Report for Portland Head (Maine) - 1936
| General |
| District: | 1st |
| Inspector: | Thomas Sampson, Asst. Superintendent |
| Location: | On Portland Head, ME., SW'ly side of entrance to Portland Harbor |
| Date of Report: | 05/22/1936 |
| Latitude: | 43° 38' 23" |
| Longitude: | 70° 12' 30" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Ceded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 06/12/1790 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 2 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | Whole area |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 45' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Wooden fence |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Electric cars from Portland, ME., to within 1/2 mile of station 1/2 mile Cape Cottage, ME |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1790 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1884 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 101' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Fort |
| Color of Tower: | White with black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewash |
| Tower Connection: | Connected by white service room & porch |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor |
| Building Materials: | Cobblestone & brick |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Open work cast iron, winding around center post & set in brick lining of tower |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 9" x 7" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 double windows, 42" x 18" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 door at entrance & 1 in parapet |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 2nd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 12 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 8' 2 3/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 35.5" x 30 3/4"; 31 7/8" x 30 3/4"; 29 3/4" x 30 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron; vertical sash bars wrought iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Made of cast iron in 12 sections, flanged & bolted on inside, & lined with zinc |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Bronze, with 3-pronged copper tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | 2 wrought iron rails 1 3/4" x .5", which are connected by 5/8" round rods 6" apart. Gallery, cast iron 36" wide. Upper Balustrade: 2 wrought iron rails 2.5" x .5"; 12 posts. Upper gallery cast iron 20" wide. |
| Lantern Doors: | Wrought iron 55" x 23", 5/16" thick, round top & bottom. Has 2 hinges & latch. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet & lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks screwed into sash bars |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Small closet for spare lamp & supplies |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter et Cie |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | L. Sautter et Cie, Constructeurs A Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 2nd |
| Inside Diameter: | 55.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 5 panels; 1 reflector door |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 13 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 12 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 5 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron column 8.5" in diameter, flaring at top & bottom. Stands 6' 9" high |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | Iron, 3.5" fitted into damper tube & hung from top of lens |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 500 Watt - 125 volt Electric Lamp |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 12 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 Aladdin Lamps for standby |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Brick building 104' from tower on W'ly side |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 18 x 11' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick |
| Oil House Capacity: | Fitted with 4-239 gal. tanks for kerosene in bulk |
| Other (Describe): | Closet in work room has 3 shelves & is used for lamp supplies. Closet in fuel house has 5 shelves & is used for storing paint. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited for purposes for which designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 1st Class Daboll Trumpet |
| Time to Start: | Electric Compressor about 1 min,; Oil engine about 15 min. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 3 blasts per minute (5 sec blast, 15 sec silent) |
| Duplication: | Engines, air compressors & reeds |
| Timing Device: | Train of gears operated by engines |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 5 lbs per sq. inch |
| Height Above Water: | 50' 6" |
| Compass Direction: | SE |
| Location: | Marks entrance to Portland Harbor |
| Distance and Direction: | 4' E'ly from tower |
| Water Supply: | Rain water caught on roof |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Concrete walk |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Brick building 30' x 21'; whitewashed & has hip roof, with small chimney & trumpet projecting from same. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 4,805 lbs |
| Metal: | Cast steel |
| Diameter: | 48" |
| Height: | 36" |
| Time: | |
| Manufacturer: | Vickers & Sons Co., Sheffield, England |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Daboll Signal |
| Daboll: | 1st class |
| Daboll Reed: | |
| Daboll Length: | 20" |
| Daboll Breadth: | 5" |
| Daboll Base Thickness: | 13/16" |
| Daboll Tip Thickness: | 3/8" |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 12' |
| Trumpet Diameter: | Large end 30"; Small end 8" |
| Trumpet Material: | Copper |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Double house attached to tower on W'ly side |
| Coloring: | White with lead trimmings |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 rooms & bath on each side |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 to each dwelling |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Garage 90' from tower on NW |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White with lead trimmings |
| Paths and Walks: | From dwelling to oilhouse, barn, fuel house & fog signal house |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Fast ground - rocky |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | City water |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Not used for drinking |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern in fog signal house; 1,100 gals. |
| Tank Material: | Brick |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Very healthful |
| Diseases: | No prevailing diseases |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Premises, tower, buildings & illuminating & fog signal apparatus are in good condition. |