October 13 1886:  R.W. Morris, formerly Assistant Keeper at Thunder Bay Island Station, today received notice of promotion to this Station.

14:  Very stormy on Lake Huron and Mr. Morris and family could not get away from Thunder Bay Island.

15:  Very stormy again today and no opportunity of reaching this Station from the island. Everything packed.

16:  Weather more moderate and pleasant Steamer Golden Eagle went out to the Island and brought Mr. Morris to Alpena.

17: Sun:  R.W. Morris, wife and two children remained in Alpena today and waited for the steamer Flora to convey us here.

18:  We left Alpena at 1 a.m. this morning on the steamer Flora and were all somewhat seasick on Saginaw Bay.

19:  We arrived in Port Sanilac between 12 & 1 this morning.  At 8 a.m. came to the Station and met Mr. L. Lederle who turned over the property to me.

20:  Wind southwest fresh=weather damp=Rain cool=Lighted this Station tonight for first time.

21:  Wind west, moderate=Clear and pleasant. Lamp in tower smoked last night. Rec’d circular from Inspector, also goods from Detroit.

22:  Wind northwest, light, very pleasant. Mr. Lederle finished sodding and all work today. Lamp in tower smoked everything black last night.

23:  Wind northeast, moderate to fresh=Cloudy but pleasant. The Dahlia delivered supplies at 6 p.m. Lieut. Lowry in command=up.

24: Sun:  Wind southeast, moderate. Weather cloudy but pleasant. Quite a large number of people visited the tower today.

25:  Wind north-northeast, very fresh. Weather stormy and rain. Received vouchers for traveling expenses from Inspector.

26:  Wind northeast, moderate. Weather cloudy and cool. Mailed vouchers for traveling expenses to Inspector.

27:  Wind north brisk=Weather cloudy to heavy wind and rain during night=Vessel flying signal and picked up by tug.

28:  Wind south to southwest, light=Weather damp & light rain. Paid Mr. Wood $4.25 for barrel best family flour.

29:  Wind north moderate=Weather cloudy but pleasant. =Received furniture from Detroit on Stmr. Flora, also check for traveling expenses.

30:  Wind north, light=Weather clear and pleasant. Put in winter potatoes: 6 p bu. @ 25 c. Bought cord ash wood.

31: Sun: Wind west, moderate. Weather clear and very pleasant=Several visitors to the tower today.  Sent matting to K&K via D. Cole.

November 1886

1:  Wind south, moderate=Weather very pleasant. Mary Jane Teagan and Daisy arrived at 4 a.m.=Sent voucher and reports.

2:  Wind south, brisk=Weather cloudy but pleasant. Election passed off very quietly today. Cleaned lens and brasswork.

3:  Wind southwest, fresh=Weather cloudy but pleasant. Paid for Butter $18.44 to Oldfield. Put in four barrels apples. 

4:  Wind southwest, moderate=Weather clear and pleasant. Shipper keg butter and bbl. apples on Stmr. Flora to J. Sinclair. [bbl.-bushel barrel]

5:  Wind southwest, fresh=Cloudy and cooler. M.J.T. and Daisy left for Detroit via train. Shipped box butter to Wm.W. and bbl. apples to Nellie.

6:  Wind northeast to southwest. First snow of the season and freezing. Washed dome of the tower and woodwork.

7: Sun. Wind northwest, fresh=Weather cold and stormy=More snow in squalls today. Ground covered about two inches.

8:  Wind west-southwest brisk. Weather cloudy and more moderate. Received $2 from M.J. Teagan, borrowed the 6th.

9:  Wind southeast, brisk=Weather wet and disagreeable. Light snow and rain=Stmr. Wright brought us up five tons of coal $31.25.

10:  Wind south-southwest, light. Weather damp, drizzling rain. Rec’d box from Mother, also curtains=Paid Oldfield $1.55 dockage and frt. [freight]

11: Wind northwest, fresh. Weather cloudy but more moderate.=Paid Van Camp $4.50 for Apples=Put up coal stove.

12:  Wind northeast, very fresh=Weather cloudy & cold. Put five tons coal in the cellar and paid J. Williams $1.25 for hauling.

13:  Wind northwest, fresh=Weather cloudy and cold. Mother Morris and John B. Morris came up by train today to see us. Received P.O.M. order. [project objective memo]

14: Sun. Wind southwest, brisk.=Weather clear, warm and pleasant. Took a walk up to Van Camp’s.

15:  Wind west, moderate=Weather clear, very pleasant. Dahlia down at 9 a.m. Mother and John Morris left for home.

16:  Wind east-southeast, fresh=Weather cloudy but pleasant=Put wool in cellar. Received returned voucher from J.S.

17:  Wind east-southeast, fresh=Weather stormy and wet. Rain all day and night. Tower leaked somewhat. Mailed my T.B.I’d voucher. [Thunder Bay Island]

18:  Wind southwest, very fresh=Weather stormy and cold=Snow squalls=Received by mail one set lantern curtains from Inspector.

19:  Wind southwest, moderate=Weather cloudy but more moderate. Bought 42 lbs. Mrs. B’s Butter in exchange for crock ret’d.

20:  Wind southwest to south, moderate=Weather cloudy but pleasant=Stmr. Flora arrived down, also the Stmr. Wright passed up.

21:  Wind northwest, light=Weather clear, warm and very pleasant. =Stmr. D. Cole & Wright stopped here up & down.

22:  Wind east-southeast, very fresh=Weather cloudy and threatening storm=many craft passing, but no arrivals at this port.

23:  Wind south, moderate, foggy, to S.W.=Fresh, cloudy, colder. Put in cellar one bu. Each carrots, turnips, & beets from Wm. Van Camp’s.

24: Wind southwest, moderate=Weather cloudy and threatening snow. Steamer Flora stopped on her way up & the Wright down.

25: Wind southwest, moderate=Weather blustering snow squalls=Thanksgiving Day=Had a splendid turkey for dinner 35c.

26:  Wind southwest, moderate=Weather cloudy but more moderate. Many boats passing today, on their home & last trips no doubt.

27:  Wind southwest, fresh=Weather cloudy and cold=Considerable snow tonight=Stmr. Atlantic stopped today on her last trip up.

28: Sun:  Wind northwest, moderate= Weather cloudy=Eve=S.E.=fresh snow =Many boats passing today=Stmr. Wright passed down.

29:  Wind northwest, fresh=Weather cloudy and cold=Steamer Flora passed down, but did not stop here.=Many boats passing.

30:  Wind northeast, fresh=Weather cloudy and cold=Quite a number of boats passing up and down today.

December 1886

1:  Wind southwest, very fresh=Weather cold and blustery, with snow at times. Boats few and far between.

2:  Wind west, fresh=Weather cloudy and very cold=Quite a few craft passed down during the day. Letter from Lot.

3:  Wind northwest, brisk=Weather cloudy and moderate. Considerable ice coming down the lake. Only one tug and two schrs today. [schooners]

4:  Wind northwest, fresh=Weather cold and light snow=Only a few passages today=Bought a small dressed pig today.

5: Sun: Wind west to south, light=Weather clear but cold=Quite a few boats passed down today-the Wright passed down.

6:  Wind south to southeast, light=Clear, warm and pleasant=Only the one boat seen today=the Wright passed down.

7:  Wind southeast, moderate=Weather cloudy but milder=One large steam barge passed down today=Lake clear of ice.

8: Wind southwest, moderate=Weather cloudy but mild=One tug and schr in tow and another tug passed down today.

9:  Wind southeast and south, moderate=Weather clear and very mild=Morning thick fog=Only one boat seen today-a tug going up.

10:  Wind south, moderate=Weather cloudy and very mild=No boats seen today=No ice to be seen in lake=Snow nearly all gone.

11:  Wind southeast, light=Weather cloudy, soft & foggy=evening, heavy fog=Not a sign of a boat seen today=Snow all gone.

12: Sun:  Wind east, moderate=Weather cloudy and mild=eve=rain= No boats seen today, but the lake is perfectly clear of ice.

13:  Wind west-northwest, fresh=Weather cloudy and colder=Received curtain from Newcomb, Endicott & Co.=No boats seen.

14:  Wind southwest, moderate=Weather soft and snowing=In the evening a cold, fresh wind from the north=No boats seen.

15:  Wind west, moderate=Weather cold in the a.m: P.M.=more moderate= Received photos from Mr. Millar and letter from John.

16:  Wind southwest, moderate=Weather cloudy and cold=Discontinued the Light for the season=Wrote Inspector, Lottie & Millar.

17:  Wind southeast, light=Weather cloudy and cold=Received letter from Vira announcing her intention of visiting us.

18: Wind west northwest, moderate=Weather moderate and snowing=Received letter from Inspector. Considerable snow last night.

19: Sun: Wind south-southwest moderate=Weather cloudy but moderate=Kept the house all day today as did all of us.

20: Wind south, moderate=Weather cloudy and cold=Evening, wind southeast, fresh=Very good sleighing on main roads.

21: Wind southwest, moderate=Weather cloudy and mild=received letter from Lottie=Borr. Platts $2.00=Bought #12 ½ turkey-88 c.

22:  Wind west, light=Weather clear and pleasant. Sleighing nearly gone again, and two or three inches if snow needed.

23: Wind south, brisk in the a.m: P.M.=South, light, drizzling rain=Weather wild and damp: fog on the lake.

24:  Wind northwest, fresh=Weather blustery: snowing. W. Morris, Lottie and Vira Edens arrived here this P.M.

25: Christmas Day=West moderate=Cloudy but moderate=Had a very pleasant day and nice dinner. Received many presents.

26: Sun: Wind south, light=Weather cloudy and snow=Will, Vira, Lottie and Blanche to church this morning.

27: Wind southwest, brisk=Weather cloudy and cold=W. Morris left for home on the stage this afternoon.

28: Wind west-southwest, moderate=Weather clear but cold=Bought two cords stove wood $2.00=Splendid sleighing now.

29: Wind east-northeast, fresh=Weather blustery and snowing=Received letter from W. H. Morris.

30: Wind east, moderate=Weather cloudy but moderate=Lake covered with ice=received paper from Will.

31: Wind north, fresh=Weather stormy with light snow=Vira and Lottie left for home on the stage this afternoon

Here ends the year 1886