Report for Strawberry Island Upper Cut Range, Front Beacon (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | E side of Niagara River, in 5' of water, opposite head of Strawberry Island. |
| Date of Report: | 01/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 57' 16" |
| Longitude: | 78° 54' 36" |
| Premises |
| Site: | In navigable waters |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 20' x 20' = 400 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | Entire site covered by structure. |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Foundation crib of beacon & causeway leading to shore. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | From Buffalo: by boat in Niagara River or Erie Canal, or by electric cars to foot of O'Neill St., 1300' from beacon. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 50' to Erie Canal tow path. 1300' (1/4 mile) to trolley car at foot of O'Neill St. |
| Distance to Post Office: | In free delivery district, 5 miles to Buffalo PO |
| Distance to Village: | In Buffalo, 5 miles to City Hall |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | O'Neill St trolley line to foot of O'Neill St., 1/4 mile from beacon. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat in Erie Canal or Niagara River, 6 miles from foot of Main St. or by public streets & Erie Canal tow path, 5.5 miles from City Hall, Buffalo. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | Built 1907 - established 1908 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 27' 8" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 30' above mean River level. |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Green trees & grass of Riverside Park |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Lead & oil paint |
| Tower Connection: | No dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Front beacon of range for running Strawberry Isl. Upper Cut Channel. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 10' 11" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' 10" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden winding |
| Number of Landings: | 1 |
| Size of Glass: | 16" x 20" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 - 20" x 24" & 20" x 23"; 1 - 20" x 20" & 20" x 19" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete pier, on stone filled, wooden crib, on clay & gravel at 9' MRL |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Under water |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Octagonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 3' 7 5/8" radius |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35 1/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2 plates 33.5" x 36" - 1 plate 35.5" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 5 sides = 225 degrees |
| What Bearings: | 113 degrees 9.5' (SE x E 15/16 E) to 338 degrees 9.5' (N x W 15/16 W) |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Wood, copper roof & zinc lining |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Spun copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper 16" long, screwed into brass on top of ventilator ball. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 3/8" copper, passes thru base of spindle & secured by nut on each side, led down side of tower, thence undere tower to center & down thru iron pipe, set in concrete to a good depth in water. |
| Balustrade: | Wood floor covered with copper & surrounded with 1 1/4" iron pipe rail. |
| Lantern Doors: | Paneled wooden door, swinging in & similar door swinging out. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Maple |
| Watchroom Doors: | |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6 3/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 openings thru parapet, closed on inside by revolving brass discs. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass screwed into corner posts. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Not known, remodeled at 3rd dist. Depot |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | Not marked |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th order lens lantern |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 2 panels, each 120 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 2 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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: | Wooden |
| Service Table: | Wooden, with 2 shelves below. |
| Draft Tube Description: | Not required |
| 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: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order |
| 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: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Large closet in 1st story under stairs, for oil, supplies, etc. Small closet in 2nd story for chimneys, wicks, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Closet in 1st story, under stairs. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: | Dry, suited, excepting that oil should be stored in separate bldg. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boat not required. Concrete causeway & steps leading to canal bank. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | New & in good condition. |