Report for Sandy Hook - Main Light (New Jersey) - 1880

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Genl. J. C. Duane, Engineer 3rd LH District
Location: SW side of entrance to NY Bay.
Date of Report: 03/03/1880
Latitude: 40° 27' 40"
Longitude: 74° 00' 09"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Sand
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 500 yds to sea on one side, & bay the other.
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Board fence
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None. Landing on the Bay belonging to the Engineering Dept.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: About 3/4 of a mile.
Means to Reach Light Station: By Long Branch boat from NY Landing & railroad station about 1 mile distant.
Distance to Nearest Road: RR station, 1 mile; Steamboat landing, 1 mile.
Distance to Post Office: 7 miles
Distance to Village: 7 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By Long Branch boat from NY landing, 1 mile from station.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1762
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1857
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Octagonal
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 77' to focal plane.
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 90'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Trees & shrubbery
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewashed.
Tower Connection: Connected by covered way.
Object of Navigation: To mark entrance to NY Bay & ranges for channels.
Building Materials: Stone lined w/ brick.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 10' 6"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 3' 6"
Diameter at Base: 29'
Diameter at Parapet: 14'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron
Number of Landings: 3
Size of Glass: 8 3/4 x 10"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 13 - 8 lights each 20.5" x 3' 8"
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Stone
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy
Soil Susceptibility: Grass, shrubbery & cedars.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Well protected in every respect.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 3rd
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 8' 4"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 5' 3"
Number of Plates in Height: 2
Number of Plates Each Side: 2
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 31" x 26" & 31" x 36"
Number of Storm Panes: 3
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron
Lightning Spindle: Iron
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper rope
Balustrade: Iron
Lantern Doors: Iron by lock
Floor of Lantern: Stone covered w/ copper
Watchroom Doors: Trap door, hinges, etc.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: An old step ladder
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Rollers


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: No fittings
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Sautter
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 3rd
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed, about 300 degrees, w/ copper reflector; Compass W by S by N to S by E.
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 17
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 10
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: None
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: Funck lamp, 2 wicks
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 4
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: On 1st floor btwn dwelling & tower - fitted w/ shelves for stores. Wooden bench for oil butts.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 2 100-gallon oil butts, 1- 20 gallon oil can, 1- 10 gallon oil can.
Other (Describe):
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location: Attached to tower by covered way & SE'ly of tower.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Stone & brick
Number of Rooms: 11
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper & 2 assts attend to main light & W beacon.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 1 barn
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: Board fence
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings: Sandy
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain & well
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: None
Tank Capacity: 1200 gals, partly under kitchen.
Tank Material: Brick lined w/ cement
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: 14' deep
Well Diameter: 5'
Well Lining: Brick lining
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: 16'
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No