Report for St. Joseph (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Del't in Office of Dist. Engr |
| Location: | On bluff in City of St. Joseph, MI., E'ly side of S'ly part of Lake Michigan. |
| Date of Report: | 06/10/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 06' 29" |
| Longitude: | 86° 29' 02" |
| Premises |
| Site: | 2 city lots # 112 & 113, obtained by purchase from Calvin Britain, consideration $200, on Lake Boulevard. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/08/1832 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 132' x 132' (0.40 acres) |
| Area Inclosed: | 132' X 132' |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 1200' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Iron fence in front, tight board fence on sides & rear, 6' high. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Street in front of tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Located on Lake Boulevard. By means of Chicago & W Michigan RR; St. Joseph, S Bend & Southern RR & Big Four RR, also by boat from Chicago & Milwaukee in season of navigation & in city by means of Electric street car system. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Street in front of dwelling & tower, about 1/4 mile to RR station & steamboat landing. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1/3 mile |
| Distance to Village: | In city |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Good, Electric cars pass in front of station. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Good. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower, attached to dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1832, rebuilt in 1859 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1899 |
| Condition at This Date: | In need of repair |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Rectangular |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 48' 9" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 101' above lake level. |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | City of St. Joseph |
| Color of Tower: | Buff |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | On top of front gable on end of dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Coast & Harbor Light. |
| Building Materials: | Timber, cast iron & copper. Roof cast iron, deck copper, parapet lining wood. |
| General Description: | Supported by square timbers, carried on piers & main walls. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 20" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6" |
| Diameter at Base: | Square 7' 6" x 7' 6" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 7' 6" x 7' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | 1 set, 11 steps to 1st landing 2' x 2.5'; 2nd set 6 steps to landing of lantern floor. |
| Number of Landings: | 2 with lantern from landing |
| Size of Glass: | None |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone & brick, 5' |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy & clay bottom |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Soil protected by grass, shrubbery & trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Site in good condition. Tower in need of repairs. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 7' |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| 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: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 27" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None, 4 glass panels darkened; 144 degrees |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Parapet of wood with copper lined deck, lantern frame iron, cast iron roof. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Regulation pinnacle |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper cable fastened to spindle leading over roof on S side of dwelling 2' below the surface of dry earth. |
| Balustrade: | Deck copper, railing wood. |
| Lantern Doors: | Trap door in floor of lantern & door in parapet 2 1/4" x 2' 10.5" leading to outside landing on deck. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Pine flooring, painted |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor, hinged on W side. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Polygonal, 10 sides; 6' 8.5" dia. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 ventilators in parapet wall. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set regulation, brass, secured to astragals. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Cleaning table |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | H. LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | A Paris. |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 7 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white with white flash every 30 sec. |
| Time of Revolution: | 1.5 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | 15 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | 15 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 3 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | 3 |
| How Flash is Produced: | Revolving outside of fixed lens by means of regulation clock work & cast iron weights. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | 5 |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | 9 |
| Pedestal: | Height 3' 4" with 4 brackets, cast iron. |
| Service Table: | Sheet iron on wrought iron frame. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clock work & weights, H. LePaute, Paris |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | On balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 26' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By brass & glass case. |
| Regulated: | By fly governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 1, 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | Part of lamp |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | From clockwork to weight flue on pulleys. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 19 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 3/8" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | None, oil is stored in basement of dwelling. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Good |
| Coloring: | Buff walls, red roof |
| Construction Materials: | Wood, brick & stone |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 rooms in dwelling |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 1 shed used for wood 16' x 18' |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Buff side walls, roof red. |
| Paths and Walks: | Wood & cement |
| Area Inclosed: | 132' x 132', Iron fence in front, 6' board fence on sides & rear |
| Area of Garden: | 0.133 acres |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 0.10 acres |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 0.133 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | 0.133 acres |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy loam. All improved city property. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | |
| Quality: | |
| Quantity: | |
| Injury Possible: | |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | 25 barrels outside of dwelling, N side. |
| Tank Material: | Cistern, constructed of brick & plastered with cement. |
| 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: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | City street in front of station |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Premises in good condition except fence needs repairs. Tower in need of slight repairs. Dwelling in need of repairs. Signal service station about 1/4 mile from lighthouse. |