Report for Sharps Island (Maryland) - 1927

General
District: 5th
Inspector: T. S. Johnson
Location: Mouth of Choptank River
Date of Report: 09/28/1927
Latitude: 38° 38' 25"
Longitude: 76° 22' 27"
Premises
Site: Deeded to US fy State of Maryland
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 02/18/1878
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 5 acres
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 3 miles
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: Motor boat
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office: Saint Michaels, 14 miles
Distance to Village: Fairbanks, 4 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Supported by caisson
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1882
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: Only yearly, minor repairs
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: 54 feet
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woodland
Color of Tower: Brown
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Yes, above dwelling
Object of Navigation: Guide to Choptank River
Building Materials: Cast iron caisson
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron tread, wood riser
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 17.25" x 18.5"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 4 - 2 light windows
Number of Doors: 4 - 2' 8" x 6' 8" x 1 3/8" thick
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Port holes, 9" dia.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10 sides
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36.25"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side: 1
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates:
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 7 degrees to 11 degrees
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron
Lightning Spindle: Copper
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Wrought Iron
Lantern Doors: Wood, rabbeted, hinges & lock
Floor of Lantern: Iron
Watchroom Doors: Wood, hinges & lock.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: One, wood
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into top of cast iron frame


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Dressing table, closet & shelves
How is Relief Called: Thermostat
Where is Call System Led: Watch Room
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles: W-2900 R.870
Name of Maker: Barbier & Fenestre
Year Made: 1881
Marks and Number: Barbier & Fenestre, Const'rs.Paris, France, 1881
Order of Apparatus: 4th Order, I.O.V.
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 1
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 8
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 6
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: Cast Iron Pedestal
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: 9" dia. leads direct into ventilator ball on roof
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: Linen cover
How Color is Produced: Through ruby glass
Red Sectors Description: 159 degrees to 262 degrees covers shoals of Poplar Island & Blackwalnut Point.
Where Color Attached: To inside of lantern glass
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Kerosene I. O. V. 35 mm
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 1
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: One mantel
Diameter of Outside Wick:
Diameter of Mantel: 35 mm
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Fitted with shelves & hooks. used to store equipment & supplies
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 2 - 275 gal. oil takes in celler
Other (Describe): Fitted with shelves & hooks used for storing supplies, etc.
Suitability: Dry, very suitable
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Stevens, fog bell machine
Time to Start: 2 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 2 strokes, 10 sec silent, repeat
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: Mouth Choptank River
Distance and Direction: N. E.
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building: Room of station used.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight: 1,000 lbs.
Metal: Bronze
Diameter: 36"
Height:
Time: 45"
Manufacturer: McShane Bell Foundry, 1889
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: Under lantern
Coloring: Brown
Construction Materials: Cast Iron & caisson filled with concrete
Number of Rooms: 4 rooms
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant: Heating stoves
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper & 1 assistant
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: None
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings: Marine site
Stove, Maker: Standard Oil Co. Oil stove
Stove, Size: New Perfection
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Caught from roof & conveyed to tanks on deck
Quality: Very good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Wash off roof before running water in tanks
Tank Capacity: 4 water tanks on outside of house on deck, 150 gal. each
Tank Material: Wrought iron
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Excellent
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: No wharf
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 294
Type: Motor
Length: 6'
Width: 18'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 386
Type: Yawl
Length: 6'
Width: 18'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes


Power Boat
Engine Type: Bridgeport
Horsepower: 4
Engine Maker: Unable to see
Spare Coil:
Magnet: Bosch
Battery: 6 - #6 drycells
Propeller Diameter: 16"
Propeller Pitch:


Hoisting Engines
Hoisting Engine Kind: Ordinary boat winders
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:
Boats on Station: Hung in davits