GUIDE TO THE COLLECTION

Collection Title: CALCASIEU RIVER LIGHTHOUSE COLLECTION

Accession Number: 117

Note: Most of the information in this collection came from the National Archives. Photocopies of correspondence came mostly from Archives I. Photocopies of building and site plans and photographs came mostly from Archives II. Other information was obtained from Mrs. Grace Reeves, whose great-uncles, William and Phillip Hill, worked at the lighthouse. Other information came from books and photographs in the McNeese Archives Department, including the two books by David L. Cipra. Most of the notes from his works came from the U.S. Coast Guard Historian's Office.

Container List

Box 1
File Folder (FF) 1     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)
                    FF 2     Sources used by Cipra - continued
                    FF 3     Sources used by Cipra - continued
(FF 4 - 18 Photocopies from the National Archives)
                    FF 4     Abstracts of letters received by the Lighthouse Service 1854 - 1900
                    FF 5     Lighthouse Service Annual Reports clipping file on the Calcasieu River Lighthouse 1868-1901
                    FF 6     Correspondence concerning efforts to acquire land for the lighthouse reservation 1860 - 1879
                    FF 7     Correspondence concerning reservation of land by the President 1876
                    FF 8     Correspondence concerning lighthouse construction - 1872
                    FF 9     Report on possible site 1872, correspondence concerning postponement of construction 1874
                    FF 10   Correspondence concerning gale/hurricane 1877
                    FF 11   Correspondence concerning Range Front Light 1907
                    FF 12   Information on repairs done at the Calcasieu River Lighthouse 1911 - 1918
                    FF 13   Correspondence concerning leasing building on lighthouse reservation 1913 - 1914
                    FF 14   Correspondence concerning insect problem and finding of TNT 1922 - 1923
                    FF 15   Description of lighthouse 1927, Questionnaire about Real Estate 1930
                    FF 16   Request for light at end of jetties 1937,
                                 correspondence concerning weather-recording instruments 1939,
                                 radio beacon 1939 - 1940
                    FF 17   Correspondence concerning highway across lighthouse reservation 1927 - 1938,
                                 dredging channel and removal of lighthouse 1936 - 1938
                    FF 18   Correspondence concerning trespass 1879;
                                 appropriations 1872, 1875, 1880;
                                 misc. items including notes from Official Register
                    FF 19   Regulations for uniforms - part of a publication of the Lighthouse Service

Box 2
                    FF 1     Oral history interview with Mrs. Grace Reeves, including tape, transcript, disk, and release form
                    FF 2     Information on the Hill family, including obituaries of William and Phillip Hill, provided by Mrs. Reeves
                    FF 3     Misc. articles, including census records
                    FF 4     Kathie Bordelon's article on the lighthouse from the Lake Charles American Press and the
                                    Cameron Pilot (originals and photocopies), also articles in Gulf South Historical Review
                                    and the Lighthouse Digest
                    FF 5     8x10 Negatives from the National Archives (copies made by John Campbell - Media Services)
                    FF 6     Photographs 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

Tube 1     Building Plans
                Building Plan 1.
                    Light-House for Calcasieu, La. Shows floor plans for light-house including:
                    Fig. 2     Plan of Sleeve-Sockets;
                    Fig. 3     Living Room;
                    Fig. 4     Bed Room;
                    Fig. 5     Watch Room;
                    Fig. 6     Front Elevation of cast iron door frame;
                    Fig. 7     Section E. E. (door frame);
                    Fig. 8     Section F. F. (door frame);
                    Fig. 9     Window Frame;
                    Fig. 10   Section G. G. (window frame);
                    Fig. 11   Section H. H. (window frame).
                    Stamped "Office of the Light House Board, Feb. 26, 1872."
                    Notes on side "No. 224 Transmitted to Light House Board with letter dated Feb. 21, 1872 " (Signature illegible).
                Building Plan 2.
                    Same as Building Plan 1. without the 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.

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 1872.
                    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 1872.
                    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, 1872. (Signature looks like T.H. Simpson)
                    Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., L.H. Engineer 8th District. Date stamped is Feb. 17, 1872.
                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 1886. (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, 1900.
                    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).

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. 29 46'53"N - Long. 93 20'42"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, 162.47 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 162.47 acres);
                    traverse table shows section, course, dist.;
                    "The 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 1834. 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, 1847. The North Boundary being included in the items for T.14.S.R.10.E.
                        Surveyor General's Office, Donaldsonville, Louisiana, September 22, 1847. 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, 1871. 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, 1883.
                    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, 1845.")

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. 1938 (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 1938.")
                Site Plan 10.
                    Entrance to Calcasieu Pass, LA. Survey of Sept. 19, 1886. 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, 1871. Forwarded to Light House Board with letter dated
                        February 8, 1872. Stamped "As 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 1876.
                    Office L. H. Engineer Eighth District, Mobile, Ala., 9 April 1876.
                    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 1876.
                    Office L. H. Engineer Eighth District, Mobile, Ala., 10 April 1876.
                    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, 1876.")