Report for St. Clair Flats Canal Upper (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 11th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | On upper end of W pier of & NE'ly entrance to US Ship Canal, about 7000 ft. 41 degrees 07' (NE 5/16 N) from Lower light. |
| Date of Report: | 04/17/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 32' 02.73" |
| Longitude: | 82° 40' 12.84" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Permission to occupy pierhead granted by War Dept. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | 01/03/1870 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 16850 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Sand |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 45' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | 18' timber bulkhead 7' above water extends around end of pier, along W side 99' to boat harbor, 51' along N side of boat harbor. Remainder inclosed by revetment of piles & wood sheet piling tied thru pier by tie rods. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing at boat house in boat harbor or on canal side revetment. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Cement walk to revetment on canal side & to boat house. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat only. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 25 miles by boat to Detroit; about 1/2 mile to Old Club, St. Clair Flats. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1/2 mile to the Old Club |
| Distance to Village: | About 25 miles by boat to Detroit; about 1/2 mile to Old Club, St. Clair Flats. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By passenger steamer from Detroit to The Old Club dock. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat from Detroit or the Flats. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1871 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Octagonal prism with abutments |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 46' 2" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 45' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Pier lightly wooded with willow, otherwise open water & sky. |
| Color of Tower: | Red |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of red brick |
| Tower Connection: | Connected to dwelling forming E corner of bldg. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast light & to mark entrance to United States Ship Canal. |
| Building Materials: | Cut-stone to 6' above grade; remainder of brick. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 18" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 18" |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular winding cast iron steps; no hand rail. |
| Number of Landings: | 3; 1- 1/4 landing, 2 - 5/8 landings |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 windows: 1 8-lt. sash 25.5" x 32"; 2 casement, 4 lt. sash 24.5" x 32" |
| Number of Doors: | 3 doors of steel plate |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone 6' below surface on timber piles & sills. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand as dredged from canal & thrown up to form pier. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Ground about dwelling is sodded. Willows grow entire length of pier. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 6" |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 25 3/4" x 40" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron parapet & verticals; wood lining to parapet. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Pyramidal in 10 cast iron plates lined with zinc. A tin cone lens protector is suspended beneath ventilator |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass with platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper wire rope fastened thru hole in lantern deck & led down outside of tower into ground. |
| Balustrade: | Octagonal cast iron gallery 30" wide. Balustrade: top & bottom rails of 1 3/4" x 5/8" flat bar; 1" wrought iron posts with cast iron ball tops. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 single fold in parapet, of 5/8" cast iron, with brass bolt & hinges. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron in 4 plates. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Steel plate trap door in lantern floor with hand hole lift & brass hinges. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 10 sides, wood lining, 3' 6" high, 6' 6" dia. inside. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators in parapet, brass register valves inside, iron hoods outside. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None needed |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Small brass hooks screwed to verticals. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No watchroom; last 5/8 landing below lantern has a small closet of shelves fitted with wood doors, built into wall. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co., Paris |
| Year Made: | Not given |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Each lens panel 90 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4, one of them a door. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Center belt, 2 elements above, 2 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 with bell top & base. |
| Service Table: | Wrought iron, fan shape in plan, attached at top of pedestal. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | For cleaning purposes: revolved by hand about stub center on 4 2" chariot wheels mounted on cross & ring, bearing on pedestal top. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Not used: From beneath lantern floor to cellar floor, 37'. 10" x 10" flue in wall, with openings top & bottom, top one closed by wood door. |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby chimney used on lamp. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | Illuminating apparatus |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Lamp chimney |
| Lamp Description: | Funck-Heap 4th order 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 in use, one spare - total 3 at station. |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 burner to each lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Last 5/8 landing below lantern has a small closet of shelves fitted with wood doors, built into wall. |
| Oil House Description: | Near revetment E side of boat harbor, 80' SW of tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' dia. |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Circular of steel plate lined with brick, conical steel roof with ventilator |
| Oil House Capacity: | 45 5-gal cans; cap. 225 gal |
| Other (Describe): | 3 closets on 1st floor, 1 on 2nd floor. |
| Suitability: | Suitable. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Attached: tower forms part of bldg. |
| Coloring: | Walls, natural color of red brick, slate roof, green window blinds. |
| Construction Materials: | Cut stone to 6' above grade, remainder of red brick, roof of slate, brick chimney with sheet iron stove pipe top. |
| Number of Rooms: | 10 rooms, 4 closets, water closet off entry to kitchen. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 & family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Boat house, oil house, hennery (100' S'ly from dwelling), wood shed to be built season 1909, 12' x 14' plan. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Boathouse painted white, oil house red, hennery whitewashed. |
| Paths and Walks: | Cement walks to be laid around dwelling to boat house, oil house & wood shed (season 1909) 2.5' wide - lineal feet. |
| Area Inclosed: | White picket fence crosses canal pier from SE'ly corner of boat harbor. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None - except a few willows on site. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Pier is of sand confined by revetment & bulkheads at ends - 100' wide & abt. 7000' long. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake by pump & pipe line |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | 1 small galvanized tank in kitchen used for fueling W.C. |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | By pump - Deming Co., Salem, MA |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | In kitchen at sink. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat house & landing, no road. Boathouse is 28' 6" x 21' 6" in plan, outside measurement. Inside 12' wide, leaving remainder open to water for a boat well. It is built of vertical boards battened, 1 side formed 12" timber bulkhead N side of boat harbor. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Roof of boathouse: shingles, 1/3 pitch with ridge off center, being 8' horiz. from S'ly side. There are 2 doors to boathouse, 1 in each end, both used - 1 from pier & 1 from landing. Also, 2 4-lt. windows. A WC built into SW'ly corner of boathouse. |