12 such panes. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 4 light windows, N, W, S sides. Sash 2' x 3'. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 leading out on roof 2' x 5'. 2 @ 2' 2" x 6' 0". |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower located on top of fog signal building which is 20' x 36' with a molded corcince 2' x 18". Steel sash on 3 seawards sides, about 5' below cornice. Depth of sash 4' 2". |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th order, standard. |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' 4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | 3/4" |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 1/25" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 full diamon & 2 halfs. |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 1.08" x 2' 1.08" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron bronze & glass. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron. |
| Lightning Spindle: | 18" platinum tip. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Galv. pipe railing. Gallery reinforced concrete. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron; bronze hinges, lock, etc. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Reinforced concrete. |
| Watchroom Doors: | None. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None-accessible without ladders. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed on steel tower. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None. Large fog signal room with approach to lantern & landing. |
| How is Relief Called: | None. |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 230 cp |
| Name of Maker: | A.G.A. Co., Elizabeth, NJ |
| Year Made: | Unknown |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | Drum lens. |
| Inside Diameter: | 300 mm |
| Light Characteristic: | Group flashing white every 6 seconds. 0.3 sec. flash, 0.9 sec. eclipse, 0.3 sec. flash, 4.5 sec. eclipse. |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | None. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None. |
| 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: | 2" pipe with disc. of 5/8" boiler plate on bottom & disc of 1/4" boiler plate at top. |
| 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: | |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | None |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None. |
| Candle Power: |
| Compressed Gas |
| Gas Container: | 4-A-25 |
| Compressed Gas Capacity: | 88 cubic feet each, 352 total. |
| Compressed Gas Charge: | 15 atmospheres |
| How Supply Renewed: | By relieving containers. |
| At What Intervals: | |
| Spare Containers: | 4 |
| Gas Light |
| Gas Light Kind: | Acetylene |
| Gas Light Number of Burners: | 1 only |
| Kind of Burner: | A. G. A. |
| Candlepower Per Burner: | 24 cp |
| Total Candlepower: | |
| Consumption Gas Burner Per Hour: | 3/4 cu. ft. hr. |
| Total Consumption Per Hour: | 3/4 cu. ft. |
| How Gas Obtained: | Disolved acetylens; delivered to station. |
| Occulting Light |
| Characteristic: | Group flashing white every 6 seconds. 0.3 sec. flash, 0.9 sec. eclipse, 0.3 sec. flash, 4.5 sec. eclipse. |
| Time Limit: | Unknown. |
| Eclipse Type: | Valve, (gas light) |
| Size and Amplitude: | |
| Axis Rotation: | |
| Axis Relation: | |
| Screen Revolution: | |
| Screen Number: | |
| Screen Time: | |
| Screen Form: | |
| Screen Mounting: | |
| Screen Order: | |
| Screen Date: | |
| Valve Maker: | A.G.A. Co. |
| Valve Pattern: | KK130 |
| Reliability: | Yes. |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None. |
| Oil House Description: | Old shop building near fog signal used for this purpose. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Wood. |
| Oil House Capacity: | Oild stored in a cylindrical steel tank, 56" diam. x 12' long, capaacity 1500 gallons. |
| Other (Describe): | Locker in south end of fog signal building. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Type C diaphone. |
| Time to Start: | 5 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | 0 |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 3 sec. blast, 3 sec. silent, 3 sec. blast, 21 sec. silent. |
| Duplication: | Engine & compressor. |
| Timing Device: | 17th District Blast Device. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 30 lbs. |
| Height Above Water: | 34 feet. |
| Compass Direction: | North, approximate. |
| Location: | On north end of point. A narrow reef bare at low water but covered at high tide projects about 300 ft. to northward into Saginaw Channel. |
| Distance and Direction: | All in 1 building. |
| Water Supply: | Rain water drain to cistern beneath floor fog signal building. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Same building. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Reinforced concrete fireproof building 20' x 36' x 16' high with 8' 6" x 8' 6" tower 7' 9" high from roof to lantern. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: | Has American Steam Gage & Valve Co., Boston, Mass. |
| Internal Combustion Signal |
| Fog Signal Kind: | |
| Internal Combustion Kind: | Mietz Kerosene oil engine |
| Internal Combustion Manufacturer: | Charter Gas Engine Co., Sterling, Ill. |
| Internal Combustion Date: | 1923 |
| Internal Combustion Size: | 7" x 8" |
| Internal Combustion Horsepower: | 8 HP |
| Internal Combustion Fuel: | Kerosene |
| Internal Combustion Starter: | By heating torch. |
| Compressor Maker: | Pa. Pump & Compressor , Easton, Pa. |
| Compressor Seat: | Chain driven, sep. beds. |
| Compressor Machinery: | |
| Compressor Diameter: | 7" |
| Compressor Stroke: | 5" |
| Compressor RPMs: | 266 rpm |
| Character of Air Inlet: | 3" |
| Kind of Unloader: | Air control |
| Diameter of Delivery Pipe: | 2" |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 3 feet |
| Trumpet Diameter: | 3" to 10" |
| Trumpet Material: | Steel |
| Air Receiver |
| Number: | 2 |
| Diameter: | 4 feet |
| Height: | 8 feet. |
| Capacity Cubic Feet: | 100 |
| Pressure in Each: | |
| Make of Reducing Valve: | None. |
| Remarks: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 170' South on point to 1st dwelling, 56' additional to next. |
| Coloring: | Gray, white trimmed, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Frame, full concrete basement & foundation, exterier shingled. |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 each, bath & pantry. |
| Number of Dwellings: | 2 |
| Heating Plant: | American Radiator Col.'s hot water heater's & Honeywell system. |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 each. |
| Furnished Quarters: | Both, including quarters for families. |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | None. |
| Outhouses: | Engine house & boat house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Gray-red roof, white trimmed. |
| Paths and Walks: | Only temporary at present. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 4/5 of reserve; |
| Area Cultivated: | None. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Soil (rich) swampy 1/2 mile back on point; timbered. |
| Stove, Maker: | Monarch Ranges Co. |
| Stove, Size: | 37" x 27" |
| Sink, Maker: | Crane Co. |
| Sink, Size: | 20" x 30" |
| Pump, Maker: | Milwaukee Air Power Pump Co. |
| Pump, Size: | 12B double cylinder. |
| Lamps: | 1 table, 2 hand lamps Standard Gen. Depot stock. |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water from roofs of dwellings impoiunded in 19,000 gal. concrete cistern for dwellings. Rain water from fog signal roof impounded in 1,000 gal. cistern under floor. |
| Quality: | Fair. |
| Quantity: | Yes. |
| Injury Possible: | No. |
| Purity Precaution: | Brick filter wall in cistern at dwellings. Water for engines not filtered. |
| Tank Capacity: | 1,000 ga. for fog signal, 19,000 gal. for dwellings. |
| Tank Material: | Concrete. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | Air power |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 170' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful. |
| Diseases: | None. |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wharf 41' face, piling 40' on rock shelf 40' above mean low water. length of wharf from retaining wall to face is 58'. Creoscted piles & braces with concrete casing on piles from 3' to 12' in height. Derick 1 60' shear leg toward shore, 45' mast, 40' boom |
| Distance and Direction: | Directly in front between 2 dwellings on East shore. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Boom swinging attachment comprises 1 8' Bull wheel operated from hoist engine - geared. Wharf throughly bolted with 3/4" Galv. bolts at all crossings, anchored to reinforced concrete retating wall. |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 15 |
| Type: | Launch |
| Length: | 5' |
| Width: | 18' |
| When Built: | 1910 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 6/30/23 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | No. |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 65 |
| Type: | Skiff |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 14' |
| When Built: | 1923 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1924 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes. |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Scripps Motor- Model "A" |
| Horsepower: | 4 - 5 HP |
| Engine Maker: | Scripps Motor Co., |
| Spare Coil: | |
| Magnet: | None. |
| Battery: | Dry batteries. |
| Propeller Diameter: | 14" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 16" |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Fairbanks-Morse Co. |
| Engine RPMs: | 350 rpm |
| Engine Diameter: | |
| Engine Stroke: | |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | Fairbanks-Morse Co. 1922 |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | 10 HP |
| Fuel: | Gas. |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | In boiat house on wharf. |