A06_Appendix_B_Specs_with_Pictures.pdf

F) LIGHT STATION – FOG SIGNAL BUILDING

The Fog Signal Building at the Plum Island Light Station site was built in 1896 and is the northern-most structure at the light station site. The building was constructed to house fog signaling equipment, and was located on the shoreline with former signaling equipment facing west. A small addition was constructed on the west side in 1955. Views of the Fog Signal Building are shown in Photos III-F-1, III-F-2, III-F-3, III-F-4 and III-F-5.

Photo III-F-1 Photo III-F-2

Photo III-F-3 Photo III-F-4

Photo III-F-5

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS – CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS

The Fog Signal Building is a brick masonry structure with load bearing masonry walls and a wood frame roof structure. A small addition constructed in 1955 is wood framed. The floor is a concrete slab on grade. The slab thickness is not known. Footing size or depth is not known, although erosion of the shoreline bank has exposed a portion of the footing of the wood frame addition.

The brick masonry exterior walls are 1’-3½” thick and are in very good condition throughout.

Brick is a yellow, Milwaukee Cream City brick with a face size of 8-1/8” by 2-3/8”. A view of an exterior corner with some damaged brick is seen in Photo III-F-6.

The small addition on the west side of the building is constructed with wood frame walls and roof structure with a poured concrete foundation wall and footing. Where exposed above grade the foundation walls appear in good condition. Due to erosion of the bank at the shoreline, the concrete footing along the southwest corner of the addition has been exposed. Refer to Photo III-F-7. Further loss of the shoreline will result in loss of bearing for the footing and structural damage.

Photo III-F-6

Photo III-F-7

The wood framing on the main building roof is accessed through a hatch door in the cupola.

The ceiling is framed with 1-7/8” wide by 6” deep wood joists spaced 1’-9” on center. The hip roof is framed with 2” wide by 6” deep wood rafters also spaced 1’-9” on center. The roof pitch is 12/12, or 45 degrees. The roof sheathing is 1” by 8” wood sheathing. Views of the attic and roof framing are seen in Photos III-F-8 and III-F-9. Where visible, the roof framing appeared in good condition.

Finish wall or ceiling material was not removed to observe the wood framing in the addition or in the cupola.

The building is in sound structural condition.

EXTERIOR CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS

The exterior brick masonry walls are in good condition with some minor cracks, minor deterioration of the mortar joints and some damaged bricks at corner locations, as seen in previous photo III-F-6 and Photo III-F-10. The exterior brick wall surfaces are in very good condition. All exterior wall surfaces have a paint finish that is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-8 Photo III-F-9

Photo III-F-10

The exterior walls of the wood frame addition are covered with a cement asbestos board siding with a 9¾” exposure. This material, seen in Photo III-F-11, is in good condition.

Fascia and soffits of the main building are a light gage metal with a paint finish over wood framing. The vertical fascia measures 7” and the soffit overhang is 1’-8”. Refer to Photos III-F-12 and III-F-13. A painted wood trim is located at the intersection of the masonry wall and the metal soffit. The metal is in fair condition with some minor areas of deterioration and loose nails. The paint finish is in poor condition.

At the addition the fascia and soffit transition to wood, as seen in Photo III-F-14. The vertical fascia dimension matches the main building at 7”. The overhang is 1’-2”. A small metal edge angle is located at the bottom of the corrugated metal roofing. The fascia and soffit are in good condition. The paint finish is in poor condition all around.

Photo III-F-11

Photo III-F-12 Photo III-F-13

Photo III-F-14

The main roof is an asphalt shingle roof, as seen in Photos III-F-15 and III-F-16. A metal ridge cap with decorative balls is located at the peak and ridges of the hip roof. The age of the asphalt roof shingles is not known, however, they are beyond their useful life. There are many areas with curled and deteriorated shingles and missing tabs. Sections of the metal ridge cap are also missing. The roof is in poor condition.

An important feature of the Fog Signal Building is the small cupola where signaling equipment was once located. Refer to Photos III-F-17 and III-F-18. This cupola measures approximately 6’ by 8’ in plan. The walls are covered with a corrugated metal siding. The hip roof has been temporarily covered with a black single ply membrane. The original roof material, which could not be seen, was most likely in quite poor condition.

The wood frame addition is covered with a corrugated metal roof, as seen in Photos III-F-19.

This metal roof is in relatively good condition.

Photo III-F-15 Photo III-F-16

Photo III-F-17 Photo III-F-18

Photo III-F-19

There are three sets of exterior doors in the Fog Signal Building. A pair of inward swinging wood doors and transom is located in the opening on the east wall. These doors, as seen in Photo III-F-20, are covered with plywood security panels. Hardware indicates that a pair of outward swinging doors, no longer present, was also located at this opening. The masonry opening is 6’-5” wide by 9’-8” high with an arch top. An interior view of the doors is seen in Photo III-F-21. Each door is a 3’-0” wide by 7’-0” high by 1¾” thick wood 3 panel door with a large glass light that measures 2’-4” wide by 2’-10” high. The glass is missing in both doors.

Hardware includes three hinges, a cylindrical knob and top and bottom keepers on the surface of the inactive leaf. The paint finish on the doors and frames is in poor condition.

Above the pair of doors is a transom measuring 1’-10” high by 6’-0” wide with 4 glass lights.

The transom is top hinged and inward swinging. One glass panel is missing. The paint finish is in poor condition.

A section of concrete sidewalk remains at this door opening, as seen in Photo III-F-22. The concrete sidewalk is in poor condition. A 5” deep cut stone threshold is located at this door.

There is a large crack in the stone.

Photo III-F-20

Photo III-F-21

Photo III-F-22

On both north and south walls there are similar door openings. These openings have two doors of unequal sizes. One door is a 3’-0” wide by 8’-0” high by 1¾” thick 3 panel door with one glass light that measures 2’-4” wide by 3’-11” high. The second door is a 1’-7 ½” wide by 8’-0” high by 1¾” thick door with three 2’-1” wide by 11½” high glass lights. This door opening is seen from the exterior in Photo III-F-23 and from the interior in III-F-24. A plywood security panel covers the exterior. All glass is broken. The outward swinging doors at this opening are missing. On the south wall both the inward and outward swinging smaller door remains, as seen in Photo III-F-25. The inward swinging door at this location is in poor condition. The paint finish on all doors and frames is in poor condition. An outward swinging plywood door panel covers the opening and is secured with a padlock hasp. Refer to Photo III-F-26. A 3’-0” by 5’- 10” concrete pad is located outside this door. It is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-23

Photo III-F-24

Photo III-F-25

Photo III-F-26

There are windows on the main floor of the building and also in the cupola. As seen in previous photos, all window openings are covered with plywood security panels on the exterior.

Windows in the masonry walls have 5” deep cut stone sills, as seen in Photo III-F-27.

Two window openings on the north and south walls have identical masonry openings of 3’-3” wide by 5’-10” high. On the south wall there is a 2’-11” wide by 5’-1” high double hung wood window with six glass lights in each sash, as seen in Photo III-F-28. Three glass panels are broken and the bottom rail of the upper sash is damaged. The window opening on the north wall has been modified and framed in for a smaller unit. A 2’-10” wide by 4’-7” high double hung wood window with a single glass light in each sash is located in this opening. Refer to Photo III- F-29. The paint finish on the wood sash and frames is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-27

Photo III-F-28 Photo III-F-29

Historic photos indicate two windows located on the west wall of the original masonry structure.

With the construction of the addition in 1955 these windows were covered over. It is not known if the original windows remain in the wall covered by interior finishes. There are three windows in the 1955 addition. Two windows are 2’-9” wide by 5’5” high double hung wood windows with six glass lights in each sash. Refer to Photo III-F-30. The other window, located in the west wall, is a 6’-4” wide by 5’-5” high picture window unit, as seen in Photo III-F-31. These windows are in fair condition. The paint finish on all sash and frames is in poor condition.

There are three window openings in the cupola that measure 2’-10” wide by 2’-0” high. Two steel sash with three glass lights have been removed and placed inside the cupola. Refer to Photos III-F-32 and III-F-33. All glass is broken from one of the sash. It is not know if the third steel sash remains in place behind the plywood security panel.

Photo III-F-30

Photo III-F-31

Photo III-F-32 Photo III-F-33

A brick masonry chimney is located on the north side of the roof. The chimney is 1’-4” by 1’-8” in plan and has a cement cap and clay liner. Refer to Photo III-F-34. The masonry is in good condition with some minor deterioration of mortar joints. The metal flashing at the base of the chimney also appears to be in good condition, however, some mastic has been applied to the asphalt shingles, concealing the metal flashing.

On the west side of the roof there is a metal framework with wood planking attached to the roof structure. This may have been used as a maintenance platform for the fog horn diaphones that were located on the west wall of the cupola. This element along with the circular wall plates at the diaphone locations is are seen in Photo III-F-35.

Photo III-F-34

Photo III-F-35

INTERIOR CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS

There is one large equipment room and several smaller rooms inside the Fog Signal building.

Views of the large main room are seen in Photos III-F-36 and III-F-37. The interior walls along the perimeter are brick with a paint finish. The masonry is in reasonably good condition. The paint finish is in poor condition throughout. A wood frame wall with a sheet metal finish is located at the west end of the equipment room, seen in previous photo III-F-37. A 12’-7” wide by 6’-6” high opening is located in this wall, as seen in Photo III-F-38. The ceiling of this equipment room is also clad with sheet metal panels. This ceiling, along with two steel tie rods that span the room, is seen in Photo III-F-39. The paint finish on the metal ceiling is also in poor condition.

A concrete floor with a paint finish is located in the building. A 4’-0” by 6’-10” by 4” high raised concrete pad, Photo III-F-40, is located in the middle of the room and a smaller 4½” high raised pad is located along the south wall. The concrete floor steps up 4” in the southwest corner, as seen in Photo III-F-41. This step is painted safety yellow. The concrete floor throughout the original 1896 building is in reasonably good shape with some minor cracking and deteriorated areas. The paint finish is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-36 Photo III-F-37

Photo III-F-38 Photo III-F-39

A wood stair that provides access to the small cupola is located at the west end. This stair, seen in Photo III-F-42, is 2’-4” wide with 1-5/8” wide by 11½” deep wood stringers and 10½” wide by 1-1/8” thick treads. Riser height is 9-1/8”. A single wood handrail and newel post is located on the south side of the stair. All stair and railing components are in good condition.

The paint finish is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-40

Photo III-F-41

Photo III-F-42

Adjacent to the stair is another wall opening that leads to a small hallway that accesses the west addition. Refer to Photo III-F-43. The base of the brick chimney is also seen in this photo. A small bathroom compartment with a water closet and lavatory is located here also, as seen in Photo III-F-44. The bathroom door, Photo III-F-45, is 2’-0” wide by 5’-9” high by ¾” thick wood door. The paint finish on all surfaces is in poor condition.

A 2’-8” wide by 6’-8” high by 1¾” insulated flush metal door connects the 1896 building with the 1955 addition. Refer to Photos III-F-46 and III-F-47. The door, which appears to be an acoustic door for sound insulting purposes, is in good condition. The paint finish is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-43 Photo III-F-44

Photo III-F-45

The 1955 addition is a single room. Finishes include a concrete slab on grade with 9” by 9” floor tiles, a plaster wall finish up to 4’-0” above the floor and 12” by 12” acoustic tiles on the wall above the plaster. The ceiling, which is 11’-0” high, is also finished with the same 12” by 12” acoustic tiles. Refer to Photos III-F-48 and III-F-49. There are some recessed 4” wide by 5” deep recessed floor trenches in one area, as seen in Photo III-F-50, most likely used for electrical or communication wiring. The trench cover is missing. All finishes in this room are in poor condition.

Photo III-F-46 Photo III-F-47

Photo III-F-48

Photo III-F-49

Photo III-F-50

The wood stair, previously discussed, provides access to the small cupola. An intermediate landing is located 6’-11” above the main floor and the stair continues up to the cupola level approximately 16’-7” above the main floor. Refer to Photos III-F-51 and III-F-52. A single wood newel post and guardrail protects the stairwell opening, as seen in Photo III-F-53.

The floor directly below the cupola is raised another 3’-4”. A hatch door below this raised floor provides access to the attic, as seen in Photo III-F-54. A view of the floor and lower walls in the cupola is shown in Photo III-F-55. The cupola ceiling is seen in Photo III-F-56. All walls and the ceiling are finished with 3¼” wide bead board with a paint finish. The cupola floor is a 3¼” wide tongue and groove flooring, also with a paint finish. The wood paneling and flooring is in reasonably good condition. The paint finish on all surfaces is in poor condition.

Photo III-F-51

Photo III-F-52

Photo III-F-53

Photo III-F-54

On the west wall of the cupola there are three 3½” diameter steel pipe columns and other steel framing used to support the fog horn signal piping and diaphones. Refer to Photos III-F-57 and III-F-58. Plywood is placed over the equipment openings.

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS – CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS

There are no operational plumbing, mechanical or electrical systems or services in the Fog Signal Building. Remnants of the various systems are found throughout the building.

Surface mounted conduit is located on both the interior and exterior of the building, as seen in Photos III-F-59, III-F-60 and III-F-61. Remnants of conduit and wiring also remain in two exterior electrical vaults located near the building, shown in previous photos III-A-88 and III-A-

89. Other abandoned electrical boxes, conduit and wiring is seen in previous photo III-F-41. An exterior light fixture located on the building soffit is shown in Photo III-F-62, and other interior light fixtures Photos III-F-63 and III-F-64.

Photo III-F-55 Photo III-F-56

Photo III-F-57

Photo III-F-58

Photo III-F-59 Photo III-F-60

Photo III-F-61 Photo III-F-62

Photo III-F-64 Photo III-F-63

An exhaust pipe remains in the main equipment room, as seen in Photo III-F-65, and a chimney vent pipe collar remains in the ceiling of the west addition, Photo III-F-66. A small metal chimney is still present on the roof at this location. It is not capped and water is entering the building through this chimney.

In the main equipment room a 12” diameter vent pipe is located in the ceiling. This pipe passes through the attic, Photo III-F-67 and terminates above the roof near the cupola wall, Photo III-F-

68. It appears in reasonably good condition above the roof.

Plumbing fixtures include a water closet and lavatory in the small bathroom compartment shown in previous photo III-F-44. A notice painted on the wall above the lavatory states “LAKE WATER – DO NOT DRINK”. It is assumed that Lake Michigan water was piped into the building and served this small bathroom. A septic tank and drainfield located east of the building are noted on one of the site plan drawings. It is assumed that some buried piping is still present.

LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS – CONDITIONS AND ANALYSIS

No life safety systems of any type, such as alarms or detectors, are present in the Fog Signal Building.

Photo III-F-65 Photo III-F-66

Photo III-F-67 Photo III-F-68