1898-99 Keeper Logs

Journal of Light-house Station at Yaquina Head Oregon

1898

April 5: Light wind to moderate breeze S.E. to South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours rain showers. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went trout fishing. Barometer 29.50.

6: Moderate breeze S.W. to light S.East wind with light rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of moderate to fresh breeze South light rain. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.55 today.

7: Gale to fresh breeze S. to S.W. rain and hail first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. Keeper working in the shop. Barometer 29.30 today.

8: Light S.East wind to moderate and fresh breeze South there 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp and fair weather. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers and fair weather. Sea rough. General duties for the day. 2nd asst went to big creek. Barometer 29.80.

9: Fresh to moderate breeze S. to W.N.W. to light S.East wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers and clearing weather. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st asst went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.80 to 29.98.

10: Light East to variable winds these 24 hours with clear and fair weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. 2nd asst went over 2 1/2 miles on the south beach for recreation. Barometer 29.95 to 30.25.

11: Light South to North wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp. Last part of 24 hours clear fine weather. Sea smooth. Keeper making out annual requisition for supplies and mixing paint to paint the picket fence. 1st asst went fishing. Barometer 30.35. 2nd asst spadeing garden.

12: Moderate breeze North to light variable winds these 24 hours with fair and warmer weather. Sea quite smooth. Keeper and assts painting on the pickett fence around the Dwelling & tower. 1st asst went fishing. Barometer 30.00 today.

13: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours high dry fog. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite rough. 1st and 2nd assts cleaning pickett fence preparing to paint. Had three visitors. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.95.

14: Fresh and moderate breeze to light N. wind these 24 hours with fair weather and heigh dry fog. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies and mail. Barometer 30.00 to 29.85 today. Today at 3 P.M. two men Mr. Albert Parker & Andrew Edward Doucet landed on the beach at this Station from the sealing Schooner Ada of Victoria B.C. in a small boat. They got lost from the schooner in a fog about 20 miles off the Columbia river on Monday the 11th at 6 A.M. and came on down the coast trying to find a place to land. I gave them supper and breakfast and bed, went with them to Newport and turned them over to the Collector of customes J.W. Ball.

15: Fresh breeze North dry fair and cool weather these 24 hours. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport with Mr. Parker and Doucet the men that landed here from the Sealing Schooner Ada. Barometer 29.85 today.

16: Fresh to moderate breeze and light North wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours cloudy. Last part of 24 hours clear fine weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keepers putting 200 Gallons of Oil in Oil butts. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 30.05.

17: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Had two visitors. Barometer 30.10. U.S. Light-House tender Manzanita passed by this light at 5.30 A.M. going north.

18: Fresh breeze North with clear fine weather these 24 hours. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 30.20 to 30.10 today. Keeper and assts painting on pickett fence today. Keeper working on requisition for supplies for 1898 & 1899.

19: Fresh breeze North to light variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers. Sea smooth. Keepers painting on fence around Dwelling mixing paint to paint Dwelling & barn. Had three visitors. Barometer 29.80 today.

Journal of Light-house Station at Yaquina Head Oregon

1898

April 20: Light South to North wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers & fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.75 to 29.83.

21: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze South with rain these 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Barometer down to 29.75 to 29.83. Keeper making out to requisition for annual supplies.

22: Fresh to moderate breeze South to S. West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours light rain showers and thick weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.80 to 30.14 today.

23: Light S. to variable winds first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate breeze North with thick fog these 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keepers went over to the woods about one mile to see about wood. Barometer 30.10.

24: Light North wind thick damp fog these 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies and to post mail. Barometer 30.05 to 29.95.

25: Light South wind thick damp fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light rain and thick weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went trout fishing. 2nd asst went Ocean fishing. Barometer 29.90 to 29.98.

26: Fresh breeze S.W. to West with rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N.West wind clear fine weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for day. Keeper and assts painted barn and mixing paint to paint 1st asst's house & shop. Barometer 30.25.

27: Moderate to fresh breeze North with clear fine weather these 24 hours. Sea moderately smooth. Barometer 30.35 to 30.05. Keeper and assts painting 1st asst Quarters outside painted store-house and paint shop. Also mixing paint for Dwelling.

28: Gale to fresh breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp. Last part of 24 hours high dry fog and cloudy. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies and post mail. Barometer 29.90.

29: Fresh to moderate breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and cloudy. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.80. Keeper repairing gate and fence today.

30: Fresh breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp weather. Last part of 24 hours clear fine weather. Sea quite smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after mail & supplies. Barometer 29.80.

May 1: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.73 to 29.82. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies and mail.

2: Light NW wind to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather. Sea very smooth. Baromoeter 29.80 to 30.00 today. Keeper and assts painting lead collor on Keeper's Dwelling and putting up stage on Dwelling.

3: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather. Sea very smooth. Keeper and assts painting on Keepers dwelling and takeing down stage. Barometer 30.00 to 29.88 today.

4: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours clear fine and warm weather. Last part of 24 hours thick and heigh dry fog. Sea very smooth. Keepers painting on Keepers dwelling. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.82.

5: Moderate to fresh breeze N.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and cooler weather. Sea quite smoooth. Keeper and assts painting water tank, Water closet, and Oil house. Barometer 30.12. Had 2 visitors.

6: Moderate breeze N.W. to light variable winds and calm these 24 hours with cloudy & fair weather. Sea quite smooth. Keeper and assts painting Dome parapet and drum of Tower. Put up stage to paint Bracketts. Barometer 30.00 to 30.20 today.

JOURNAL of Light-house Station at Yaquina Head Oregon

1898

May 7: Light variable winds to moderate and fresh breeze N.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather - Sea smooth. 1st and 2nd assts Whitewashing tight board fence in front of dwelling. Barometer 30.20 to 30.10 today.

8: Moderate breeze and light N. wind these 24 hours with clear fine weather - Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Steam schooner entered Yaquina bay at 10 A.M. arrived from the south. Barometer 30.10 to 29.96.

9: Moderate breeze to light North wind these 24 hours. Heigh dry fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours damp fog - Sea smooth. Keeper and assts painted bracketts put stage up to paint white part of tower and mixed paint. Barometer 29.95 today.

10: Moderate breeze North and light West wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours cloudy and little damp. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. Keeper and assts painting the brick part of tower white and mixing paint. Barometer 30.10.

11: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours heigh dry fog. Last part of 24 hours fair weather - Sea quite smooth. Keeper and assts whitewashing fences. Barometer 30.05. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies.

12: Fresh breeze North these 24 hours with fair weather - Sea smooth - Barometer 30.02 to 29.77 today. Keeper and assts whitewashing wagon-House and fences. Also painting on the Tower white. 1st asst cleaning his Quarters.

13: Fresh breeze North to light South wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours thick damp fog - Sea smooth - Baromoter 29.70 today. 1st asst cleaning painting and whitewashing in his Quarters today

14: Light South wind and calm these 24 hours cloudy and fair weather - Sea smooth. Had seven visitors today. Barometer 29.60. Keeper and assts painting brick work on the tower. Also painted base of tower black. Also took stage down and put away.

15: Light South wind and calm first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours moderate to fresh breeze N. West with cloudy and heigh dry fog during 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.60. Keeper went to Newport after supplies.

16: Moderate breeze N. West to light South wind these 24 hours with frequent thick fog showers - Sea smooth. Barometer 29.60 to 29.90. Keeper and assts cleaning lantern to paint some. Also getting ready to whitewash inside of Tower. 1st asst painting in his Quarters.

17: Light South wind light rain and fog showers these 24 hours - Sea smooth. Barometer 29.80 to 29.95 today. Keeper and 1st and 2nd assts painting Lantern inside white watch room and painting window sash.

18: Light variable winds these 24 hours with frequent rain showers - Sea quite rough. Keeper and assts whitewashing inside of the tower - painting window frames table tool chest step ladder and rack. Barometer 29.90 to 29.80. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies.

19: Light West wind these 24 hours with frequent rain showers - Sea quite rough Barometer down to 29.90 today. Had two visitors. Keeper and assts polishing all brass work at the Station. Also painted one half of stairs and landings inside of the tower.

20: Light wind East to moderate and fresh breeze South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours rain. Sea quite smooth. Barometer 29.65. Keeper and assts painting lantern floor and stair cases - Balcony railings - Also painted portch & steps on Dwelling and wagon house doors.

21: Fresh breeze East to S.E. and South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea very rough. Keeper and 2nd asst painting stairs and landings black today. Barometer 29.65 to 29.80 today.

22: Moderate to fresh breeze and light South wind these 24 hours with frequent rain showers during 24 hours. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.90 to 30.00 today. Had three visitors.

23: Light S. East to West and N. West wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite rough. Keeper and 2nd asst cleaning Lenns plate-glass of lantern - painting celler doors & steps & tower door. Barometer 30.10

JOURNAL of Light-House Station at Yaquina Head Oregon

1898

May 24: Light North wind these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather - Sea very smooth. Barometer down to 29.85. Keeper and 2nd assts cleaning plate glass of Lantern and tower windows. Also painted celler window sashes.

25: Light North to South wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours thick fog and cloudy - Sea rough. Barometer 29.70. Keeper and 2nd & 1st assts putting Oil in Oil butts. 1st asst cleaning paint shop. Keeper and 2nd asst scrubbing Hall & Oil room floors.

26: Light South to S. East wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours thunder & lightening and rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and warm weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.75

27: Light South wind to moderate breeze West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours little damp. Last part of 24 hours cloudy and fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer down to 29.60 today.

28: Light South wind to moderate breeze S. West these 24 hours with frequent rain showers during 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.60 to 29.90 today. Keeper went to Newport after supplies and get mail.

29: Light S.E. to S.S.W. and West wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours frequent rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.90 to 30.00 today.

30: Light variable winds to moderate breeze South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. 1st asst went fishing. Barometer 29.90 to 30.00 today. General duties for the day.

31: Light S. East wind to moderate and fresh breeze S. to S. West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duteis for the day. Keeper went to Newport to post mail. Barometer 29.40 to 29.55.

June 1: Light E. to S. E wind to moderate breeze South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.55 to 29.75 today.

2: Light N.W. to S. East and variable winds these 24 hours with fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. 1st asst went fishing. Barometer 29.70 to 30.20 today.

3: Light wind to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours with clear fine weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Had two visitors. Barometer 30.30 to 30.20. Keeper sawing and packing away wood in his celler. 1st asst went fishing.

4: Fresh and moderate breeze to light North and East wind these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. 1st asst went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 30.05. Keeper blacking damper for Lennes lamp. 2nd asst cleaning Oil carriers. Had two visitors.

5: Fresh breeze East these 24 hours with clear fine and warm weather. Sea very smooth. General duties for the day. 1st asst went fishing. Barometer 29.90. 2nd asst James B. Hermann has been ordered to report at Grays Harbor on the 16th of this month.

6: Light North to S. East wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours clear fine and warm weather. Last part of 24 hours foggy. Sea smooth. Keeper & assts went to Newport to vote. 1st asst cutting grass around Dwelling. Barometer 29.80 to 29.90 today

7: Light variable winds to moderate and fresh breeze North these 24 hours with heigh dry fog. Sea smooth. 2nd asst and Keeper showing visitors in the Tower. Had 9 visitors. 2nd asst packing his house hold goods. 1st asst went fishing & cutting grass. Barometer 29.90.

8: Moderate to fresh breeze North with thick and heigh dry fog these 24 hours. Sea smooth. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. 1st asst cutting the grass around Keepers dwelling. 2nd asst packing his House-hold good preparing to go to Grays Harbor. Barometer 29.75.

9: Fresh and moderate breeze North these 24 hours with heigh dry fog these 24 hours. Sea smooth. Had [continued on next page]

Journal of Light-house Station at Yaquina Head Oregon

1898

June 9: [continued from preceding page] four visitors today. Keeper sawing wood in his celler. 1st asst cutting grass and rakeing up and throwing hay over bluff. 2nd asst packing goods. Barometer 29.70.

10: Moderate breeze to light North wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours thick damp fog. Last part of 24 hours heigh dry fog. Sea smooth. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. 1st asst throwing grass over the bluff. Barometer 29.70. 2nd asst packing his household goods.

11: Light variable winds with heigh dry fog first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light South wind light rain showers. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper sawing wood in his celler. 2nd asst went to Newport. Barometer 29.80. Had eleven visitors.

12: Light South wind and little damp first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer 29.75 to 29.70 today. 2nd asst James B. Hermann packing household goods and left the station at 6.15 P.M. for Grays Harbor light.

13: Light S. East to S. wind these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours fair weather. Last part of 24 hours rain showers. Sea quite rough. Keeper sawing wood in his celler. 1st asst showing 5 visitors in Tower. Also rakeing up hay. Barometer 29.70.

14: Moderate to fresh breeze South these 24 hours with frequent rain showers. Sea quite rough. Keeper sawing wood in his celler. 1st asst rakeing hay around Keepers dwelling. Also cleaning out under 2nd asst wood-shed. Barometer 29.80.

15: Moderate breeze South these 24 hours. Frist part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea moderately smooth. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. General duties for the day. Barometer down to 29.60 to 29.85. 1st asst working in garden. Mr. H.S. Littlefied arrived at the station at 3 P.M. and reported for duty the 16th.

16: Light East wind first part of 24 hours and little damp. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds and calm dry fair and warm. Sea quite smooth. Barometer 29.86. 2nd asst had House-hold goods and other things to go house keeping. Keeper 1st and 2nd assts cleaning whitewashing and painting rooms and halway in 2nd assts Quarters.

17: Light variable to East and S.East wind these 24 hours with frequent light rain showers. Sea moderately smooth. Barometer 29.85. Keeper showing 14 visitors in the Tower. Keeper & assts cleaning and painting in 2nd asst's Quarters.

18: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze S. to S.W. and West with hard rain these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport after supplies. Barometer down to 29.85. 1st asst painted in 2nd asst Quarters. Had five visitors.

19: Light West wind to moderat breeze S.West these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours damp. last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Barometer 29.80. 1st and 2nd assts went to Newport after supplies.

20: Light South to variable winds these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and warm weather. Sea smooth. Keeper and assts cleaning and painting 2nd assts Kitchen. 1st asst showing visitors in Tower. Barometer 29.95 today. 1st asst went to Newport after mail.

21: Light South wind to moderate breeze these 24 hours with rain and rain showers these 24 hours. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper working on Quarterly and annual returns. 2nd asst cleaning water closet. 1st asst went fishing and showing 13 visitors in Tower.

22: Light variable winds and calm these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair and warm weather. Sea smooth. 1st and 2nd assts went fishing. 2nd painting walls of his Water-closet. Keeper painted 2nd asst's Kitchen floor. Keeper also working on Quarterly and annual reports. Barometer 29.80. Had one visitors.

23: Light S.East to variable winds with clear fine and warm weather. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper and 2nd asst went to Newport after supplies. 1st asst went fishing and showing twelve visitors in the tower. Barometer down to 29.90.

24: Light wind S.W. & N.W. to fresh breeze these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours rain. Last part of 24 hours fair weather. Sea smooth. [continued on following page]