Report for Merrill Shell Bank (Mississippi) - 1927
| General |
| District: | 8th |
| Inspector: | Superintendent |
| Location: | On S end of the Tail of the Square Handkerchief, N side of Pass Marianne, Mississippi Sound |
| Date of Report: | 09/10/1927 |
| Latitude: | 30° 14' 28" |
| Longitude: | 89° 14' 56" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Located in the water |
| 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: | In the water |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat to Pass Christian, Miss. about 5 miles |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Wooden dwelling on iron piles surmounted by lantern |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1847 - reestablished 1883 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1923 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 42' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | The sky |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern on top of dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Mississippi Sound navigation |
| Building Materials: | Wooden dwelling on iron piles |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron ladder outside; wooden steps inside |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | |
| Number of Doors: | |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| 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: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27 1/4" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Wood. Lantern gallery covered with galv. iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 in parapet |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Hatch |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 in parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into metal |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 490 |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Fenestre |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | B.F. 70 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 11/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 fixed |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 fixed |
| 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 spindle |
| Service Table: | |
| 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: | Linen cover |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | Kerosene |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | One |
| Number of Spare Burners: | One |
| Candle Power: | 52 cp |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Part of room below lantern. Floor covered with sheet lead. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' 10" x 3' 6" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 88 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | 1 in lower room under stairs |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Gamewell No. 3 Bell |
| Time to Start: | 1 minute |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 1 stroke, 20 sec silent |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | On S gallery of structure |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | None - on gallery of lighthouse |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | Not known |
| Metal: | Bell |
| Diameter: | 28" |
| Height: | 35.5" |
| Time: | 2.5 hours |
| Manufacturer: | Bell marked USLHS 1913 |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Dwelling on screw piles surmounted by lantern |
| Coloring: | Whte |
| Construction Materials: | Wooden dwelling on iron screw piles |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 |
| Number of Dwellings: | One |
| Heating Plant: | Kerosene stove |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 |
| Furnished Quarters: | Both |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | None |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | In water |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Station in water 5 miles from land. |
| Stove, Maker: | Perfection |
| Stove, Size: | 3 burner cookstove |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: | 1 table lamp, 2 hand lanterns |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water from roof |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Strainers in every gutter |
| Tank Capacity: | 1 cistern 16.5' cir. 7' staves, 1400 gals; 1 cistern 19' cir. 6' 10" staves, 2200 gal |
| Tank Material: | Wood |
| 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: |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 120 |
| Type: | Yawl with motor |
| Length: | 5' |
| Width: | 16' |
| When Built: | 1917 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 7/27/1920 |
| Sails: | True |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 111 |
| Type: | Skiff |
| Length: | 4' 3" |
| Width: | 16' |
| When Built: | 1916 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Oct., 1923 |
| Sails: | True |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | "Kermath" |
| Horsepower: | 364 |
| Engine Maker: | Standard Gear Co., Detroit; # 12560 |
| Spare Coil: | |
| Magnet: | |
| Battery: | Dry |
| Propeller Diameter: | 14" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 20" |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Handwinch |
| 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: | |
| Boats on Station: | In davits |