Report for Ram Island Ledge (Maine) - 1935
| General |
| District: | 1st |
| Inspector: | Thomas Sampson, Asst. Superintendent |
| Location: | On S'ly end of Ram Island Ledge, ME., N'ly side of main entrance to Portland Harbor, & 6 3/4 miles (257 degrees 46' true W 1/4 mag. N) from Halfway Rock Lighthouse & 1 mile (60 degrees 56' true ENE 3/4 mag. E) from Portland Head Lighthouse |
| Date of Report: | 05/03/1935 |
| Latitude: | 43° 37' 54" |
| Longitude: | 70° 11' 16" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 12/21/1902 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 270,000 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Built at high water mark |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Iron pier |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Boat - 1 1/8 miles Cape Cottage |
| 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: | 1905 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| 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: | 77' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Islands partly covered with small spruce trees |
| Color of Tower: | Natural color of the stone |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | |
| Tower Connection: | No dwellings |
| Object of Navigation: | Secondary seacoast light & marks entrance to Portland Harbor |
| Building Materials: | Granite |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Stairways enclosed with sheet iron, with door at each stairway. Steps cast iron, diamond pattern |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | Inside windows 14.5" x 13 1/4"; outside windows 14 1/4" x 13 1/4" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 7 inside 33 1/4" high x 33" wide; 7 outside 32 3/4" high by 30.5" wide |
| Number of Doors: | 7 (Double door at entrance to tower) |
| 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: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 2 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 43 panes in all; lantern is round |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16"; 1 hor. 3/4 panes; 14 hor. 1/2 panes; |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 10.2" sq. - 20 full diamond panes; 2 horizontal 1/4 panes; 2 vertical 3/4 panes; 2 sm. ver. panes |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Bronze |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Bronze in 8 sections, flanged & bolted on inside lined with zinc & broze rail around lower edge |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Bronze |
| Lightning Spindle: | Bronze |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Bronze, 2 rails, & 10 posts set in stone. Gallery, bronze 2' wide. Outside gallery is stone 6' wide. Upper balustrade, bronze 1 rail & 12 posts |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 door, 5' x 6' 4" x 2' 6' 2", cast bronze on a 10' 5 1/4" circle with 2 plates of glass 2' 7.122" x 2' 3.64"; 2 hinges, grab handle & bolt |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Oak door, 6' 6" x 2', has 1 plate of glass 33" x 18 3/4" |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 Bronze, hooks over rail around upper lantern |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtains hung by rings on hooks, fastened to zinc lining. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No fittings |
| How is Relief Called: | Bell wires on revolving clock - disconnected |
| Where is Call System Led: | From clock to Keeper's room |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 2.5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier, Benard & Turenne |
| Year Made: | 1904 |
| Marks and Number: | Phares & Fanaux, Barbier, Benard & Turenne, Constructeurs, 82 Rue Curial, Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 36" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 18 sec |
| Flash Interval: | 1 sec. between group of 2 flashes 4.26 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | 37/100 of a sec. |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 6 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 7 elements in each bulls-eye |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 11 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | 3 cast iron columns standing on cast iron bed & supporting mercury float. Post in center supports vertical shaft of lens, also screw for raising mercury float. |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Mercury float |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 30' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 2.5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Cast iron case with glass doors |
| Regulated: | Ball governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 2nd order air pressure, 3 wicks |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 5 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 5/16" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Over 3 sheaves to drop tube |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 2 on 1st floor used for supplies; 2 in kitchen used for provisions; 2 in sleeping rooms used for clothing. |
| Oil House Description: | 60' from N'ly side of tower. Built on iron post on level with iron pier. Floor is cement |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 9' 6" x 9' 6" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Wood, copper, sheet iron & cement |
| Oil House Capacity: | About 500 5-gal cans - now equipped with 3 -239 gal & 1 - 139 gal. tanks for kerosene in bulk |
| Other (Describe): | Boxes on pier used for storing paint, coal, etc. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited for purposes for which designed |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell struck by machinery |
| Time to Start: | Starts immediately |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | US Lighthouse Machine Shop, Boston |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | Single blow every 10 seconds |
| Duplication: | Equalizing spring at station. Duplicate of all parts in Machine Shop, Portland, which can be promptly forwarded. |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Secondary seacoast light & marks entrance to Portland Harbor. |
| Distance and Direction: | Built on E'ly side of tower |
| Water Supply: | None |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Wooden building 6' x 4' 6" - 7' high, covered outside with sheet copper. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1,203 lbs. |
| Metal: | Bronze |
| Diameter: | 36" |
| Height: | 30" |
| Time: | 2 hrs 20 min |
| Manufacturer: | Henry McShaw Mfg Co., Stevens Machine |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Water boat or tender |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Cisterns filled twice a year |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Cisterns are cleaned out twice a year |
| Tank Capacity: | 2 cisterns in base of tower; 1,800 gals each |
| Tank Material: | Concrete |
| 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: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Iron pier on N'ly side of tower with boat shelter on its end |
| Distance and Direction: | Attached to tower |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower, landing pier, & illuminating apparatus are in good condition. |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 74 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Good |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 132 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | New |