Report for Rock Island (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | On SE'ly side of channel of St. Lawrence River, 6 miles below Clayton, & 6 mile above Alexandria Bay. Lighthouse at water's edge on SW'ly point of island. |
| Date of Report: | 01/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 44° 16' 51" |
| Longitude: | 76° 01' 09" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/14/1847 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 1.25 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Rocky |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Tower is at water's edge. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wharf, about 54' x 158', where steamers can land. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from Fisher's Landing, 3/4 mile, by boat from Thousand Island Park or Fine View, across river, or from Clayton, NY 6 mi. distant. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 6 mi. by river to Clayton NY RR & steamboat landing. 3/4 mile to Fisher's Landing on S bank of river. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3/4 mile to Fisher's Landing, NY |
| Distance to Village: | 1 mi to Thousand Island Park, NY; 6 miles to Clayton, NY |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | RW & O RR runs direct to Clayton & connects with St. Lawrence River steamers for 1000 Island Park or Fine View, opposite station. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By small boat from 1000 Isl. Park, about 1 mile, or from Fisher's Landing 3/4 mile, or by launch from Clayton about 6 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1847 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1903 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 50' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 50' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Trees, shore & sky |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Lead & oil paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached. |
| Object of Navigation: | River channel for general navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Lower half of brick, upper half iron, with an iron lantern. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' 10" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Metal thickness 1/2" - ceiled with wood. |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' 4" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 9.5" dia. 24" x 24" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6 circular 9.5" - 1 with 2 sash 28" x 28"; 28" x 27" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete on bed rock. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Soil on island is thin. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower was moved from former location on island near dwelling, to waters edge in 1903. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36 3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27 3/8" x 36 3/8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron, parapet walls lined with wood. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron, lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron, platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | Iron gallery, cast iron posts with wrought iron rail. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1/4" wrought iron, with hinges & 2 levers for fastening door. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron with circular deck lights 11.5" dia., glazed with 1" glass. |
| Watchroom Doors: | |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 10 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 brass revolving ventilators in wall. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 iron ladder |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 10 of brass, screwed into lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Closet, with shelves. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute A Paris |
| Year Made: | Placed in 1905 |
| Marks and Number: | Henry LePaute A Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red 360 degrees |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| 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, 3' 5.5" high, dia. of base 10", dia. of top 16" |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Brass 2.5" dia. |
| 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: | By ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Improved 5th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 oval closet 4' 6" x 1' 10" wide, used for extra lamps, wicks, chimneys, etc. 1 6' high x 3' wide, used for towels, curtains, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Red, square, 1 story, iron, oil house, with hip roof, about 45' W'ly from & on line of N face of dwelling. Fitted with shelves. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | On the island, about 100' SE of tower. |
| Coloring: | Red, trimmed with green. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood, on rubble stone foundation laid in cement. Rebuilt in 1884 |
| Number of Rooms: | 8, including kitchen. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Shop, barn, ice house, privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Shop & barn, lead color. Ice house, green. |
| Paths and Walks: | Mostly cement walks connecting different bldgs, & a few short wooden walks. |
| Area Inclosed: | Not inclosed |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | About 1/3rd of island covered with pine trees & small shrubs. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | Narrow strip used for flowers only. Abt. 3/4 acre lawn, most of which is very close to rock. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rocky, thin soil. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From river & well. River water, obtained by bucket, used for drinking. |
| Quality: | Good during cold weather. |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | None. Cistern water not used for drinking. |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern 6' x 12' x 4' high, under dwelling. |
| Tank Material: | 22" stone wall. Small engine made by DeLaVergne Refrig. Mach. Co of NY installed in buoy house & pumps water from river, supplying station with water for sprinkling & other purposes & also for use in case of fire. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Drilled well, 40' deep (sunk in 1883) |
| Well Diameter: | 6" |
| Well Lining: | Not lined |
| Pump or Bucket: | Gould Mfg. Co. force pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | E end of dwelling on lawn. Well water not used for drinking. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | None |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wharf, abt. 54' x 158' built in 1898. Portion extending into water is of timber crib construct filled with stone. Ctr is indented for a track which extends length of pier into buoy house at inner end. A steel car & wooden derrick used to transfer buoys. |
| Distance and Direction: | Boat house loc. on E end of Island at S end of buoy house, 20' 6" x 28', with slip in house 7' wide for launch. Painted white & trimmed with green. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |