Report for Race Rock (New York) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist. |
| Location: | On Race Rock, off Fisher's Island, 1/2 mile SW 3/4 W & N side of entrance to Long Island Sound |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 41° 14' 35" |
| Longitude: | 72° 02' 51" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Rock station - less than 1 acre |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | None |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Iron railing around pier |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Stone landing wharf attached to pier. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small sail boat from New London, CT., 8 miles. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | New London, CT., about 8 miles |
| Distance to Post Office: | 8 miles to New London |
| Distance to Village: | 8 miles to New London |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Sailboat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower surmounting dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1878 - first lighted January 1, 1879 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square at base & octagon at top |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 40' to focal plane. |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 68.5' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Water & sky |
| Color of Tower: | Natural granite gray |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of granite. |
| Tower Connection: | Tower & dwelling in 1 bldg, tower being in center of front. |
| Object of Navigation: | Marks "Race Rock" at entrance to Long Island Sound. |
| Building Materials: | Stone walls, brick lining iron lantern, staircases & railings etc. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 16" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 16" |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' square projects 5' from base of lantern 7' across octagon. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron stairs supported by central newel & carriers from step to step. |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 3 gothic windows. lower plate glass 13" x 26"; upper part gothic, size 2' 6" x 5' 1 5/8" sash. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 5 windows, 3 gothic, 2 (1st floor 2' 10" x 6' 1 5/8"; 2nd floor 2' 10" x 5' 1 5/8") |
| Number of Doors: | 3 doors to dwelling & 1 to lantern |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Circular ring of rip-rap, concrete foundation in 4 courses. 9' high up to low water. granite pier of 28.5' height, 57' dia. at base, 55' dia., at top. Landing wharf of stone on NE'ly side 11' high 53.5' long by 25' wide on top. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | None |
| Soil Susceptibility: | None |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 1.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 34.5" x 36 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron parapet & cornice, wrought iron rafters & copper roof. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Pinnacle of lantern w/ platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Metallic contact throughout tower, copper wire attached to foot of newel of stairs & built in the concrete of pier from bottom, thence out to water. |
| Balustrade: | Lantern gallery protected by light wrought iron railing. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron door at foot of lantern stairs. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron door |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 3 brass ventilators in parapet of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None needed |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed into astragals of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 6 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing red & white (Flg R & W 30 degrees - 30 degrees) |
| Time of Revolution: | 2 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | 30 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | About 5 sec. |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Lights entire horizon. |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| 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?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Whole apparatus revolves |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron & glass door, being the case for revolving machinery. |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Cast iron 6" dia. not connected w/ damper-tube. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork actuated by weight-running thru tower to bottom. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | About 36' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 6 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Enclosed in pedestal by glass doors. |
| Regulated: | By means of fan regulator governor. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | By panels of ruby glass attached to lens apparatus in front of lens panels. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order mineral oil lamp. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Cord led thru center of deck underneath to the well hole in one corner of the tower. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Placed in cellar & provided w/ closet, oil butt bench, work bench. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 3 - 50 gallon oil butts; 1 - 10 gallon oil can. Oil butts placed on oil butt bench. |
| Other (Describe): | 1 to each bedroom, 2nd story; 1 to each sitting room 1st story; each kitchen in basement has large pantry & coal closet adjoining - 2 cellars. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | Struck by machinery 2 blows in quick succession every 20 secs., Stevens striking machine. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Hung in front of 3rd story tower midway on the SW'ly side of the lighthouse. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1197 lbs. |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | |
| Height: | |
| Time: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Same bldg, tower surmounts dwelling. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Stone walls, brick lined, framed & plastered, roof framed & shingled. |
| Number of Rooms: | 2 kitchens, 2 cellars & supply room in basement; 2 sitting & 2 dining rooms 1st floor; 5 bedrooms 2nd floor; attic room. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & 2 assistants |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | One |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | Iron railing 55' dia. |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain from roof |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | All |
| Tank Capacity: | About 24,000 gallons placed in concrete & in cellar. |
| Tank Material: | Brick lining inside the concrete of the pier cemented inside. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |