Report for Ship John Shoal (New Jersey) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | Thos. J Rout, Jr. Supt. |
| Location: | In 8' water on Ship John Shoal, NJ E'ly side of main channel in upper part of Delaware Bay |
| Date of Report: | 03/24/1910 |
| Latitude: | 39° 18' 19" |
| Longitude: | 75° 22' 37" |
| Premises |
| Site: | On Ship John Shoal Delaware Bay |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 08/17/1874 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 4 9/10 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Lighthouse is provided with ladders by means of which landing can be made from small boat. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat & vessel |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Nearest public road 3.5 miles - nearest RR 8.5 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 8.5 miles by boat |
| Distance to Village: | About 8.5 miles, Greenwich, NJ by boat |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Launches can sometimes be hired in Greenwich - distance 8.5 miles |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern is supported on top of lighthouse |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1877 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | No tower - watchroom is polygonal |
| Form of Tower: | Watchroom is polygonal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 43' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 50' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Distant trees & sky |
| Color of Tower: | Brown with black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern is on dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay for general navigating purposes |
| Building Materials: | Iron - wood lined inside |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | About 6" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | About 6" |
| Diameter at Base: | No tower |
| Diameter at Parapet: | No tower |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | None but the floors |
| Size of Glass: | Windows in watchroom have 18.5" dia glass |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 windows in WR Sash dia 22" |
| Number of Doors: | 10 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Cast iron caisson, which rests on piles protected by riprap (penetration of piles not known) |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Located in Del. Bay |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | In 1907 about 900 additional tons of riprap was deposited about the lighthouse. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 2" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 8" |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 2 3/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | About 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 11" x 3' 3 3/8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 2 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | No conductor except the lighthouse & foundation which are iron |
| Balustrade: | Post & railings of wrought iron (no balusters), deck cast iron |
| Lantern Doors: | A single swinging door - fastened with horizontal latch provided with knobs. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Metal trap door in lantern floor provided with iron hinges & 2 handles. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 ventilators in lower wall of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 8 brass hooks are tapped into lantern |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No closet - it has a ladder leading up to lantern, & 3 shelves. It accommodates the fog signal apparatus. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Not known |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white 10 sec, eclipse 5 sec, to W'd of 324 degrees 30' true (NNW 9/16 W mag) & 138 degrees 00' true (SE 1/8 S mag) fixed red 10 sec, eclipse 5 sec, throughout remaining sectors |
| Time of Revolution: | Not revolving |
| Flash Interval: | Intervals between eclipses 10 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | Duration of eclipse 5 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | By cylindrical shade or sleeve lifted & dropped around the chimney by clockwork. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron - 3' 2.5" high - resting on a wooden block - 4.5" high. From floor to top of pedestal 3' 7". |
| Service Table: | Cast iron fan shaped - attached to pedestal - supports the clock - 39 1/4" above floor. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Occulting machinery consists of weight actuated clock |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 15' weight stops on 2nd floor |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By glass case |
| Regulated: | By vertical 2fan governor attached to clock work |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby glass |
| Red Sectors Description: | Red sector to E'd of 324 degrees 30' true (NNW 9/16 W mag) & 138 degrees 00' true (SE 1/8 S mag) |
| Where Color Attached: | To lantern by means of frames against the posts |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th orrder Funck, Heap lamp, 1 round wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Cord extends down from clock to WR ceiling, thence down weight box in center of room. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 round wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" outside |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Occulting Light |
| Characteristic: | Fixed white 10 sec, eclipse 5 sec, to W'd of 324 degrees 30' true (NNW 9/16 W mag) & 138 degrees 00' true (SE 1/8 S mag) fixed red 10 sec, eclipse 5 sec, throughout remaining sectors |
| Time Limit: | About a variation of 1/2 sec in either direction |
| Eclipse Type: | Sleeve |
| Size and Amplitude: | 3.5" in diameter x 6 3/4" high - movement 6" |
| Axis Rotation: | |
| Axis Relation: | |
| Screen Revolution: | |
| Screen Number: | |
| Screen Time: | |
| Screen Form: | |
| Screen Mounting: | |
| Screen Order: | |
| Screen Date: | |
| Valve Maker: | |
| Valve Pattern: | |
| Reliability: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | No tower, but there are 3 shelves in watchroom |
| Oil House Description: | No oil room - oil is stored in basement |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | No oil room |
| Oil House Construction Material: | No oil room |
| Oil House Capacity: | About 300 gal could be stored in basement |
| Other (Describe): | Pantry on 1st floor. It has 1 shelf, 1 cupboard & is used for storage of food. 2 closets on 2nd floor provided with shelves - both used for clothes. Basement used for storage purposes. |
| Suitability: | All dry & suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell struck by machinery, triple blow every 45 seconds. |
| Time to Start: | 2 to 3 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | Bell used |
| Manufacturer: | Machinery - Geo. M. Stevens - Boston Mass. |
| Year of Manufacture: | Not known |
| Characteristic: | Bell struck by machinery, triple blow every 45 seconds. |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Fog bell is supported on roof of lighthouse just outside of watchroom |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | About 1,200 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | 32" |
| Height: | 29" |
| Time: | 1.5 hours |
| Manufacturer: | McNeely Bell Foundry - West Trop NY, 1876 |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Lantern is on dwelling forming a lighthouse |
| Coloring: | Brown with black lantern |
| Construction Materials: | Cast iron - wood lined inside |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 & watchroom |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 3 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Wood privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Brown |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| 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: | From roof by means of downspouts leading to 2 tanks in basement |
| Quality: | Good if properly cared for |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Downspouts have been provided with cutoffs |
| Tank Capacity: | 2 tanks in basement - cap of both about 1300 gals |
| Tank Material: | Tanks of iron - no cisterns |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Lighthouse provided with ladders by means of which landing can be made from small boats. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | General character & condition of station is good. |