Report for Robbins Reef (New York) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd district |
| Location: | Off Tompkinsville, Staten Island, lower part of NY Harbor. |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 40° 39' 24" |
| Longitude: | 74° 03' 57" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Built on stone pier |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Rip-rap foundation. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Railing around pier. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from Tompkinsville SI 1 mile. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1 mile to Tompkinsville, S.I., NY |
| Distance to Post Office: | Tompkinsville, 1 mile |
| Distance to Village: | Tompkinsville, 1 mile |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Small boat from shore. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1839 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagon |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 46' to focal plane |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 58' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Flat shores of NJ in the distance |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Dwelling inside of tower |
| Object of Navigation: | To mark the reef - & guide to Hudson River & Killvan Kull |
| Building Materials: | Stone w/ brick lining. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 2' 9" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 2' 9" |
| Diameter at Base: | 23' 9" at pier |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 11' 9" top of shaft; 13' 9" over cornice. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden circular stairs enclosed. Ladder into lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 8.5" x 11"; 7" x 9" & 7" x 11" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8 windows |
| Number of Doors: | 1 entrance door - 4 inside |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone pier built on the reef. 47' dia. at base. 42' at top & 17' 3" high above reef. Cellar & cistern in interior of pier. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Circular parapet |
| Diameter to Glass: | 8' 5" outside; 6' 5" inside |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 9 |
| 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: | 28 x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Brick parapet covered on top w/ iron forming sill, iron astragals & roof. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Wrought iron railing - iron covering to the coping of tower. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron in parapet |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor of lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into frame of lantern |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Fog bell machine stands in it - no fittings otherwise. |
| How is Relief Called: | None needed. |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | N by E by E'd to W by S |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | Iron into ball of lantern not connected w/ damper tube. |
| 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: | 4th order Haines Mineral Oil |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | In a shed 9' x 9' built on pier outside for oil, paints, etc. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 3 - 50 gallon oil butts placed on wooden stand. |
| Other (Describe): | Small closet in sitting room & 1 in bedroom. |
| Suitability: | Dry etc. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Fog bell |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Stevens striking apparatus |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 1 blow every 15 secs. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Hung outside just below cornice on NE'ly side of tower. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | No separate dwelling; rooms in tower occupied by keeper & family. Cellar in pier used as kitchen. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Stone |
| Number of Rooms: | 5; kitchen, 1st floor sitting room; 2nd & 3rd floors bedrooms (2), 4th floor bell room. |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Oil shed & privy in 1 bldg. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | Iron railing |
| 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 |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Filters |
| Tank Capacity: | 1270 gallons in pier under cellar. |
| Tank Material: | Brick & cement |
| 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 |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No Landing - iron ladder & staircase or steps to reach top of pier. Boat davits for boat - no shelter. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |