Report for Grassy Island South Channel Range Rear Beacon (Michigan) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk & Norris Works, Supt. |
| Location: | On small artificial island, connected to Grassy Island Fishery by an embankment at elbow of Grassy Island shoal, 500' from W'ly side of main channel of Detroit River, 7 miles below Detroit |
| Date of Report: | 02/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 13' 28" |
| Longitude: | 83° 07' 58" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reserved from US public lands |
| Date of Reservation: | 11/19/1848 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Inside of pile protection & pile pier 11488 sq ft = 0.26 acres. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small landing wharf |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from Wyandotte, MI. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1.5 miles to Ecorse Landing, 1/4 mile from landing to RR Depot. |
| Distance to Post Office: | Ecorse, MI., 1.5 miles |
| Distance to Village: | Ecorse, MI., 1.5 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Electric car & RR to Ecorse, thence 1.5 miles to station. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Electric car & RR to Ecorse, thence 1.5 miles to station. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1849 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1899. Raised about 10' |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | Square |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 52' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 51' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | White, black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Tower rises from dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Forms range with Front Beacon, Detroit River main channel. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' square |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 10' square |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | 5 |
| Size of Glass: | 9" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6 windows, 9" x 12" glass |
| Number of Doors: | |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone foundation on piles. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rich, dark, sandy |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Protected by grass & trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 1.5" |
| 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: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 28" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron on wooden parapet. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper on iron frame |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper cable led down to water. |
| Balustrade: | Wood, zinc covered, iron hand rail. |
| Lantern Doors: | Wood |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood, covered with copper |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wood |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 1/2" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 brass ventilators in parapet with brass revolving discs |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 iron |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks in posts of lantern |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 2 closets, 2 cupboards |
| How is Relief Called: | Automatic electric bell alarm in case lens ceases to revolve properly. Installed 6/1/1908. |
| Where is Call System Led: | Placed in keepers sleeping room, 2nd floor S room |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 20 min. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Benard, Paris, 1896 |
| Year Made: | 1896 |
| Marks and Number: | U.S.L.H.E. 506 BB/106 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing white every 3 seconds 360 degrees |
| Time of Revolution: | 18 seconds |
| Flash Interval: | 3 seconds |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 6 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Lens composed of 6 bulleye lens, each 60 degrees |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Whole apparatus revolves |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | 4 column pedestal, inclosing clock. |
| Service Table: | Wood, with shelf beneath |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | About 30' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 20 min. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Brass case, glazed |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 - June 1, 1908 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | Semi-circular grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 20 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1/2" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | See Watchroom |
| Oil House Description: | Circular iron oil house, painted red, located 20' W'ly from dwelling. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Former oil room, in dwelling, converted into bedroom. 1 set of closets in hall. |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower rises from dwelling |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Wood on stone foundation |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 rooms & basement & summer kitchen addition. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Ice house, boat house & privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White, except oil house which is red |
| Paths and Walks: | Cement walks extending around house & leading to outhouses & oil house. |
| Area Inclosed: | Not inclosed |
| Area of Garden: | 1/2 acre |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 1/2 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/2 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Clay soil |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From Detroit River, 3 iron force pumps in cellar |
| Quality: | Fair |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Yes |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | None - cistern was opened up & made into a room in 1898. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Good size boat house. Boat is left in water in space left for the purpose, & cannot by taken up onto floor. Boathouse used as workshop for storage of misc. articles. Small landing wharf on E side of island. |
| Distance and Direction: | SW from dwelling 6' |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |