1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather

January 1891

8: smooth - General duties for the day- Sea makeing up a little at 3 P.M.

9: Fresh breeze East dry and cool there 24 hour - Sea quite rough - General duties for the day - Keeper went to Newport after Mr. I. L. Smith but though it not prudent to come back as yet.

10: Light East wind clear find and cool weather during the 24 hours - Sea rough - General duties for the day.

11: Light East wind clear find and cool during the 24 hours - Sea smooth - General duties for the day - Steamer Willamett Valley sailed by for San Francisco - 1st asst went to Newport today.

12: Fresh breeze to a gale to moderate breeze East these 24 hours with clear fine and cool weather during 24 hours - Sea quite rough - General duties for the day -Keeper went to Newport after Mr I.L. Smith. Mr. Smith returned to the station at 5 P.M. His cold is much better and it is better that he should not go on watch for a few days yet. The barometer is going down a little.

13: Light East to S. East wind first part of 24 hours clear fine weather - Last part of 24 hours cloudy but dry - light S. East wind - Sea smooth- General duties for day - Barometer going down.

14: Light S. East to East wind with rain first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours Light to moderate breeze. East to South little damp - Sea smooth - General duties for day - Keeper working in shop today.

15: Light to moderate and fresh breeze to a light gale these 24 hours with rain showers first part of 24 hours - Sea rough - General duties for day - 1st asst went to Newport - Keeper working in shop today.

16: Fresh breeze south to light S.East wind these 24 hours cloudy but dry weather during the 24 hour. Sea rough. Barometer going down- General duties for day. Keeper working in the shop today.

17: Fresh to moderate Breeze South these 24 hours rain first part of 24 hours last part of 24 hours coudy but dry- Sea rough. General duties for the day- Keeper went to Newport for recreation. Left the station at 9:30 A.M.

18: Fresh to moderate breeze south these 24 hours first part of 24 hours rain. last part of 24 hours coudy but dry. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Str. Willamette Valley arrived off the bar at 10 A.M. yesterday to rought to enter and ??? out. Keeper Frank M. Plummer arrived at the station at 1:30 P.M. today.

19: Light variable winds with thick fog showers during first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Light N.W. wind fair weather sea very rough. General duties for the day. Keeper Sweepting out the shop. Two rough for the Willamette to enter Yaquina Bay.

20: Light variable winds & calm fair and clear fair & warm weather during the 24 hours - Sea quite rough - Steamer Willamett Valley crossed the bar this morning - Keeper cleaning illumunating apparatus.

21: Fresh breeze to moderate and lgiht East wind these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather - Sea moderately smooth - General duties for the day - Keeper makeing a chimney box for tower - 1st asst went to Newport.

22: Light S. East to East wind these 24 hours dry and clear sea smooth - General duties doe the day - Steamer Willamett Valley sailed today - Keeper working in shop today.

23: Light South wind & calm these 24 hours damp during 24 hours - Sea very rough - General duties for day - Keeper went to Newport for recreation - Left the station at 1. P. M.

24: Light and moderate breeze South with rain showers during the 24 hours - General duties

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon

February 1891

24 Light and moderate breeze S.E. to N.W. these 24 hours with hail snow and rain squalls - Sea smooth - General duties for day - Barometer going up fast - Keeper went to Newport after mail I hear that there is a small Sloup on North beach about 2 miles that came ashore about the 20th of month.

25 Light to moderate and fresh breeze W. to S.W. these 24 hours - little damp during 24 hours - Sea smooth - 1st asst and M. I. L. Smith putting 200 galls of Mineral oil in Oil room. Today Keeper went up north beach to see [w]reck of the sloop - Keeper went to Newport to take the mail - Left station at 2:00 am.

26 Fresh to moderate breeze S. W. to S. East these 24 hours first half of 24 hours rain last part of 24 hours fair weather - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day - Keeper went fishing today - Steamer Willamette Valley]] sailed today - Barometer going down - Keeper returned to the station at 9.30. A. M.

27 Light S. E. to East wind these 24 hours with rain first part of 24 hours - Last half of 24 hours clear fine weather - Sea quite smooth - Keeper & Mr. Smith went fishing - Mr. Smith also working in shop today.

28 Moderate and light E. & N.E to North west these 24 hours first half of 24 hours rain - Last part fair weather - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day - Keeper and M. I. L. Smith went to Newport

March

1 Light N.W. to East wind these 24 hours dry during 24 hours and fair weather - Sea smooth - General duties for the day . Keepers went fishing Today.

2 Moderate & light East to N.W. these 24 hours clear day and cold during 24 hours - Sea very smooth - General duties for day - Keepers went fishing Had three visitors - 1st asst went to Newport.

3 Light N. East to North wind and calm day and cold and clear weather during 24 hours - Sea very smooth General duties for the day - Keeper went to Newport - 1st asst and Mr. Smith went fishing

4 Light variable winds these 24 hours snow hail & rain during 24 hours - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day - Steamer Manzanita arrived off the Yaquina bar at 1 P.M and put some buoys down. And at 2:30 P.M. is laying off West of the light and then sailed north

5 Moderate and fresh breeze S. E. to East with rain and snow first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours light East to N.W. wind fair weather - Sea quite smooth - General duties for day - Keeper went fishing today.

6 Light N.W. to East calm dry & fair weather during 24 hours - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day. Mr. Smith working in garden - Keeper went to Newport on important business. Left the station at 9 A. M. Steamer Willamette Valley arrived this morning

7 Light east to N. West wind these 24 hours with clear fair but cool weather during 24 hours Sea very smooth - 1st asst and Mr. I. L. Smith working in garden - Keeper returned to the station at 3:00.

8 Light N.W. to S. East wind first part of 24 hours fair weather - Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze to a gale South rain Sea moderately smooth - General duties for day - Keeper went fishing

9 Strong to fresh and moderate breeze S. to N.W. rain first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours fair weather - Sea smooth - General duties for the day -

10 Light N.W. to East wind first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours light to moderate

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

1904 March 18. Gale and fresh breeze S.W. these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours frequent rain and hail squalls - Sea quite rough - General duties for day - Barometer 29.70 to 29.90 - 1st asst spading garden - 2nd asst & Keeper getting wood on beach - Keeper writing in Office 19. Light East to S. East wind with first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours heavy Gale South with rain - The gale today fencing dow all about the Station - Barometer 29.10 to 28.70 - General duties for the day - Keeper working on requisition for supplies - The gale also blew window panes out of windows in Dwelling - 1st asst went to Newport after mail & supplies 20. Gale to fresh breeze S. West and West first part of 24 hours with rain showers - Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze S. West with light rain showers and fair - Sea rough - General duties for day - Barometer 28.70 to 29.56 - Keeper and assts repairing fence that blew down the 20th from bluff to Barn 21. Fresh breeze S.W. with frequent hail & snow squalls these 24 hours - General duties for day - Barometer 29.56 to 29.50 - Sea quite rough - Keeper washing today 22. Fresh breeze S. West to light S. East wind these 24 hours with frequent hail and snow squalls - Sea moderately smooth - Barometer 29.52 to 29.47 - Keeper getting wood on beach & working in shop - 1st asst went to Newport after mail & supplies - 2nd asst putting dressing on the garden 23. Light East wind with snow first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours moderate & fresh breeze South fair and frequent hail squalls - Sea smooth - Barometer 29.47 to 29.55 - Keeper and assts repairing fences that the gale blew down the 19th - 2nd asst working in shop 24. Light variable winds these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours snow and rain - Last part of 24 hours light rain showers and clearing weather - Sea smooth - Baromter 29.55 to 29.72 - Keeper went to Newport after mail & supplies - 1st asst went fishing - Keeper working on requisition 25. Light East and variable winds these 24 hours - First part of 24 hours snow - Past part of 24 hours light snow & rain showers and fair - Sea smooth - Barometer 29.72 to 30.60 - 1st asst went to Newport after mail & supplies - 2nd asst working on road next to beach - Keeper getting wood on the beach 26. Moderate breeze East these 24 hours with fair weather & cool - Sea very smooth - Barometer 30.00 to 30.10 - Keeper went to Newport after mail and supplies - 2nd asst cleaning out barn & working in shop - 1st asst repairing picket fence around Dwelling 27. Fresh breeze & light East wind these 24 hours with rain - Sea very smooth - General duties for day - Barometer 30.10 to 29.66 today 28. Light wind and moderate breeze East with rain first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours light South wind cloudy & fair - Sea very smooth - Barometer 29.66 to 29.35 - 2nd asst working in shop & putting two panes of glass in Dwelling that the gale of the 19th blew out - 1st asst went on the beach at Sta fishing - Keeper getting wood on the beach and working on requisition for annual supplies 29. Light wind to moderate breeze W.N.W these 24 hours with rain and hail showers - Sea smooth - General duties for the day - 1st ast went to Newport after mail & supplies - Barometer 29.35 to 29.70 - Keeper working on Quarterly reports & requisition 30. Moderate breeze West these 24 hours with frequent rain and hail showers - Sea smooth - General duties for the day - Barometer 29.70 to 80.12 - Keeper getting wood on the beach - 1st asst went fishing - 2nd asst cleaning out the Barn - Keeper working on reports 31. Light N. East to moderate breeze East these 24 hours with clear fine weather - Sea smooth - Keeper & assts repairing garden fence - Keeper spading garden & getting wood on beach - 1st asst cleaning in his Quarters - Barometer 30.20 to 29.88 - 1st asst also went fishing - 2nd asst went to Newport to post Quarterly and monthly & requisition reports get mail and procure supplies