Report for Shoalwater Bay (Washington) - 1882
| General |
| District: | 13th |
| Inspector: | Chas. F. Powell, Capt of Engineers |
| Location: | On Lake Point, N Cape of Shoalwater Bay. |
| Date of Report: | 06/03/1882 |
| Latitude: | 46° 43' 04" |
| Longitude: | 124° 04' 28" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Shoalwater Bay 1051.80, Lake Point 352 = 1403.30 |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 1/2 mile |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | About 20 acres enclosed for a pasture |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | A beach landing for row boats 1 mile E of lighthouse. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Road to landing is over loose sandy ground. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Station reached by river steamer to Astoria 100 miles, then a bay steamer from Astoria to Ilwaco, 16 miles. Stage from Ilwaco to Oysterville - then a steamer from Oysterville to Lighthouse Cove 20 miles. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | To Lighthouse Cove Steamboat Landing, 1 mile. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1 mile |
| Distance to Village: | About 10 miles to Northbend - a sawmill town. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Steamer from Oysterville once a week. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | From "Seattle" 20 miles - by sail boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1858 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Slight repairs have been made from year to year. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 35' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 85' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Dark - heavy fir forest |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Tower rises from roof of Keeper's dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast & to mark entrance to Shoalwater Bay. |
| Building Materials: | Lower half is built of stone, Upper part of brick. |
| General Description: | Lighthouse & tower located on crest of sand ridge abt 50' high which runs nearly parallel with shore line & abt 1/2 mile distant. From crest of sand ridge, sand slopes inland abt 1/4 mile, ending in a willow swamp; abt 20 acres of swamp fenced for pasture |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 2' 8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 2' |
| Diameter at Base: | 9' 6" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden stairway & steps |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 10 x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 window - size of sash 33.5" x 4' 5.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 2 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone foundation 5' below surface - resting on hard sand. A space 50' wide on 3 sides of lighthouse has to be kept covered with plank to keep sand from blowing away & undermining the foundation. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Loose drifting sand |
| Soil Susceptibility: | It is not susceptible of being protected by grass, shrubbery or trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Lighthouse & tower entirely surrounded by loose drifting sands, nearest ground covered with grass is 600' from tower, in swamp. The old inhabitants say that when lighthouse was built, sand ridge was covered with grass. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | 6' |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 12 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 37 1/4" vertical height |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | They are in form of a trapezoid, parallel sides are 12" & 29", 37 1/4" high. |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 2 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron - brick parapet |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Sheet copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Sheet copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 5/8" round iron, attached to spindle by loop, led down side of tower & 6' into ground to moist earth. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade iron, gallery is made by covering top of tower with coat of cement mortar. |
| Lantern Doors: | An iron door hung in an iron frame which is fitted in to parapet wall. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Concrete finished with cement mortar. |
| Watchroom Doors: | An iron trap door in floor of lantern, hung on hinges & fitted with a lift handle. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet wall. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Not needed |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks fitted with screws to top of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | There is no room set apart especially for watchroom, but instead, 1 of the living rooms is used for that purpose, fitted with a writing table with drawer, chairs, etc. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 2.5 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed varied by white flashes. |
| Time of Revolution: | Revolves once in 4 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | Time from beginning of 1 flash to beginning of another - 2 minutes. |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Seen from E by N 3/4 N, by S'd to N by W 3/4 W. |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| 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 vertical elements panels revolving outside of fixed lens |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | 2 |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron |
| Service Table: | Iron. attached to pedestal |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork. Propelled by weights. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 12' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 2.5 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Metallic case |
| Regulated: | By a fan or "fly" which can be set at various angles. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Hains mineral oil lamp |
| Type of Illuminant: | Mineral oil |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Down wall in a groove made for the purpose. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Oil room placed about 40' from dwelling fitted with shelves on which oil is kept in 5-gallon tin cans - the room has a window for light & is provided with a ventilator. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | There are closets in all the living rooms. A storeroom is fitted up in 1 end of upper hall where all stores & fixtures for light are kept (except oil). |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purpose for which they were designed. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower rises from roof of keeper's dwelling. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Brick. Outside of wall cemented |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & 1 asst. keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Barn, wood house & privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Brick walk around 3 sides of dwelling, & a plank walk from dwelling to barn. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 150 x 150' enclosed around dwelling. About 20 acres enclosed w/ board fence as a pasture. |
| Area of Garden: | About 1/4 acre. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 40 acres - mostly willow brush |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | About 1/4 acre cultivated |
| Character of Surroundings: | Adjacent country is sandy & swamp. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water from roof of Keeper's dwelling |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | It is not. |
| Purity Precaution: | No precautions have been taken except to clean & wash out cisterns once in 2 years. |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern - cap'y 5000 gals. Placed near kitchen of keeper's dwelling. |
| Tank Material: | Made of brick laid in cement mortar. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | No prevailing disease. |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | There is a large area of swamp land nearby, but people in the vicinity are healthy. |
| Recommended Improvements: | It would be beneficial to the lighthouse grounds (pasture) to have it drained. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Beach landing for row boats. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 sets |
| Lens Covers: | 1 |
| Damper Tube and Key: | None |
| Spare Damper and Key: | None |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | None |
| Time Marker: | 1 |
| Gauge: | None |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Curtain Hanger: | None req'd |
| Heater: | Not req'd |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | |
| Lamp Stand: | |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | 2 cords |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | 6 iron weights |
| Clutch: | 1 |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | 1 |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | None |
| Feather Brushes: | 2 |
| Linen Towels: | 10 |
| Sponges: | 2 |
| Chamois Skins: | 2 |
| Scissors: | 2 pair - straight |
| Chimney Filters: | None |
| Coupling Pliers: | None |
| Service Box and Implements: | 1 |
| Cleaning Materials: | Rotten stone, whiting, rouge, spirits of wine |
| Keepers Aprons: | 2 |
| Wicks: |