1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

February

28: Light South wind with light rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze South, cloudy & little damp. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. Keeper making out monthly reports.

March

1: Fresh breeze South to S.W. first part of 24 hours with light rain. Last part of 24 hours Fresh and strong breeze to gale N.W. with hard rain. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for day. Keeper went to Newport. Steam Schooner Homer sailed from Yaquina for San Francisco.

2: Fresh and strong breeze N.W. with frequent rain & hail squalls first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze to light N.West wind, hail, & snow. Sea very rough. General duties for day. 2nd ass't went to Newport.

3: Light S.East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with snow squalls most of 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport, 1st ass't went fishing.

4: Light variable winds with hail & snow squalls first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light South wind, cloudy but dry & cool weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Had three visitors today. Keeper went fishing. Mr. Eugene M. Watters visited the station today, he is on the way to Hecta Head lighthouse where he is to be 1st ass't Keeper.

5: Fresh to strong breeze S. East to South with hard rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Fresh breeze to gale S.W. to W.N. West, light rain showers. Sea a little rough. General duties for day. The barometer 29.21

6: Light N. West to S. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Fresh breeze South with cloudy but dry weather. Sea a little rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went fishing. 1st ass't went to Newport.

7: Fresh breeze to Gale S. To S.W. & West these 24 hours with rain first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport. The barometer stands 29.90 at 5 P.M.

8: Heavy gale South first part of 24 hours with hard rain. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze S. to S.W. and West with some rain and sharing weather. Sea rough. General duties for day. Steamer Homer arrived from Frisco & crossed of the bar at [2 am?pm?] Barometer 29.40

9: Fresh to moderate breeze to light wind West N. West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain & hail squalls. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.90 at 3 P.M. and still going up at 30.??

10: Fresh breeze to a gale South these 24 hours with rain. Sea rough. General duties for day. The barometer 29.66

11: Gale South to fresh to & moderate breeze S. West these 24 hours with rain most of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light rain. Sea rough. General duties for day. Barometer 29.40 and going up.

12: Light variable winds these 24 hours with rain showers first part of 24 hours. last part of 24 hours light rain showers. Sea a little rough. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport. Steamer Homer sailed from Yaquina for San Francisco.

13: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze S. to S.West-West these 24 hours with light rain. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.75

14: Light S.East wind, fair weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze to gale S.E. to S., rain. Sea rough. General duties for day. Keeper went fishing. The barometer 29.60 at 3 P.M. and going down.

15: Gale South to fresh and moderate breeze S.West these 24 hours with hard rain. Sea a little rough. General duties for the day. 1st ass't Edward Rice went to Newport after & to take the mail. The barometer 29.40 today.

16: Light wind West N.W. first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze N.W. with rain & hail squalls during 24 hours. Sea moderately smooth. 1st ass't putting 200 Gallons of mineral Oil in Oil room. Keeper and 2nd ass't cutting stove wood on the beach today. A small Schooner came in from the west toward the light about a mile and steered for the Yaquina bar. 1st ass't went fishing.

17: Light N.West to S. East wind with fair weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze S.E. to South, rain. Sea quite smooth. Keeper and 2nd ass't cutting stove wood on the beach today.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

March

18: Gale South to fresh breeze S. W. & West these 24 hours with rain & hail squalls. Sea very rough. General duties for day. The barometer 29.70 today.

19: Strong & fresh breeze W. to S.W. with frequent rain & hail squalls first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Gale to fresh & moderate breeze W. to N.W., light rain & hail squalls. Sea very rough. Keeper went to Newport. General duties for day.

20: Light N.W. & North wind to moderate breeze N.W. these 24 hours with clear, fine weather. Sea quite smooth. Had 4 visitors today. Steamer Homer arrived from San Francisco & crossed Yaquina bar. 1st ass't went fishing. Keeper & 2nd ass't hauling wood from beach.

21: Calm & light N. East to East wind these 24 hours with clear, fine weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 1st ass't also putting brush in the road. Keeper & 2nd ass't hauling wood.

22: Fresh breeze East first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with clear, fine and warm weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco today. 1st ass't spading & planting garden.

23: Light N. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze N. West with clear, fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. Keepers spading and planting garden. 1st ass't also went fishing today.

24: Light [N has been deleted] East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with clear, fine weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours a little fog floating around. Sea very smooth. Keeper & 1st ass't planting garden today. 1st ass't also went fishing and to Newport. 2nd ass't went to Newport. Keeper went trout fishing.

25: Light South wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with fair & warm weather during 24 hours. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 2nd ass't went over on S. beach hunting water agates.

26: Light S. wind first part of 24 hours with fair weather. Last part of 24 hours moderate & fresh breeze S.E. to S. with rain. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. 1st ass't spading & planting garden. 2nd ass't went trout fishing up on north beach.

27: Light S. to S. East & East wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours cloudy & threatening weather. Sea smooth. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing today. 2nd returfing his back yard today. The barometer is 29.90 today.

28: Light wind to fresh breeze S.E. to S. & S. West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain. Last part of 24 hours hard rain. General duties for day. Sea quite smooth. Keeper and 2nd ass't went to Newport on business. The barometer 29.85 today.

29: Light S.W. to West wind these 24 hours with frequent rain showers during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. Keeper went fishing and writing on the Quarterly & monthly reports. 1st and 2nd ass't also went fishing today.

30: Light S. East wind with frequent rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze N. West, fair weather. Sea smooth. 1st ass't spading garden and went fishing. Keeper working on the Quarterly returns. 2nd ass't went up on the north beach prospecting for Coal on the Indian Reservation. The barometer 29.95 Light House tender Manzanita passed by this Light at 5.20 P.M. from Astoria. She passed by Yaquina going South to Cape Blanco.

31: Light N.W. to South wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze South with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keeper making out Quarterly and monthly returns and spading garden & fishing. Steamer Homer sailed for San Francisco today. 1st ass't spading garden, went fishing, and to Newport after the mail.

April

1: Fresh breeze to gale South first part of 24 hours with rain. Last part of 24 hours Fresh to moderate breeze S. West, fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport to mail the Quarterly and monthly returns.

2: Moderate and fresh breeze S.W. with hail & rain squalls first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light West wind [continued on next page]

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon 1894

[in the top of the far right "Month" column there appears an unintelligible signature (presumably B. Blish) and beneath it, what looks like "Ass't Inspt, 5 April 1894

April

2 [continued from preceding page] fair weather. Sea a little rough. Keeper putting a shelf in windows in Parlor for Keepers Quarters to put flower pots on. Keepers changing lamp and cleaning Oil buckets, Oil measures and Etc., The barometer went up to 30.30 today.

3: Light S. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate & fresh breeze N.W. with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies 1st ass't spading, planting garden & went fishing today.

4: Light variable winds first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N.West wind with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea very smooth. Keeper & 1st spading & working in garden. Also went fishing. The barometer stands 29.90 today. 2nd ass't Isaac L. Smith went to Yaquina City on important business. Left the station at 5.30 A.M., returned to the station at 9.45 P.M.

5: Light S. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keeper spading and planting garden. 1st ass't went fishing today. The barometer stands 29,90 and going down. U.S. Steamer Manzanita laying off the bar this morning and crossed into Newport at 9.45 A.M. to do the annual buoy work. Lieut. B. Blish arrived at the station at 3.30 P.M. made inspection and left at 4.30 for Newport.

6: Moderate fresh and strong breeze S.E. to S.S.W. & West these 24 hours with rain. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper swing wood in cellar. The barometer down to 29.70 today but going up at 4. P.M.

7: Light variable winds first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. 1st ass't throwing rails out of the road & spading garden. 2nd ass't spading garden & went to Newport. Keeper went to Newport after Library and 5 Gallons of Turpentine that the Ass't Inspector left April 5th for this station. U.S. Steamer Manzanita passed by the cape at 2. P.M. going north. 1st ass't hoisted the flag on her approaching [the] station. Had two visitors today.

8: Light wind N.W. to moderate breeze East to South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours rain showers. Sea smooth. Keeper went up on north beach trout fishing. 1st ass't went ocean fishing. 2nd ass't spading garden.

9: Calm and light south to variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours little damp. Last part of 24 hours fair & warm. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 2nd ass't spading garden today.

10: Light wind to moderate breeze South first part of 24 hours with rain. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze N.W., little damp. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st ass't went fishing. 2nd ass't spading garden and setting out cabbage plants.

11: Light wind to moderate breeze N.West these 24 hours; first part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite smooth. Keeper grubbing up a piece of ground for a flower garden near the beach for Mrs. M.J. Plummer. 1st ass't Edward Rice went fishing and to Newport after supplies. 2nd ass't planting potatoes in his garden.

12: Light N.W. to S. East wind first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind with fair weather during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies.

13: Light wind to moderate breeze South first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze to light gale South to S. West with rain during 24 hours. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.80.

14: Moderate and fresh breeze W. to N.West first part of 24 hours with frequent rain showers. Last part of 24 hours moderate breeze to light N. West wind, fair weather. Sea a little rough. Keeper & 2nd ass't planting garden. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 1st ass't also went to Newport after the mail.

15: Light wind to moderate breeze N.W. these 24 hours, first part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and cool weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. Keeper went to Newport to engage rooms at Grotell?? and teams for L.H. Engineer - Supt of Construction to come to the station & go to Alsea April 24th.

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon

1895

January 1: Light East to S. East wind these 24 hours with fair and cool weather during 24 hours - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day - 2nd Asst James B. Hermann putting dressing on his part of garden - the barometer down to 29.90 at 3 P.M.

2: Fresh and strong breeze East first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Gale S.E. To S. West with hard rain during 24 hours - Sea rough - General duties for the day - The barometer went down to 29.20 today.

3: Gale to fresh breeze South to S. East first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours hard Gale S.E. to South with rain during 24 hours - Sea rough - Keepers cleaning out the cistern today. The barometer down to 29. today - Mr. Herman 2nd asst is very stupid cant seem to learn or remember anything that is told him. 2nd asst James B. Hermann went to Newport after mail to to mail letters. Also after supplies left station at 2300?

4: Gale to fresh and moderate breeze S. to S.W. these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours rain showers - Last part of 24 hours light rain showers - Sea rough - Keeper takeing covers off of coal oil boxes ready to empty - Also fixing pump in kitchen - 2nd asst returned to Station at 1.30 P.M.

5: Fresh to strong breeze S.W. to West these 24 hours with frequent rain snow & hail squalls - Sea rough [continued for preceding page]

1903 RECORD OF IMPORTANT EVENTS AT THE STATION, BAD WEATHER, &c. MONTH February 1: Light S. West to East wind these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours hail and snow squalls - Last part of 24 hours clear fine and cool - Sea rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.50 to 29.90 - Keeper writing in Office today. *W.P. Ford received final appointment as 2nd asst the 1st of Feb.

2nd: Light East wind cleary dry & cold these 24 hours - Sea smooth - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.90 to 30.05 - Keeper washing today - 2nd asst W. P. Ford went to Toledo on important business & get supplies - Left Sta at 8:30 A.M.

3rd: Fresh breeze to light East wind these 24 hours with cold weather - Sea smooth to rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 30.05 to 29.65 - Keeper working in shop - 2nd asst W.P. Ford returned to the Sta at 4:30 P.M.

4th: Light wind to moderate breeze North these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours damp - Last part of 24 hours fair - Sea quite rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.65 to 29.10 - 1st asst went to Newport after supplies - 2nd asst washing - Keeper working on requisition for annual supplies.

5th: Light S. East to East wind these 24 hours with clear fine and cold weather - Sea moderately smooth - Barometer 30.12 - 1st asst went fishing - 2nd asst cutting wood one mile from sta for himself & Keeper - Keeper making on requisition for annual supplies.

6th: Light S. East wind these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours clear & cool - Last part of 24 hours cloudy & fair - Sea quite smooth - Barometer 30.12 to 29.94 - 2nd asst working in garden - 1st asst went fishing - Keeper working requisition for annual supplies.

7th: Fresh breeze S. East to Gale South and S. West these 24 hours with rain - Sea rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.94 to 29.30 - Keeper making out the annual requisition for supplies to L.H. Inspector.

8th: Fresh breeze S. West to light wind West first part of 24 hours with rain showers - Last part of 24 hours Fresh breeze S.W. to S. with rain showers - Sea very rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.30 to 29.92 - 2nd asst planting garden today.

9th: Gale South to light S.W. wind these 24 hours with rain and thick weather - Sea rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.93 to 29.98 - 2nd asst cleaning out South end of Barn - Taking covers off of Coal Oil Cases - and went to Newport after supplies - Keeper washing and working on annual requisition for supplies to Light House Inspector.

10th: Moderate breeze West and N.W. to light East wind these 24 hours with rain during 24 hours - Sea very rough - Barometer 29.92 to 30.12 - Keeper went to Newport after mail & supplies - General duties for the day.

11th: Light East wind these 24 hours with clear and cold - Sea quite rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 30.24 to 30.10 - 2nd asst W. P. Ford went one mile from the Sta cutting wood for himself & Keeper - Keeper working on requisition.

12th: Light East wind dry & cold these 24 hours - Sea very rough - General duties for the day - Barometer 30.20 to 30.10 - Keeper working on annual requisition for supplies - 1st asst went to Newport after mail & supplies - 2nd asst cutting wood.

13th: Light East wind to moderate breeze North these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours light rain showers - Last part of 24 hours cold - Sea smooth - Barometer 30.10 - General duties for the day - 2nd asst cutting wood for himself and Keeper.

14th: Light N. and East wind these 24 hours with clear and cold weather - Sea smooth - General duties for day - Barometer 30.12 - 2nd asst cutting wood today.

15th: Light N. & E. wind these 24 hours with clear and cold - Sea smooth - General duties for day - Barometer 30.12 - 1st asst went fishing today.

16th: Light North and East wind these 24 hours with clear fine and cool weather - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day. Barometer 30.12 - Keeper washing - 1st asst went fishing - 2nd asst cutting wood for himself and Keeper.

17th: Light North and East wind with clear fine and cool weather these 24 hours - Sea very smooth - Barometer 30.12 to 30.00 - 1st asst went fishing - General duties for day - Keeper working on requisition for supplies - 2nd asst washing & cutting wood half mile from sta.

18th: Light variable winds these 24 hours with clear fine and warmer weather - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day - Barometer