Report for Round Island (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On extreme NW'ly end of Round Island. S'ly side of passage btwn Round Island & Mackinac Island. |
| Date of Report: | 09/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 45° 50' 14.75" |
| Longitude: | 84° 36' 59.73" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation. Fr. Secs. 16, 17 - T 47 N, R1 W. Mich. mer. The whole island. |
| Date of Reservation: | 04/06/1853 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 387 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Gravel & boulders |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Practically at the water's edge. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Boat landing at boat house. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By rail or steamboat to Mackinac Island, thence by small boat to light station. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 6.5 miles to Mackinaw; 5.5 miles to St. Ignace; 7/8 mile to steamboat landing, Mackinac Island. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 7/8 mile to Mackinac Island. |
| Distance to Village: | 7/8 mile to Mackinac Island. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Small boat from Mackinac Island or by lighthouse tender direct. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1896 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Square prism |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 51' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 53' 2" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Lake & sky; or from certain directions, wooded. |
| Color of Tower: | Red |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of red brick |
| Tower Connection: | Connected to & forming NE corner of dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | To mark N Channel, Straits of Mackinac, btwn Round Island & Mackinac Island. |
| Building Materials: | Brick |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 16" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 16" |
| Diameter at Base: | 12' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Main dwelling stairs to service room floor level; wood stairs to watchroom; ladder w.r. to lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | Watchroom floor & lantern floor. |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 12" & 8" x 20" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 5; 3 4-lt. 8x12", 2 2-lt. 8x20" semicircular top. |
| Number of Doors: | 2; 1 to 2nd floor of dwelling, 1 to 3rd floor. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete & brick pier, 9' high on bedrock. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Lighthouse situated at end of long narrow point off main island. Point is low & of gravel & boulders. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Pier upon which dwelling & tower stand is 40' x 39' plan, 9' high; 6' concrete wall outside, decked with stone flags, & faced with 14" of brick, interior filled with stone & boulders, except that boiler room & coal bin floors are 3' 4" below surface. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 1/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 6 1/4" |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11 3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 34" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron parapet lined with sheet iron, cast iron vertical |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron pyramidal, lined with zinc held by iron batten strips screwed to roof plate flanges. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass with platinum tip. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper band 1/8" x 1.5" fastened to lantern deck & led down outside into water, there attached to a weight. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade: top & bottom rails of pipe, 8 pipe stanchions; Gallery, cast iron plates, 13' square. Sheet iron gutter entirely around gallery. |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron in parapet with brass bolt & hinges. Door is 2-fold & sheet-iron liined. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron flanged plates. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron plate trap door on brass hinges in lantern floor. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7 3/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet, unprotected openings outside, brass valve registers inside with wire screen beneath valve. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None needed. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass screws screwed into soffit of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Not furnished |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | Will run 4 hrs. Is wound every 2.5 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white varied by red flash |
| Time of Revolution: | 40 sec |
| Flash Interval: | 20 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 4 panels fixed, each 90 degrees - 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 2 |
| Arc of Each: | 40 degrees 30' subtended at the focus. |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Fixed; Central belt & 3 elements above & below. |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | Fixed: 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | Fixed: 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | 2 panels of vertical elements attached to lens apparatus outside fixed lens & revolving with it. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | Central belt & 2 elements each side. |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | Whole height of lens. |
| Pedestal: | Old pattern cast iron |
| Service Table: | Cast iron & attached to pedestal & supporting clockwork. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork driving pinion working in a horizontal spur rack on ring of lens apparatus. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Pivot bearing. |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | About 45' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | Will run 4 hrs. Is wound every 2.5 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By brass-bound, glass-paneled case. |
| Regulated: | By fan governor & changing weights. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Colored flashes are produced by ruby glass screens held in bronze frames over vertical flash panels. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | To illuminating apparatus. |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Outside of apparatus. |
| Lamp Description: | Funk-Heap |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | One |
| Number of Spare Burners: | One |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Wire cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 1/8" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Wound on drum in clockcase led down drop tube around weight sheave, returning up tube & anchored under apparatus. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | About 95' S'ly from tower. Fitted with wood shelving. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' 6" x 8' 8" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick walls, red vit., red metal-slate roof & globe ventilator. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 100 5-gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 8 closets & storeroom in dwelling; 2 closets, storeroom & pantry 2nd floor, 6 closets 3rd floor; cellar on 1st floor - pier level. |
| Suitability: | Suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle. |
| Time to Start: | 25 to 35 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Erected by B.A. Todt |
| Year of Manufacture: | Built in Sept. & Oct. 1896 |
| Characteristic: | Blasts 5 sec., silent intervals 55 sec. |
| Duplication: | All parts. |
| Timing Device: | Spur & wom gear operating cam. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Steam whistle at 75# |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Attached to light tower to mark N Channel, Straits of Mackinac. |
| Distance and Direction: | Same bldg. |
| Water Supply: | From lake. 1 tank 4.5' dia., 5' high of steel. Cap. 600 gals. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Short flight of steps from boiler room floor to 1st floor level & to outside doors onto pier. Main stairs of dwelling connect all floors of bldg. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Boiler room 17' 6" x 17' 4", 16' floor to ceiling, occupies NW part of 1st floor of dwelling, tower room in NE corner below 2nd floor being used for coal bin & is open to boiler room. Floor of coal bin & boiler room is 3' 4" below 1st floor level. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Kingsford compact open-bottom marine boiler, Pat. 1894. |
| Tube: | Flue-tube. |
| Dimensions: | Height 7' 9" |
| Length: | 6' 6 3/4" |
| Diameter: | Width 4' 9 3/4" |
| Tube Description: | 102 - 4' 9.5" long (order 4' 10") |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Internal |
| Furnace Length: | 6' |
| Furnace Width: | 4' 3" |
| Furnace Height: | 19" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 413.88 sq. ft.; steam space 53.75 cu. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 21 1/4 sq. ft.; water space 62.29 cu. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 17 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double bars, 5' long, spade ends. |
| 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: | 54' |
| Drum Dimension: | 5' long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Combination; asbestos, felt, paper, canvas. |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1896 |
| Where Built: | Oswego, NY |
| Manufacturer: | Thomson Kingsford |
| 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: | 1896 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Cleveland, OH |
| Manufacturer: | Thos. Manning & 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: | Attached, tower forms NE corner of bldg. |
| Coloring: | Natural color of red brick, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | 2.5 stories high of red brick built on brick & concrete pier & has shingled roof, stone window trim outside, stone belt & base courses. |
| Number of Rooms: | 1st floor: boiler room, coal bin, cellar, WC, hall; 2nd floor: 4 rooms, pantry & hall; 3rd floor: 3 rooms & hall; 8 closets. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & 1 asst. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Boathouse, oil house, privy, pump house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Privy is of yellow vitrified brick, red metal-slate roof, & 6' x 6' in plan. Pump house 4' square, built of vertical boards battened & shingle roof, all painted red. |
| Paths and Walks: | 50' of concrete walk. Boardwalk leads from pump house to pier. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | All reservation except point where light is. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Limestone gravel & boulders, of low elevation that wears away & builds up continually. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | No cistern |
| Tank Capacity: | No cistern |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Well for fog signal 4' square & 4' below lake level. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | Curbed & decked with 2" plank |
| 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: | Landing at boathouse, 50' from tower; 32' long, 8' wide, of 2 16' cribs, 1 of plank, 1 of logs. Boat house is 12' x 20' plan, of vertical boards, battened, painted red & with a red wood shingle roof. Fitted with wood roller boatways but no winch |
| Distance and Direction: | 50' E'ly of tower. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Pier is riprapped on W & N sides with qty of granite boulders. Riprap is said to be rapidly displaced & washed away by ice & seas. There are 2 rough cribs as shore protection, 1 in front of oil house & privy, of logs, 8' x 30' plan, 1 S of boathouse. |