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

Journal of Light-house Station at Cape Foulweather Oregon

March 1891

26 with frequent rain squalls - Sea little rough - General duties for day - Keeper painting desk - Mr. Smith painting chair

27 Fresh breeze to light. West wind with rain shower during the 24 hours - Sea little rough. General duties for the day - Keeper went to Newport to get some supplies. Left the station at 9:30 A.M.

28 Light N. W. wind with frequent rain & hail squalls - Sea quite smooth - General duties for the day - Keeper F. M. Plummer returned to the station at 11:30 A.M.

29 Light N.W. to S. East wind first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours light S. E. to South wind fair weather during 24 hours - Sea smooth - General duties for day - Keeper went fishing

30 Light South wind to moderate and fresh breeze N.W. first part of 24 hours light rain showers. Last part of 24 hours fair weather - Sea little rough - Keepers putting 200 galls of Mineral Oil in oil room and went fishing - Keeper making out the quarterly and monthly reports - Had one visitor

31 Fresh breeze N.W. to light East wind first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours light to moderate breeze N.W. clear fine weather during the 24 hours - Sea smoothing down - 1st asst went to Newport - Keeper and Mr. Smith went fishing - Keeper also marking out the reports

April

1 Fresh breeze East to the light S. East wind dry and fair weather first part of 24 hours. Last part of 24 hours light South to moderate breeze N.W. rain. Sea smooth - Mr. Smith went fishing today - Keeper went to Newport to take the mail - Steamers Willamette Valley & George Chance arrived today.

2 Light N.W. to N. East wind first part of 24 hours - Last part of 24 hours moderate and fresh breeze N.W. fair weather during 24 hours - Sea very smooth - General duties for the day - Mr. Isaac L. Smith went to Newport. Keeper Mr. F. M. Plummer went to Newport after some supplies - Left the station at 9 A.M.

3 Moderate breeze N.W. to light to moderate breeze East these 24 hours with clear fine weather during 24 hours - Sea moderately smooth - General duties for day - Keeper returned to the station at 1. P. M.

4 Light to moderate & fresh breeze S.E. to S. and N.W. these 24 hours first part of 24 hours fair weather Last part of 24 hours rain - Sea quite smooth. The barometer is going up. General duties for the day.

5 Light N.W. to S.E. wind to fresh breeze and gals during 24 hours, first part of 24 hours with fog showers - Last part of 24 hours cloudy but dry - Sea moderately smooth- General duties for day - Barometer going down.

6 Gale to fresh and moderate breeze South to S. West these 24 hours with hard rain most of 24 hours - Sea rough - General duties for the day - The barometer is going up a little

7 Light S. East wind to moderate and fresh breeze South with frequent rain showers during the 24 hours - Sea very rough - General duties for the day - 1st asst went to Newport .

8 Light West to S. East wind damp during 24 hours - Sea quite rough - General duties for the day - Keeper F. M. Plummer went to Newport on important business - Left the station at 8 A.M.

9 Light to moderate breeze S to S. East with hard rain during 24 hours - Sea quite rough. General duties for the day - The barometer is going up. Keeper returned to the station at 5:00 P.M.

10 Light to S. E. wind to moderate breeze south these 24 hours first part of 24 hours light rain showers - Last

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