Report for Sister Island (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | On lower of 3 Sister Islands, SE'ly side of channel, St. Lawrence River. |
| Date of Report: | 01/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 44° 24' 51" |
| Longitude: | 75° 50' 47" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchased of Walton estate for $100 in 1867 |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 09/29/1867 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 0.39 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Rocky |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 17' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small wharf 14' x 20' for small boats only. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from Alexandria Bay, NY |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 6.5 miles to Alexandria Bay steamboat landing, trolley Alex. Bay to Redwood on RW & O RR, 7 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 6.5 miles to Alexandria Bay |
| Distance to Village: | 6.5 miles to Alexandria Bay |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By motor boat from Alexandria Bay, NY. Small steamers make landings at Chapman's Island (private) 1 mile from Sister Island. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat or yacht from Alexandria Bay, about 6.5 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1870 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 46.5' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 47' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Trees & sky |
| Color of Tower: | Gray |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of limestone |
| Tower Connection: | Connected, tower rises above dwelling on N side. |
| Object of Navigation: | Channel for general navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 18" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 18" |
| Diameter at Base: | 7' 11" square (inside) |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 7' 11" square (inside) |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden, circular, serving also for dwelling stairs. |
| Number of Landings: | 2 in tower |
| Size of Glass: | 10 1/4" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 - 24" x 42" & 32" x 55" |
| Number of Doors: | |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Foundation is of gray limestone & rests on solid rock, which is mostly on the surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rocky |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Soil has to be brought. Island is very rocky. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | 3 islands are connected by rubble causeway, with concrete walk 3' in width on top. Middle & Upper Islands bear a few trees. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 6th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Lower part cylindrical, upper part polygonal. |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 1.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 26 3/4" x 36.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron & brass |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron, lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron, 14 holes, 1.5" dia. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Steel, nickel plated point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper cable, led from underside of iron lantern deck, down side of tower, about 10' into sand & gravel into water. |
| Balustrade: | Iron, with iron railing. |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 iron, in parapet, with hinges & spring bolt of brass. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron, checkered |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron trap door, with brass hinges. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 7' 1.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 iron ventilators, with brass revolving discs, in parapet. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 iron ladder, 8' long. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks, screwed into lantern posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Fitted with corner closet for lamps & a shelf for 5 gal oil can. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co. - Paris |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 3/4" |
| 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: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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 |
| Service Table: | Iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | Brass smoke conductor 2.5" dia. |
| 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: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order lamp |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 round wick. |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Old oil room, in 2nd story of tower, fitted as office for keeper, with desk & closet or locker for supplies. |
| Oil House Description: | Square iron oil house 7.5" x 7.5" in plan, 7.5" posts, with hip roof & globe ventilator. Fitted with iron shelves. Located 50' NE of dwelling. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 540 gal in 5 gal cans. |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower rises flush with NW face of dwelling, same stairway used, 2 stories & garret. |
| Coloring: | Natural color of stone, gray |
| Construction Materials: | Gray limestone |
| Number of Rooms: | 8, including kitchen |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Ice house, 12' x 12', on Upper Sister Island. Boat house on lower end of Lower Sister Island. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | 3 islands connected by rubble causeways, with concrete walk on top 3' wide. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rocky |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From river by pump in kitchen & steam pump. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | No cistern |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Well not used & pump taken out. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump in kitchen |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Small steam boiler & pump installed by keeper in small house built for it. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing wharf 14' x 20'; Boat house 16' x 38', 1.5 story, painted white. |
| Distance and Direction: | Wharf 37' N, Boat house 76' NE |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |