Report for Prudence Island (Rhode Island) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist. |
| Location: | On Sandy point E side Prudence Island, RI. |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 41° 36' 27" |
| Longitude: | 71° 18' 30" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 1 acre |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Gravelly frequently entirely underwater |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 83' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None - fences damaged by high tide. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None - easy landing on beach |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | From Providence or Newport by steamboat - from Coalmine Station on the Newport & Fall River RR by a small boat. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | To nearest public road 3/4 mile; to nearest RR station 1.5 miles; to nearest steamboat landing 1 1/4 miles; to Coalmine station 3 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 8 miles to Bristol; 3 to Coalmine Station. |
| Distance to Village: | 8 miles to Bristol; 3 to Coalmine Station. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat from Coalmine Station on the Newport & Fall River RR - 3 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1852 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1855-56 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 25' to focal plane |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 30' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Detached about 190' distant |
| Object of Navigation: | Channel to guide to Fall River, local. |
| Building Materials: | Cut granite on a protecting pier of stone, 3' high at circumference, 5' at centre. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 2' 2" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 1' 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 8' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 4' 11" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Stone stairway - iron ladder from upper landing to lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | 1 |
| Size of Glass: | 8 3/4" x 17" & 6 3/4" x 12 3/4" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 square windows, 1' 9.5" x 3' 3" & 1' 5" x 2' 5.25" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone pier circular in shape. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & gravel |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The site is low & reported as frequently under water. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 7.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 5' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 19.5" x 14.25" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 2 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | Lower panes on one side |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron, glass & copper |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron frame copper covered. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron & copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper, led down NW side |
| Balustrade: | Iron (wrought) |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 - iron frames one side of lantern |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 7 brass in lower part of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | To bolts of lantern frame. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 2 tin chests filled w/ supplies of lens apparatus. |
| How is Relief Called: | None required |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | LePaute |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed 270 degrees: N x W x E'd to SSW |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 7 |
| 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: | Iron |
| Service Table: | Iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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: | White |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Stores etc., are kept in dwelling which is abt 190' distant from tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 2 - 50 gallon oil butts; 1 - 10 gallon oil can. Oil butts placed on wooden bench. |
| Other (Describe): | In dwelling |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 190' distant from tower W. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Of wood; cellar under main portion. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms & kitchen attached to N side of house, closet on 1st floor. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 1 woodshed, 12' x 18' |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walk from dwelling to tower distant about 190'. |
| Area Inclosed: | 1 acre. Fences destroyed by high tides. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Whole grounds are frequently under water. Surface is gravelly. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Well |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | 11' deep |
| Well Diameter: | 2' |
| Well Lining: | Stone |
| Pump or Bucket: | Chain & bucket |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | About 10' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No boathouse or landing. Landing made on beach & is easy. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |