Report for Sunken Rock (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | On Sunken Rock, SE'ly side of channel of St. Lawrence River, 1/2 mile below Alexandria Bay, NY |
| Date of Report: | 01/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 44° 20' 45" |
| Longitude: | 75° 55' 03" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Island purchased of Chesterfield Pearson et al. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/14/1847 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Deed calls for 40 sq. rods. Is mostly under water. Actual area covered by structures = 11.3 sq. rods. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | None |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Surrounded by water |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Timber landing wharf & ice breaker |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Wharf & ice breaker adjoins tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By row boat from Alexandria Bay, about 3/4 mile. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 3/4 mile to Alexandria Bay steamboat landing. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3/4 mile to Alexandria Bay |
| Distance to Village: | 3/4 mile to Alexandria Bay |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By RW & O RR to Redwood, NY & about 7 miles by trolley to Alexandria Bay. By steamer from Clayton or Cape Vincent to Alexandria Bay. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By rowboat or yacht from Alexandria Bay, 3/4 mile. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Iron tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1847 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1882 - replaced by new iron tower. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Round |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 30' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 27 3/4' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Trees & sky. Village of Alexandria Bay, in going up stream. |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Lead & oil paint |
| Tower Connection: | No dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | River light for general purposes |
| Building Materials: | Iron, lined with brick to first landing, & above with wood. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Metal thickness 3/4" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Metal thickness 1/2" - lined 3" furring & ceiling wood. |
| Diameter at Base: | 12' 4" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | Under lantern deck 9' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron: 1/2 circle of 9', with 17 steps, 13 1/4' high with hand rail, & 8 wooden steps leading from landing into lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | 1 |
| Size of Glass: | Circular 9.5" dia. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6 windows, size of sash 1" x 12" dia. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 double |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone run on concrete foundation, on rock about 1 1/4' above high water mark. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | None |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Old tower was taken down May 15, 1882. Light exhibited from new tower night of June 12, 1882. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 4 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36 3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27 3/8" x 36 3/8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron parapet, ceiled with wood. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron - 14 holes 1 1/4" dia. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Pinnacle of ventilator globe is provided with a platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 3/8" wire rope attached to newel post at foot of stairs, thence leading into water. |
| Balustrade: | Cast iron post with wrought iron rail. |
| Lantern Doors: | Wrought iron with hinges, & 2 wrought iron levers for fastening door. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron with circular deck lights, 11.5" dia., 1" thick. About 1/5 of floor is wood forming a trap door. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wooden trap door, hinged. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 10 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 in parapet wall with brass revolving discs. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 10 of brass, screwed into lantern post. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 2nd floor with closets for lamps etc. Boat house rebuilt in 1882-3 was partitioned off for watchroom. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co., Constructeurs a Paris |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | O2 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 7/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 270 degrees, with 90 degree copper reflector door. Door has been removed to reduce heat which melted chimneys. Open side of lens lies btwn 245 degrees 20' to 335 degrees 20'. |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| 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: | Iron, 43" high, dia at top 16", at base 11"; dia. shaft 4.5" |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Brass tube 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: | By red chimneys |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Improved 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: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 on lower floor, 3' x 6' 6", with 3 shelves & 2 doors, for storing paints, lamps, etc.; 1 on 1st landing 2' 7" x 6' 6" with 3 shelves & 2 doors, for storing matches, dry materials, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | In concrete floor of tower. Circular space 2.5' deep by 5' dia. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: | Suited. |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By pail & rope from river. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | None |
| Tank Material: | |
| 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: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing on S side of lighthouse forming an ice breaker. Boat house 16' x 21', located on W end of landing & part of same partitioned off & fitted with bunk etc. for keeper's use (watchroom rebuilt 1882 -3) |
| Distance and Direction: | Wharf about light & boathouse, area about 1287 sq. ft., was rebuilt in Sept., 1905, 2' high above water, with pine & new deck of 2" pine laid. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | In good condition. |