U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 55
YEAR BUILT: 1891
BUILT AT: Toledo (OH)
BUILDER: Blythe Craig Shipbuilding Co
APPROPRIATION: $60,000 (Approp for 3 ships - Simmons Reef White Shoal, and Grays Reef)
CONTRACT PRICE: $14,225 ($42, 675 for 3 shins)
SISTER VESSELS: LV 56,57
DESIGN: Wood framed & planked; white oak fastened with 5/8" square
iron spikes; 2 masts, daymark on foremast; spencer mast aft of main for
riding sail; stack on deckhouse amidships.
LENGTH: 102'8" (loa); BEAN: 20'; DRAFT: 8'9"; TONNAGE: 129 gross
PROPULSION: Steam screw-one single cylinder, non-condensing engine, 14" bore x 16" stroke, 100 IHF; fire-tube boiler 5'dia x 9'lg 100 psi; max speed 8 knots
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Cluster of 3 oil burning lens lanterns hoisted to each masthead
FOG SIGNAL: 6" steam whistle, hand operated bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS:
-One of three vessels- designed for use only during the navigation season
on the Great Lakes, as an experiment to avoid the high initial and recurring
costs for a permanent lighthouse. Maintenance and operating cost for each
lightship was estimated at $4,000 per year. Each had enough power for
getting to and from station. Mooring, consisting of a 5 ton sinker and 15
fathoms of 2 inch chain was pre-positioned permanently and buoyed,
eliminating the need (and cost) for the lightship to carry mushrooms and
chain.
-Upon delivery, many construction defects were found during sea trials, and
many interior modifications had to be made for comfort of the crew
-This and 2 sister vessels were first US lightships to be self-propelled by
machinery
-1891: Masts were found unnecessarily long; shortened during winter layup
-1893: Fog bell added
-1906: Equipped with submarine bell signal
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1891-1900: Simmons Reef (MI)
1901-1920: Lansing Shoal (MI)
(Simmons Reef station discontinued Dec 10, 1900 at close of navigation
season)
(Lansing Shoal station established Jul 10, 1901)
HISTORICAL NOTES:
1891: Sep 14/15, turned over to Lighthouse Establishment at Detroit M1)
1891: Oct 2,5,6, sea trials conducted, many defects noted
1891: Oct 19, Departed Detroit, reaching Port Huron in evening
1891: Oct 20, LV 55,56 & 57 using their own power to assist were taken
in tow by tender DAHLIA, making 9 knots; laid over at Sand Beach Harbor of
Refuge due to bad weather
1891: Oct 24, placed on Simmons Reef (MI), northerly end of Lake Michigan
1891: Nov 17-20, left station without orders and put into Cheboygan (MI);
crew discharged for dereliction of duty and replaced with others "more
trustworthy"; replaced by tender DAHLIA Nov 22, remaining on station
until close of navigation at which time went into winter Quarters at
Cheboygan. Many deficiencies due to missing, incomplete, etc., or faulty
equipment were corrected during winter and masts were shortened
1892: Apr 14, picked up mooring and resumed station
1892-1900: Wintered at Cheboygan (MI), being withdrawn Dec thru Mar then
resuming station in early April each year. Needed repairs were made while in
winter quarters
1896: Fog signal characteristic changed to give 5 sec blasts followed by 55
sec silent intervals
1898: Boiler repairs and smokestack replaced
1900: Dec 10, withdrawn from Simmons Reef; station discontinued
1901: Jul 10, transferred to Lansing Shoal (MI) by joint resolution of
Congress
1901-1907, Wintered at Cheboygan (MI), (Sturgeon Bay WI in 1906) during the
period, being on station from Mar/Apr through Nov/Dec each year
1901: Extensive rot discovered in frames and planking; all unsound timbers
and planking replaced, hull recaulked and painted; one mast replaced.
Remained assigned to Lansing Shoal until 1920 Sep 15, then laid up
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1920; AGE: 29
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION:
Sold Feb 15, 1922 - $840
COMMANDING OFFICERS:
1893-1902: Michael Mclntire, Master
?-1913: Alfred Hanson, Nate
1913-1914: Andrew Gallagher, Mate
1915-1916: Olaf K Andersen, Mate
1916-1917: John W Barrand, Mate
1917-1918: Edward A Hansen Mate
1918: Hugh H Boyle, Mate
1919: Elias Garrett, Mate
1919-1920: Elias Garrett, Master
1919-1920: Daniel P McCauley, Nate
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