Report for Skilligallee (Ile aux Galets) Light Station (Michigan) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Office of Engineers, 9th Dist. |
| Location: | About 8 5/8 miles SW'ly from Waugoshance Lighthouse & 5 3/4 miles from mainland, NE'ly part of Lake Michigan |
| Date of Report: | 12/03/1907 |
| Latitude: | 45° 44' 36" N |
| Longitude: | 85° 30' 31" W |
| Premises |
| Site: | Located on Ils aux Galets, a small island 5 3/4 miles from mainland. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Accretion at present time of gravel, approx. 1 3/4 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Gravel |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 51' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Bldgs of light reservation are protected by crib work 5' hogh, 8' wide. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing for small boats on NE side of island. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Plank walk, 2' wide, 160' more or less in length. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from Cross Village, MI., or by tug from Charlevoix or Harbor Springs, MI. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 6.5 miles to stage road at Cross Village, MI. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 6.5 miles to stage road at Cross Village, MI. |
| Distance to Village: | 6.5 miles to stage road at Cross Village, MI. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By small boat from Cross Village; Cross Village is reached by stage from Harbor Springs, MI. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Brick octagonal tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1850. A 100' tower replaced by 52' tower, season of 1888. |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Rebuilt 1888 - an octagonal tower. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 58' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 58' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded bluffs of mainland |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | White lead paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected with Keepers dwelling by a covered way 12' long. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light. Guide to & from Straits of Mackinac. |
| Building Materials: | Brick on stone foundation. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 4' base of brick work, 20" air space. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 1' 6" base of brick work, 3" air space. |
| Diameter at Base: | 14' at base of brickwork. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' under lantern work |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular iron steps & iron ladder. |
| Number of Landings: | 1 under gallery deck, half circle. |
| Size of Glass: | 12" x 16" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8, 1' 9" x 3' 5"; 1.5" sash. |
| Number of Doors: | 2; 1 at entrance, 1 trap to lantern |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone; 7' below grade & 3' 4" above grade. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & coarse gravel. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | None susceptible. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Station was originally a water site built on small accretion of gravel & bldgs surrounded by crib work. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 1" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 34 1/8" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast & wrought iron & brass. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron, zinc lined. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Platinum point on cowl |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 3/4 rod (iron) & flat (1/8) copper bond, fastened to bottom of lantern deck down opposite sides of tower to ground. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery 2' 3 1/4" wide with cast & wrought iron balustrade around railing, 2' 9" high. |
| Lantern Doors: | Double doors, in rebate of lantern panel, swing outwards. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door of 1/4" boiler plate hinged to deck of lantern, is raised from ladder leading to lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Octagonal 6' 2.5" diam. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 radial pattern, brass 6 5/8" dia., in lower part of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks, secured to posts of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Fenestre |
| Year Made: | 1886 |
| Marks and Number: | BF/82 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 20" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| 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: | Cast iron, 18" base, 41 1/4" high |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | None required |
| 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: | Improved 4th order - 1 |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 complete lamps |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Brick oil house (7' x 9') located ENE of rear of dwelling or about 100' from covered way entrance to tower. No shelves or other fittings. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | None |
| Suitability: | Well suited for its purpose |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10" steam whistle |
| Time to Start: | 1 hour with good draught |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Cleveland, OH. The Variety Iron Works |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1890 |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec blast with alternate intervals of 10 & 40 seconds. |
| Duplication: | All except whistle & smokestack |
| Timing Device: | Cams on worm wheel on engine |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 80# |
| Height Above Water: | 31' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Guide to & from Straits of Mackinac |
| Distance and Direction: | 27' 4" NW of dwelling & 180' N of lighthouse |
| Water Supply: | Through 2" pipe from pump to lake |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | 24" plank walk |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Bldg is frame structure 32' 5" x 36' 6" on brick foundation. White wall, roof red. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | Steam |
| Kind: | Locomotive type |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | Height 6' 10 5/8" |
| Length: | 15' 4 9/16" |
| Diameter: | 3' 8" |
| Tube Description: | 58 tubes, 96 inches. |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" dia. |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Part of boiler |
| Furnace Length: | 5' |
| Furnace Width: | 3' 3" |
| Furnace Height: | 3' 11" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 378.9 sq. ft. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 16.25 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 14 (12 center & 2 side) |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double bar spade end; cast iron |
| Steam Fuel: | Wood |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Cast iron lever, brass valve & disc, 2.5" |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 120 # |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 80# |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 24" |
| Smokestack Height: | 37' |
| Drum Dimension: | 54" |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Asbestos covered with canvas |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1890 |
| Where Built: | Cleveland, OH. |
| Manufacturer: | The Variety Iron Works |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Upright |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 122 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: | Thomas Manning, Jr. |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 17" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2.5" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single tone |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Dwelling connected with tower by covered way 12' E of tower. |
| Coloring: | White walls, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Brick walls, stone foundation, shingled roof. |
| Number of Rooms: | 7, also closets, halls & frame summer kitchen addition. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Principal Keeper & 2 assistants. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Boathouse, frame 13' 5" x 34'; oil house; privy; fog signal bldg 36' 6" x 32' 5" |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White walls, red roofs |
| Paths and Walks: | 24" plank walks from entrance to tower & dwelling to landing crib & to all out bldgs. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 1 3/4 acres by accretion. Bldgs protected by crib work 5' high & 8' wide, no enclosure |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Gravel |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By bucket from Lake for house, pumped from Lake for Fog Signal. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | 2220 gals NE corner of Fog Signal bldg. |
| Tank Material: | Steel, supported on steel base, 4' 2" high. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No need of any |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat landing is abt 104' long, 8' wide, located NE of dwelling. Boat ways are 60' in length from boathouse & are secured in place at outer end by crib 6' x 12'. Boathouse is 13' 5" x 34'; 24" plank walk from lighthouse |
| Distance and Direction: | 188' from lighthouse NE |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |