Report for Charlevoix Pierhead Light Station (Michigan) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Francis J. Otter, Office of Engineer, 9th LH Dist. |
| Location: | On outer end of N pierm entrance to Charlevoix Harbor, MI., E'ly side of N'ly part of Lake Michigan. Mag. var. 1 degree 15' W |
| Date of Report: | 12/03/1907 |
| Latitude: | 45° 19' 26" N |
| Longitude: | 85° 15' 29" W |
| Premises |
| Site: | On Gov't pier superstructure |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | On either side of pier |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Road to inner end of elevated walk. Elevated walk on pier 705' to tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By Pere Marquette RR to Charlevoix or by steamer during season of navigation. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Public road at inner end of elevated walk. RR station 1 mile. Steam boat landing. |
| Distance to Post Office: | Less than 1/2 mile. |
| Distance to Village: | Within village limits. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | From RR station or steamboat landing |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Good |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Open frame work tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1885 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Sills, posts & diagonals renewed 1899 |
| Condition at This Date: | In good condition. |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 36' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 37' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sand bluffs & dwellings of village. |
| Color of Tower: | White, black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | White lead & oil. |
| Tower Connection: | No dwelling in connection with this station. |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor light |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Sills of tower are 12" x 12" - 18' sized. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Posts are 8" x 8". Diagonals are 6" x 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' x 16' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' 3"; Upper girts are 12" x 12" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden ladder from watchroom to lantern |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 12" x 16"; 7" x 9" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 single 12 x 16, 4 lts, 2 single 6 lts 7" x 9" |
| Number of Doors: | 1, 2' 8" x 6' 8"; 1 3/4 door glazed 2 lts. 9.5" x 35" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | On pier superstructure. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower is 58' 6" from end of pier, height from top of sills to ceiling under watchroom floor joists 13' 1.5". Piers are 20' wide. New pier superstructure placed Fall of 1903 & tower secured to new cross ties of pier. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 5th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 34" x 36.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Parapet of wood with cast iron frame above. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper, perforated for vent for lantern. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Platinum point on ventilator ball. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Iron, attached to cast frame of lantern & leads down outside of tower to water, about 37' in length. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade of wood with turned posts, 3" x 3 3/4"; gallery is of wood covered with galvanized iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | 2 doors 22" x 35.5"; 1 swings out on lantern deck. The other swinging into lantern. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door raises into lantern size 37" x 39.5" |
| Parapet Diameter: | Octagonal. 6' 5" inscribed diameter. |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 cast iron, brass fronts, radial pattern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 1 set regulation brass hooks, tapped in astragals of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Watchroom, size (inside) 10' 10" x 10' 10" fitted with stove, glass box, 2 small cupboards, 1 forming cleaning table, & shelves with pockets for storing stationary. Height of watchroom from floor to ceiling 10' 1" |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1882 |
| Marks and Number: | HL/521 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| 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: | 4 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| 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: | Cast iron, one piece. Height 3' 8" |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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 ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | None |
| Where Color Attached: | Chimney of lamp |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Regulation 5th order, 1 circular wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 complete lamps. |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Small closet in tower is fitted with shelves for storage of supplies. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil house is 196' 10" in rear of base of tower. Fitted with shelves for storage of paints, oils & various service supplies. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 10' 4" x 12' 4" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Frame bldg (siding finish) ceiled inside & has 1 door, size 2' 6" x 6' 6" & 1 window - glass size 20" x 30". |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Road from main business street of village leads to inner end of elevated walk. Elev. walk, completed April 1904, is of metal construction, with bents, 24' centers. Total of 705' of metal elev. walk on pier & 66' of walk, 3' wide over 4" x 6" stringers. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | US Weather Bureau storm warning station. Flag staffs in front of telegraph office, near bridge & opera house. Electric lights. Messages: near flagstaff. Life saving station on opposite side of river 600' more or less in length. |