Calcasieu River Lighthouse Collection

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1 Guide to the Calcasieu River Lighthouse Collection Collection no Linear ft. Prepared by Trina Morgan April 2012 CITATION: The Calcasieu River Lighthouse Collection, Collection no. 117, Box no., Folder no., Archives and Special Collections Department, Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University. Archives and Special Collections Department Frazar Memorial Library McNeese State University

2 Historical Sketch The Calcasieu River Lighthouse, also known as Calcasieu Pass Lighthouse, guided ships from the Gulf of Mexico into the Calcasieu River during its use beginning in It was built of boiler plate cast iron and lit by a kerosene lantern of 680 candlepower. It was dismantled around 1940 during the dredging for the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Scope and Content The collection consists of photocopies of correspondence, building and site plans, and photographs from the National Archives. Other materials were donated by Mrs. Grace Reeves, whose great-uncles, William and Phillip Hill, worked at the lighthouse. Other materials include documents from the U.S. Coast Guard Historian s Office used by David L. Cipra in writing his books. 2

3 Container List Box Folder Description Sources used by David L. Cipra for his article on the Calcasieu River Lighthouse in his book, Lighthouses, Lightships, and the Gulf of Mexico (includes a photocopy of the article as well as a photocopy of another article by Cipra from Lighthouses and Lightships of the Northern Gulf of Mexico) Photocopies from the National Archives. 4 Abstracts of letters received by the Lighthouse Service, Lighthouse Service Annual Reports clipping file on the Calcasieu River Lighthouse, Correspondence concerning efforts to acquire land for the lighthouse reservation, Correspondence concerning reservation of land by the President, Correspondence concerning lighthouse construction, Report on possible site, 1872 and correspondence concerning postponement of construction, Correspondence concerning gale/hurricane, Correspondence concerning Range Front Light, Information on repairs done at the Calcasieu River Lighthouse, Correspondence concerning leasing building on lighthouse reservation, Correspondence concerning insect problem and finding of TNT, Description of lighthouse 1927, Questionnaire about Real Estate, Request for light at end of jetties 1937, correspondence concerning weather-recording instruments 1939, radio beacon, Correspondence concerning highway across lighthouse reservation , dredging channel and removal of lighthouse Correspondence concerning trespass 1879; appropriations 1872, 1875, 1880; miscellaneous items including notes from Official Register. 19 Regulations for uniforms - part of a publication of the Lighthouse Service. 2 1 Oral history interview with Mrs. Grace Reeves, including tape, transcript, disc, and release form. 3

4 Tube 1 2 Information on the Hill family, including obituaries of William and Phillip Hill, provided by Mrs. Reeves. 3 Misc. articles, including census records. 4 Kathie Bordelon s articles on the lighthouse from the Lake Charles American Press and the Cameron Pilot; articles in Gulf South Historical Review and the Lighthouse Digest. 5 8x10 Negatives from the National Archives (copies made by John Campbell - Media Services). 6 Photographs (including slides) from Mrs. Reeves and from McNeese Archives, including photos of William and Phillip Hill, Mrs. Reeves as a child, the lighthouse, the range light, the Rogers Gulf Hotel, the boathouse, and the wharf. Building Plans. Building plan 1. Lighthouse for Calcasieu, LA. Shows floor plans for lighthouse including Plan of Sleeve-sockets; living room; bedroom; watch room, front elevation of cast-iron door frame. Building plan 2. Same as BP1, without notes and date. Building Plan 3. Fourth Order L. H. for Calcasieu, LA. Eighth District, Office of L. H. Board, August 1872, Paul J. Pelz, Chief Draughtsman, (George H. Elliot?) Major of Engineers U. S. A., Engr. Sec. of the L. H. Board. Shows cutaway view of lighthouse constructed with lantern on top and galleries, lighthouse keeper standing on gallery, floor plan of living room, bedroom, watch room, plan of substructure, enlarged view of screwpile, and below ground screwpile foundation. Building Plan 4. Same as Building Plan 3. except reduced in size. 4

5 Tube 2 Building Plan 5. Light-House for Calcasieu, LA. Undated cutaway drawing of light house. Shows structure underneath ground, substructure, and each floor, including lantern. Building Plan 6. Plan of Platform for Construction of 4th Order Light-House at Calcasieu Light Station Louisiana. (Undated, probably 1872). Building Plan 7. Fourth Order L.H. for Calcasieu, LA (Sheet 2B) 8th District, Office of L.H. Board April Shows Detached Screwpiles, Cap Socket, Plan of Girders and Upper Tie Rods, Horizontal Tie Rods, and Struts. Building Plan 8. Fourth Order L.H. for Calcasieu, LA (Sheet 2A) 8th District, Office of L.H. Board April Shows Spider Sockets, Cap Sockets, Columns, Main Screwpiles, and Screws to Main Piles. Building Plan 9. Foundation Screw for L.H. at Calcasieu, LA. Forwarded to Light House Board with letter dated February 13, (Signature looks like T.H. Simpson) Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., L.H. Engineer 8th District. Date stamped is Feb. 17, Building Plan 10. Calcasieu Light Station, LA., Buildings surveyed 20 September 1886, by Thos. L. Raymond, Asst. Engr. Office of L. H. Engr., New Orleans, LA., 14 October (Signed) Thos. L. Raymond, Asst. Engr. M. H. Heuer, Maj. of Engrs., Engr. Eighth L. H. District (Shows keeper s dwelling - iron on screwpiles -, calf pen, hen house, privy, cattle pen, elevated walk). Building Plan 11. Repairs to Calcasieu Light Station, LA. Office of Lighthouse Engineer, 7th and 8th Districts, Mobile, Ala., Dec. 18, Notes with Engr s letter of 20 Dec.=00, filed 9 Jan. >00. Shows diagram of Boathouse (no repairs required on this), plan of wire fence, plan of wharf, Lighthouse (no repairs required). 5

6 Tube 3 Site Plans Site Plan 1. Reservation Survey: Calcasieu Light Station, LA., Reservation surveyed 20 September 1886 by Thos. L. Raymond, Asst. Engr. Kind of light: coast and harbor; Order of light, fourth order; characteristic of light, fixed white; base of tower above water level, 20 ft.; focal plane, 67 (57?) feet; Lat '53"N - Long '42"W; Site reserved, September 1860; Deed recorded in Land Office, Washington D. C.; First buildings - when built, 1876; Area of reservation to M.H.W. line, acres;.244 acres enclosed; Township 15S Range 10W, Lot 32; Shows location of channel range (pilot range light), old fort, light tower, outbuildings; shows radius of fixed white light. Site Plan 2. Similar to Site Plan 1. with exception of proposed roadway, suggested by Superintendent of Lighthouses 8th District and R/W Line. Site Plan 3. Same as Site Plan 1. copy. Site Plan 4. Similar to Site Plan 2. and 3. With a note to accompany letter of Jan. 12, 1928 and proposed roadway in a different location. Site Plan 5. Township 15S Range 10W, Southwestern District, LA; regular section selected under Act of 2nd March 1849; swamp lands selected under Act of 28th Sept. 1850; table of contents showing Lot, section, and area (section 32 containing lighthouse is acres); traverse table shows section, course, dist.; AThe East Boundary of this Township of the Traverse East of Calcasieu Pass were surveyed by J.C. Naylor D.S. in the 3rd quarter of 1883 under contract of Williams and Naylor, dated May 7th, 1883 and were paid for in the 2nd quarter of All the balance of the Township was surveyed in the 4th quarter of 1883 by K.J. Williams under the same contract, and was paid for in the 1st quarter of 1835, a corrected account for which was approved and sent up with this Map, September 30, The North Boundary being included in the items for T.14.S.R.10.E. Surveyor General s Office, Donaldsonville, Louisiana, September 22, The above Township Map has been examined and compared with the approved field notes thereof now on file, found correct and is hereby approved. (Signed) L.J. Landry, Surveyor General, La. Office of Surveyor General, District of La., New Orleans, March 23, A true copy of the original map now on file in this office. (Signed) John Lynch, Surveyor General, La.@ Surveyed by J.C. Naylor, D.S. in the 3rd quarter of 1833 under contract of Williams and Naylor dated May 7, Surveyor General=s Office - Donaldsonville, LA. Sept. 22, 1847, signed and approved by L.J. Landry, Surveyor General, LA. Office of Surveyor General, District of Louisiana. Site Plan 6. Copy of Site Plan 5. (With additional stamp As of Sept. 1, ) 6

7 Tube 4 Site Plans 7, 8, and 9. Calcasieu River and Pass Rights of Way and Spoil Disposal Areas, War Department, Corps of Engineers U.S. Army, U.S. Engineer Office: 1st District, New Orleans, La., Feb (This is Sheet No. 1 of 8 sheets). All three copies appear to be the same except for notes on Site Plan 9. (See reference see ltr by J.M. Joh?? Asst. Sec. Commerce to Sec. War reply to Army ltr of 8 Apr ) Site Plan 10. Entrance to Calcasieu Pass, LA. Survey of Sept. 19, Made under Direction of Major W.H. Heuer, U.S. Engrs. By Thos. L. Raymond, Asst. Engr. Shows soundings for depth at entrance to the Pass, front range light, light house light, east beacon. Site Plan 11. Proposed site for New Light House at the Entrance to Calcasieu River, Surveyed by M.F. Bonzano, Asst. L.H. Engr., 8th District, Dec. 8, Forwarded to Light House Board with letter dated February 8, Stamped AAs of Dec. 8, 1871@ (Shows proposed site of lighthouse on east side of river. This is the site that was the subject of such controversy and was never used.) Site Plan 12. Entrance to Calcasieu River, LA. showing proposed site for new lighthouse, survey of 18 March Office L. H. Engineer Eighth District, Mobile, Ala., 9 April Tracing submitted to Office L. H. Board with letter of this date. Shows lighthouse reservation, Lot 32, proposed site for new lighthouse, front range, east beacon, rear range. (This is the site that was finally chosen for the lighthouse. This copy obscured somewhat by what were probably tape marks.) Site Plan 13. Entrance to Calcasieu River, LA. showing proposed site for new lighthouse, survey of 18 March Office L. H. Engineer Eighth District, Mobile, Ala., 10 April Tracing submitted to Office L. H. Board with letter of this date. Shows lighthouse reservation, Lot 32, proposed site for new lighthouse, front range, east beacon, rear range. (This is the site that was finally chosen for the lighthouse. Basically the same as Site Plan 12 except for date in April. Stamped As of April 10, ) 7

Finding Aid to the Agassiz Garden Club Records

Manuscript Collections Home Finding Aid to the Agassiz Garden Club Records Agassiz Garden Club Agassiz Garden Club Records, 1954-1991 4.4 linear ft. Collection number: Mss 270 Oversize Collection 8 History