Report for La Pointe Light Station (Wisconsin) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 9th |
| Inspector: | Ralph R. Tinkham |
| Location: | About 1.25 miles to the E'd of the extremity of Chequamegon Point, Wis., S'ly side South Channel entrance to Chequamegon Bay, SW'ly part of Lake Superior |
| Date of Report: | 11/13/1909 |
| Latitude: | 46° 43' 43.69" |
| Longitude: | 90° 47' 05.69" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Reservation, Sec. 18, T49N, R3W, 4th mer. Wis. |
| Date of Reservation: | 03/05/1854 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 152 acres. |
| Area Inclosed: | None. |
| Character of Soil: | Sand |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 140 feet |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Crib landing at lgiht tower. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Crib landing at dwelling. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat only from Bayfield, Wis or Ashland, Wis. the nearest ports. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 6.5 miles to Bayfield, Wis; nearest railway station, stemboat landing, etc. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 6.5 miles to Bayfield, Wis. |
| Distance to Village: | 6.5 miles to Bayfield, Wis. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By launch or tug from Bayfield or Ashland, or by tender and small boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1858 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1897; new tower erected. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good. |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square. |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal skeleton iron, cylindrical stairwell. |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 65' 3" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 70' 0" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | |
| Color of Tower: | White with black lantern. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint for tower and lantern. |
| Tower Connection: | Detached; stower stand about 3000 feet E'ly of dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | Lake coast light & guide thru South channel to Ashland & Bayfield, Wis. |
| Building Materials: | 4 corner posts; lower, middle & upper sections of 5", 5.75" & 6.5" cast iron pipe resp., brached with 3.75" & 4.375" cast iron pipe horz. struts & 1.75" & 1.37" diag. tension rods all fitted into C.I. socket joints. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | 19' 5-13/32" center to center of socket column bases |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' 8" center to center of socket column bases. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Circular winding cast iron steps with rail of 1.25" wrot iron rounds. |
| Number of Landings: | 1 1/2 cast iron landing. |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2, iron sash, 1 4-lt, 1 2-lt. to each window, sash 21" x 28" |
| Number of Doors: | 2; entrance 6' 9"x 2' 3.25", 2-fold c.I. & parapet 2-flod c.I. 6' 4.75" x 2' 3". |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | A 6' x 6' concrete pier under each corner post & 1 8' x 8' pier under stair well, all 4' 9" deep & 4' 1" below grade. 4 anchor bolts to each cloumn, 1.5" x 4' 6" with c.I. washer are set in corner piers. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No grass; considerable growth of jack pine. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | A central c.I. column or newel post extends from the floor of stair well of tower to watchroom floor; 12.75" diam. of 3/8" metal & perforated with 4.5" x 4.5" openigns spaced 3.5" envertical rows. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' x 0.75" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 5-5/8" inside sills |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | Vertical. |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11-3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 34.25" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Places provided for them. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron with 1/8" sheet steel lining to parapet. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Of 8 cast iron flanged plates, zinc-lined, latter held by steel batten screwed to flanges of roof plates. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass, platinum point; melted down 1/4" in storm of 1909. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | To be put in place 1909; is a copper bank 1/8" x 2", to be attached to face of tower & led into moist sand. |
| Balustrade: | Main gallery deck octagonal of 16 c.I. flanged plates with balustrade of 3 2"x1/2" hor. rails. 3/4" verticals & 2" ball-top stanchions. Lantern gallery circular in 4 c.I. flanged plates. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 2-fold c.I. steel-lined door in parapet. Aso a 2-fold door of steel plate with brass fittings to main gallery deck. |
| Floor of Lantern: | O 4 c.I. plates that extend beyond lantern to form the outside gallery. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Rectangular cast iorn plate trap door in floor of lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Parapet of 8 c.I. plates, lined with 1/8" steel & 3' 6-5/16" high. Inside diam. 6' 7.25" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet, 4 ventilators open outside and brass register valves insode. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None needed. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed into soffit castings. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Circular in plan, with a 2-fold c.I. door leading onto main gallery deck. Stepladder leads to lantern. |
| 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: | 1893 |
| Marks and Number: | None. |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white. |
| Time of Revolution: | Fixed. |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 4 panels each 90 degrees, 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None. |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Central belt with 2 elements above & below. |
| 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: | Old pattern cast iorn. |
| Service Table: | Cast iron, attached to pedestal. |
| Draft Tube Description: | A conical sheet-iron tube, painted leads from lens ring to opening of ventilator tube in top of lantern. This draft tube is 6" diam. at lens ring and 10" diam. at top. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Fixed. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Chariot for cleaning purposes only. |
| Chariot Description: | Lens mounted on cross & ring supported on 4 2-1/8" diam. roller wheels., bearing on pedestal top. |
| Length of Drop Tube: | |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funk-Heap single circular wick. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.25" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | A licker of shelves in the service room under lantern. |
| Oil House Description: | Fitted with iron shelving, 10" globe ventilator, steel-plate door. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 5' 4" x 7' 2" x 9' h. |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick walls, galv. iron roof on steel frame, concrete floor. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 72 cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 2 closets & pantry in each half of double dwelling. No cellars. |
| Suitability: | Suitable & dry. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 10-inch steam whistle. |
| Time to Start: | 30 to 45 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Built by Thos. H. Millar |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1890 |
| Characteristic: | Blast 5 sec. silent 25 sec. blast 5 sec. silent 25 sec. |
| Duplication: | All parts. |
| Timing Device: | Spur & worm gear operating cam. |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle at 75 lbs. |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | 3000 feet E'ly of dwelling; marks entrance to South Channel into Chequamegon Bay, Wis. |
| Distance and Direction: | 75' E of LaPointe light tower. |
| Water Supply: | From lake to well in beach near shore, 5' sq, 8' deep, extending 4' below lake level. Pump house above fitted with hand pump & #2 Fire plug. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By walk - at present plank of which part is replaced each season by a section of concrete slab walk. Length 3185 feet. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Frame building 22' x 40' plan, 10' to plates. On brick foundation. Exterior & roof covered with #18 corrugated iron. Interior sheathed with 1" boards & covered with #26 smooth iron. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | Standard locomotive. |
| Tube: | Flue-tube. |
| Dimensions: | Ht. 5' 3.5" |
| Length: | 15' 6" |
| Diameter: | 3' 10" wide |
| Tube Description: | 58 tubes, 8 feet long. |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 2.5" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Locomotive |
| Furnace Length: | 5' 0" |
| Furnace Width: | 3' 3.75" |
| Furnace Height: | 3' 11" |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 371 sq. feet. |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 16.25 sq. feet. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 16 |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | Double, 58" long, 22" ht. above floor. |
| Steam Fuel: | Bituminous coal. |
| Steam Safety Valve: | Lever, 2.5" valve. |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 150 lbs. |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 75 lbs. |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 20" |
| Smokestack Height: | 40 foot brick chinmey. |
| Drum Dimension: | 4 ft. long. |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 30" |
| Steam Covering: | Combination; Asbestor, felt, paper, canvas. |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good. |
| Steam Boiler Built: | 1890 |
| Where Built: | Cleveland, Ohio. |
| Manufacturer: | Variety Iron Works. |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Vertical |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 4" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 9" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 0.75" |
| Steam Engine When Built: | 1890 |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | Cleveland, Ohio. |
| Manufacturer: | Thos. Manning & Co. |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 10" |
| Whistle Height: | 18" |
| Whistle Orifice: | 2 3/8" to 2 11/16" |
| Whistle Tone: | Single |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | A double dwellign remodeled from old dwelling in 1897. Stands 3000 feet W of tower. |
| Coloring: | Olive green. Changed 1909 to white upper story over red brick of 1st story. Red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | 1st story brick, 2nd & 3rd stories frame. A wood frame kitchen is atttached to 1 part of dwelling; shingle roof. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms, vestibule, hall, 2 closets & pantry, in each part. Kitchen is added to above in keeper's pa |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & 1 assistant, each using 1 part of dwelling, also a 2nd assit. on 2nd floor on 1 part. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 3 privies, 2 woodsheds, oilhouse, fog-signal house, 2 boathouses & barn. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | 2 wood sheads, & barn whitewashed, 2 privies at house painted white, privy at fog singal painted red |
| Paths and Walks: | 6000 ft. of walk, 800 ft. of it concrete slabs. |
| Area Inclosed: | None. |
| Area of Garden: | No garden. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Practically all of reservation in scrub jack pine. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None. |
| Area Cultivated: | NOne. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Shifting sand. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From lake & well. |
| Quality: | Lake water good, well water is red & unsuiteable for any purpose except scrubbing. |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No. |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | No cistern except the well at the fog-signal. |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Driven pipe well, 28 feet deep. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | W. I. pipe |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump at well; by bucket from lake. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Well is 10 feet back of kitchen. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthfulness excellent. |
| Diseases: | None. |
| Prevalency: | No. |
| Local Causes: | None. |
| Recommended Improvements: | Not needed. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | A landing crib 8' x 40' is built of logs. Latter cannot be used - dislocated by storm & ice. Boat launched over the sand beach. |
| Distance and Direction: | 600' W'ly of dwelling. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | None. |
| Engine RPMs: | |
| Engine Diameter: | |
| Engine Stroke: | |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | Boathouse is frame wood structure 12' x 28' on N side of reservation about 600' W of dwelling. Has boatways. |
| Boats on Station: |