Report for Two Rivers Pierhead (Wisconsin) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Draftsman |
| Location: | On outer end of N'ly pier at entrance to East Twin River, WI., & harbor of 2 Rivers, W'ly side of Lake Michigan |
| Date of Report: | 12/06/1909 |
| Latitude: | 44° 08' 35" N |
| Longitude: | 87° 33' 37" W |
| Premises |
| Site: | Tower located on Pierhead, Site for dwelling procured by purchase, Lots 6 & 7 with dwelling & apparatus |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/21/1852 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Triangular lot 89' x 150' x 160' on angle (approx. 2/9 of an acre). |
| Area Inclosed: | Entire lot |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Tower is on pier, about 1400' out from shore line. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | The 2 street fronts have 250 lin. ft. of wire fencing with concrete posts 16' c to c, other sides having board fences with concrete posts; 182 lin. ft. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Tower located on N'ly entrance pier about 1400' from shore line. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | City streets |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Dwelling is on cor of Main & East streets & tower which is on entrance pierhead is reached by East Street to foot of pier, & rest of the way; about 1400' by means of an elevated walk. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Dwelling is situated on city streets |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 5/8 mile |
| Distance to Village: | Situated in city of Two Rivers, WI. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Good streets from RR Depot. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By city streets |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Frame tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | October 28, 1886 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Tower rebuilt in fall of 1907, overhauled 1909. Dwelling was thoroughly overhauled & repaired during 1909. |
| Condition at This Date: | Excellent |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 35' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 35' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Bldgs of City of Two Rivers. |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | By white lead & oil paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor light on N'ly pier of Harbor entrance to Twin River, Guide to vessels entering harbor. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Open framework 12" x 12" corner posts 12" x 12" sills. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 10" |
| Diameter at Base: | 15' 8" sq. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' sq. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Elevated walk leads down into watchroom, mill steps up to lantern |
| Number of Landings: | None |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 10" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1, 8" x 10" - 4 lts sash, 20" x 24" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 door leading from elevated walk to watchroom, & trap door in deck of lantern. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Tower bolted to 12" x 12" timbers of pier, which is ballasted with stone & decked with planking. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Water of Lake Michigan; soil of Lighthouse dwelling site is sandy |
| Soil Susceptibility: | By grass, shrubbery & trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower situated on timber pier, 5' 6" above mean water level, 1400 lin. ft. from shore line, 2200 lin. ft. from keepers dwelling. White, square, framework, upper portion enclosed, elevated walk along pier to shore. Width btwn piers at entrance 245'. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 2 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 7' 3 1/4" |
| 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: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27.5" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Lantern is not so fitted |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | No unglazed sides |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Parapet is of wood construction, 3' 6" high, above this lantern is of cast iron astragals with cast iron sills & cornices. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron, lined with zinc plates |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper with platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1.5" copper band, attached to iron work of lantern, carried down side of tower, over pier & then down into water of lake. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade of 8 - 6" x 6" turned posts, 3" x 4" top rail & 2.5" x 3" bottom. Gallery is built of wood, covered with copper, 14' 2" sq. with 3' 3" octagon corners. |
| Lantern Doors: | Wood door, fitted in parapet wall. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wooden, covered with galv. iron sheet metal |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door, fitted into deck of lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5, radial pattern, bronze, 6" dia., fitted into parapet wall. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None needed |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 8 flat bronze hooks, fastened to astragals at angles. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | A room 9' x 9' x 9' 5" high, lined with 7/8" pine ceiling, painted lead color & contains a cleaning table, glass box for spare glass, a locker for supplies. Fog bell striking machinery is also placed in watchroom. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Sautter & Co., Paris |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | No marks |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 13/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red, made by 5th order lamp thru a steamer's 6th order lens. |
| Time of Revolution: | Fixed |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed arc of illumination 212 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 3 panels, 2 panels showing 212 degrees light, one panel of brass forming the door, 148 degrees. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | None |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | None |
| 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: | An iron tripod with top & bottom rings, & 3 - 5/8" legs. |
| Service Table: | None |
| 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: | By lens, lamp & ruby chimney of lamp. |
| Red Sectors Description: | None |
| Where Color Attached: | Lamp chimney |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Lamp chimney |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order improved |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | Burners are attached to & form part of lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | There is a closet in corner of watchroom, fitted with shelving & used for keeping service appliances in. |
| Oil House Description: | In rear of keepers dwelling, fitted with iron shelves |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' 3" x 12' 1" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick & concrete, fireproof. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 318 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | Basement of dwelling is used for storage |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purposes for which designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Fog-bell, operated by Gamewell fog-bell striking apparatus wound up intermittently by an endless chain by 1/4 HP motor. Power for which is furnished by 1/2 KW generator & 2 HP Fairbanks, Morse & Co., oil cooked, oil engine. |
| Time to Start: | 1 sec. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph Co., Boston, MA |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1908 |
| Characteristic: | Bell is struck a single blow every 15 sec. |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | Clock & time wheel |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Bell located on front of tower, striking machine is in watchroom of tower on N'ly pierhead, Power machinery is in power house on shore. |
| Distance and Direction: | 10'x18' Power house loc'd abt 1500' NW'ly at shore |
| Water Supply: | None needed |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | From tower by elevated walk, & from dwelling by city streets. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Wood frame, ordinary construction, 10' x 18' bldg, painted buff, trim painted white, at inner end of N pier at shore line. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1500 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell |
| Diameter: | 3' 7" |
| Height: | 2' 7" |
| Time: | 45 min. |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Frame dwelling of ordinary construction fitted up for 1 family, 220 lin. ft. from tower. |
| Coloring: | Walls, buff; trim white. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood of ordinary construction, with brick & cement basement. |
| Number of Rooms: | 10 rooms & bathroom, 4 closets & 1st floor stairs hall. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame shed & brick oil house |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Shed, buff walls & white trim; oil house, red brick walls. |
| Paths and Walks: | Cement walks to front & rear entrances. |
| Area Inclosed: | Entire premises; fences on 2 street fronts, are of concrete posts, 16' c to c with wire panels, other 2 sides having board fences with concrete posts. |
| Area of Garden: | Noen |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | Whole area |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | City water works |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | There is no cistern |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing is alongside of N pier, there is no boat house. Dwelling can be reached over city streets & tower & Fog-signal can be reached by city streets & by elevated walk on pier. |
| Distance and Direction: | Can land alongside tower with boat, tower is about 2200' from dwelling. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | N'ly pier extends into Lake in a SSE'ly direction. Tower is in excellent condition. There is a US life saving station near inner end of N'ly pier. Weather Bureau has steel tower for display of weather signals, located at Life Saving Station. |