Report for Sanibel Island (Florida) - 1912
| General |
| District: | 7th |
| Inspector: | Wm. W. Demeritt, Supt. |
| Location: | On Point Ybel, E'ly end of Sanibel Island |
| Date of Report: | 05/17/1912 |
| Latitude: | 26° 27' 11" |
| Longitude: | 80° 00' 53" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Public lands with drains from sale or entry & reserved for Lighthouse purposes by Executive Order Dec. 19, 1883 |
| Date of Reservation: | 12/21/1883 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 666 9/10 acre |
| Area Inclosed: | 190' x 149' 8" |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 400' S, 450' N |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Was enclosed with wire fence, is now down. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | 1 wharf & 2 boathouses |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By steamer from Key West; by ACI RR to Fort Meyers & steamer from there to Sanibel. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | Sanibel PO 3 miles, Ft. Meyers 20 miles by boat |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Pyramidal tower of round iron columns & braces |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1884 established |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | December, 1911 |
| 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: | 98' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Small mangrove, Button woods & Palmetto |
| Color of Tower: | Brown, black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected by wooden stairways leading from each dwelling to platform on 2nd tier of braces. |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast, general navigation. |
| Building Materials: | Iron |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | From dwelling to tower wood, in tower cast iron |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 9" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 windows, 1' 9 3/4" x 3' 4" each 6 lights. |
| Number of Doors: | 3 doors; entrance to tower double iron 6' 9" x 2' 6 3/4"; watchroom door 6' 4 3/4" x 27"; inner wooden door 25.5" x 7" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Next time it is necessary to rebuild the wharf, reinforced concrete should be used, at which time concrete walks, fence, etc should be made. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 5' 11 1/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 31 1/4" x 71 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Brass |
| Lightning Spindle: | Fastened in top of ball. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Yes, floor cast iron, Balustrades wrought iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | Double, brass fitted with gudgeons & pintles. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | No door, circular cast iron stairway. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Copper wire secured to top of lantern with screws. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Circular room 9' 5" dia., 7' 6" high, fitted with clockwork case & stand, pedestal column & ball bearings, spiral cast iron ladder leading up to lantern, has 1 locker for spare parts, etc. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | Can run 12 hours, usually every 4 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | Fixed 18,000; Flash, 180,000 |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1884 |
| Marks and Number: | None - originally intended for Anclote Key |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 3' 3.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 6 minutes, 2 minutes to flash |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 + door in 2 parts |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 3 |
| Arc of Each: | 45 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 central belt, 6 above & 6 below |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 11 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | 3 vertical panels in 3 sections. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | 7 in top, 7 in center & 7 in bottom |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | 24 |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron column, mounted on iron base block. |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | 5" galvanized iron pipe from damper tube up through umbrella about 5" & fitted with a hood. |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Newel post 65' |
| Clock Weight: | 115 lbs |
| Length of Winding Time: | Can run 12 hours, usually every 4 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | No |
| Machinery Protection: | Brass case with glass doors |
| Regulated: | By governor & weights |
| Lens Protection: | Linen lens cover |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Substitute - 2nd order air pressure |
| Type of Illuminant: | Oil |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 air pressure & 1 IOV |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Flexible steel wire |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 3/16" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | 75' |
| How Led: | Angle 150 degrees into newel post |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: | 5" x 6 1/4" |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 36 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 mantel, 3 wicks on substitute |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 3 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 2 3/8" at base by 4.5" long |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 5' 5.5" x 2' 9" fitted against wall in watchroom, has 2 shelves, used for spare parts, cleaning materials, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | At N corner outside of base of tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 8' 8.5" x 12' 3" x 8' 9" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick & corrugated iron roof |
| Oil House Capacity: | 800 5-gal cans full |
| Other (Describe): | Storeroom in each kitchen, locker in each room, lockers on each porch & boathouse is used as storeroom |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited for purpose used. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Each side of tower, front line of dwelling & rear line of tower coincide. |
| Coloring: | White with brown cylindrical iron columns for support. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood with cypress shingles |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 2 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 each with family |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 1 for each dwelling |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Wooden to outhouse, sand & shell to wharf. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 225 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | About 165 acres |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy soil, about 1 acre near dwelling mangrove swamp. |
| Stove, Maker: | Stamford Foundry Co, Stamford Ct. (2) |
| Stove, Size: | Orbit #8 & Orbit #7, each w/ 4 holes |
| Sink, Maker: | Unknown |
| Sink, Size: | 20" x 30" & 18" x 30" |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | None |
| Lamps: | 3 table stand lamps, 2 hand lamps |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By gutters from roofs of dwellings |
| Quality: | Excellent |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Frequent cleaning of tanks, no chalk. |
| Tank Capacity: | 1 - 5000 gal at each dwelling & 1 5500 gal btwn the 2 dwellings in yard. |
| Tank Material: | Cypress |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent; keeper reports no disease of any consequence |
| Diseases: | Fever |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | About an acre, adjoining keepers dwellings swampy during rainy season. |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wooden wharf & approach, 8' x 8' pine piles - some sheathed with brass, others with terra cotta casing, filled with cement, 2" x 12" decking, 4" x 8" cap log stringers. Dock & approach 193' long x 12" wide, |
| Distance and Direction: | 1 boathouse 26' x 15 3/4' on shore at foot of wharf & 1 old one end of wharf 24 3/4' x 16', serviceable all painted white. Wharf & boathouses 550' N of tower. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat Number: | 0 |
| Type: | Skiff |
| Length: | 4' |
| Width: | 15' |
| When Built: | 1904 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Mar, 31, 1904 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Hoisting Engines |
| Hoisting Engine Kind: | Hand winch for hauling boat out of water. |
| Engine RPMs: | |
| Engine Diameter: | |
| Engine Stroke: | |
| Engine Boiler: | |
| Engine Maker and Date: | |
| Serial Number: | |
| Cylinders and Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Fuel: | |
| Hoist Starter: | |
| Hoist Miscellaneous: |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | Power motor belongs to keeper. |
| Boats on Station: | 2 boat houses |