1871-1900 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Letter books

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather

January 1891

1 Fresh breeze to a light gale S.E. to S.W. these 24 hours with rain showers during the 24 hours- Sea little rough- General duties for day - Keeper went to Newport to take the quarterly returns Left the station at 9 A.M.

2 Moderate and fresh breeze to a gale these 24 hours- with rain most of the time- Sea rough - General duties for the day- Keeper returned to the station at 1 P.M.

3 Gale to fresh and moderate breeze S. to southwest first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours light to moderate fresh breeze East to South with rain most of the 24 hours - Sea very rough - General duties for day -Keeper & Mr. Smith pumping water out of the cistern.

4 Light to moderate breeze S.E. to South these 24 hours first part little rough- last part of 24 hours rain & sea rough- General duties for day barometer going down -1st asst. went to Newport today.

5 Light and moderate variable winds showery weather during first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours fresh breeze S.W. to South to a gale -Sea rough- 1st Asst and Keeper cleaning out the cistern- keeper went to Newport to take Mr. Smith to Newport to get some medicine he is not feeling well and may have to go and see a Doctor before he comes back - Left the station at 10 A.M. - had some hail thunder and lightening - Barometer going up.

6 Gale fresh breeze S. East to N.W. with rain hail and snow squalls during first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours Light S. East winds rain showers- Sea rough - Barometer going up - General Duties for day

7 Light to moderate and fresh breeze East these 24 hours first part of the 24 hours little damp -Last part of 24 hours clear dry & cool - Sea quite smooth - General duties for day - 1st asst. went to Newport today.

8 Fresh Breeze East these 24 hours with clear fine and cool weather. Sea

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

1885

Oct. 23 Charts Nos. 655_656_and 659, 13th Dist. to be sent Oct. 26 Charts 659 [2 copies] 649 & 658 - forwd. Oct. 27 Columbia River Walker's Isld. Channel_change in buoyage action approved Oct. 27 Columbia River Martins' Isld Bar - lump - buoyage - ??? Oct. 30 Chart No. 641 ??? forwarded Nov. 9 Chart No. 662_forwarded_ Nov. 12 Cape Blanco condition of tower &c., Keeper to be admonished Dec. 5 Cape Disappointment - Condition - Kper. to be admonished Dec. 5 Columbia River Prairie Channel-3 single pile beacons Dec. 5 Cape Foulweather Keepers to wear Uniforms _ Regulation Dec. 5 Columbia River Whistling buoy - repairs - authority Dec. 8 Columbia River Land Isld. - day beacon - rebuilding views asked Dec. 9 Chart No. 641 - forwarded Dec. 9 Cape Arago Boat_authority Dec. 14 Cape Foulweather Expenditure of oil - Brilliancy of Lt. - to be maintained Dec. 19 Channels, Rivers &c., Buoys for marking_Regulations Dec. 31 Cape Arago Boat - purchase - authority Dec. 31 Cape Arago - Boat - recovery - Payt - authd. Dec. 31 Coal & Provisions Departure Bay and Victoria Shubuck - authority not granted

1887

June 3 Cape Arago Asst. Keeper _ removal June 6 Cape Meares Location - order of light to be placed - views asked June 11 Cape Foulweather 2nd Asst. Kpr. a paymt. prior to date of Appb. - Certificate on Form 12 requested June 13 Charts Nos. 603 - 675 - & 676 - forwd. June 22 Charts recent surveys (Alaska Waters) forwarded

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon [marked 1893, was actually 1894]

January

1 [continued from preceding page] and fresh breeze N. to N.West with rain showers. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper and 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies and to mail the Quarterly & monthly returns. 1st ass't cleaning oil cans, oil filler lanterns & storm pane clamps.

2: Light variable winds with damp weather during first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours fair weather with light variable winds. Sea little rough. Keepers cleaning lamp and reflectors. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 1st ass't also went to Newport after mail.

3: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze W. to N.W. these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea rough. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.72 Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies & to get checks cashed.

4: Strong & fresh breeze N.W. with rain & hail squalls first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light N. West wind with light snow squalls. Sea rough. General duties for the day. 1st ass't went fishing today.

5: Light East to S. East and South these 24 hours. First part of 24 hours clear and cool. Last part of 24 hours light snow in the air. Sea smooth. General duties for the day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing. 1st also went to Newport after mail.

6: Strong to fresh breeze S.E. to S.S.W. & West with snow & rain during 24 hours. Sea quite rough. General duties for the day.

7: Fresh and moderate breeze West these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. 1st ass't went fishing.

8: Light N.W. to East & S.East wind first part of 24 hours. with damp weather. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 1st & 2nd ass'ts cleaning house. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing.

9: Moderate breeze S. to N.W. & North first part of 24 hours with rain. Last part of 24 hours light variable winds, fair weather. Sea smooth. General duties for day. 2nd ass't cleaning windows on dwelling. 1st ass't went fishing and to Newport after mail. Keeper went fishing. Had 6 visitors today.

10: Fresh breeze South E. to South with rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing.

11: Light wind to moderate & fresh breeze South with rain during 24 hours. Sea quite smooth. General duties for day. Keeper & 1st ass't went fishing.

12: Gale these 24 hours with hard rain most of the time. Sea rough. General duties for day. The barometer is 29.57 at 3 P.M.

13: Heavy Gale first part of 24 South. Last part of 24 hours strong breeze & light Gale South with rain during 24 hours. Sea rough. General duties for the day. The barometer down to 29.35 during 24 hours.

14: Strong to fresh breeze South to light S.E. & East wind first part of 24 hours with frequent rain showers. Last part of 24 hours Gale S.E. to South with rain. Sea rough. General duties for the day. The barometer is down to 29. at 3 P.M.

15: Moderate to fresh and strong breeze S.W. to S. with rain showers first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Gale to fresh breeze S.E. to S. and West, fair weather. Sea rough. General duties for the day. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport after supplies.

16: Moderate to fresh breeze W. & S.West these 24 hours with frequent rain & hail squalls. Sea very rough. General duties for the day. The barometer is 29.70 today.

17: Fresh and strong breeze S.W. to S.E. first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours Fresh breeze to Gale & moderate breeze S.E. to South, with frequent rain, snow, & hail squalls. Sea very rough. General duties for day. 1st ass't went to Newport after the mail.

18: Fresh to moderate breeze W. to S.W. and South these 24 hours with frequent rain and hail squalls.Sea very rough. General duties for the day. Keeper went to Newport on business. The barometer is 29.85 today. The steamer Dell Norte arrived off the Yaquina bar from San Francisco for Yaquina bay after wheat.

19: Gale and fresh breeze S.East to S. these 24 hours with rain. Sea rough. General duties for day. The barometer stands 29.46 today.

20: Fresh to moderate breeze S. to N.W. first part of 24 hours with rain. Last part of 24 hours light wind to moderate and fresh breeze S.E. to S. rain. Sea moderately smooth. General duties for day. Steam Schooner Del Norte went into Yaquina at 8 A.M. Keeper & 2nd ass't went to Newport.