Report for Tillamook Rock (Oregon) - 1881

General
District: 13th
Inspector: G.L. Gillespie, Maj. of Engineers
Location: On Tillamook Rock, Pacific Ocean, OR.
Date of Report: 07/03/1881
Latitude: 45° 56"
Longitude: 124° 01"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: About 1 acre
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Basallic rock
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 115'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: An iron guard fence around top of rock, enclosing a space averaging 12' in width outside the lighthouse.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Landing on rock is effected by means of a derrick w/ a long boom which swings out over water, a cage being suspended from end, is raised or lowered by hand or steam power.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By steamboat
Distance to Nearest Road: 30 miles to Astoria. Steamboat landing.
Distance to Post Office: 30 miles
Distance to Village: 30 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By steamer from town of Astoria, distance 30 miles.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1 light
First Built or Established: 1881
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square on the outside
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 48'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 136' above sea level
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Dark, high hills covered with spruce timber.
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Painted
Tower Connection: Tower rises from roof of keeper's dwelling
Object of Navigation: Seacoast
Building Materials: Stone, lined with brick
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 2'
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 2'
Diameter at Base: 16'
Diameter at Parapet: 16'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron
Number of Landings: 4
Size of Glass: 10 x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 4 windows. Size of sash 2' wide x 4' 6" high
Number of Doors: 5
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Solid rock
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 1st
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 11' 6" internal dia.
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 16
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 9' 7"
Number of Plates in Height: 3
Number of Plates Each Side: 3
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: Bottom plates 30 3/4" high, middle 39 1/8", top 44.5" all 27 7/8 wide.
Number of Storm Panes: 3
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron, roof of sheet copper
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Sheet copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Sheet copper
Lightning Spindle: Iron with platina point
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper wire rope attached to spindle by rope, led down side of tower to rock, thence down E slope of rock to natural depression abt 25' above sea level; this depression is usually kept full of water by the sea breaking over it.
Balustrade: Iron
Lantern Doors: No doors in lantern
Floor of Lantern: Iron
Watchroom Doors: No door leading from watchroom into lantern
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1, of iron
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into upper part of lantern


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: A work bench with lockers underneath.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 1st
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution: Makes 1 revolution in 2 minutes
Flash Interval: A flash every 5 sec.
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Entire circle is illuminated.
Number of Panels: 24
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 18
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 8
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
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: A wooden service table in watchroom fitted with lockers underneath.
Draft Tube Description:
Revolving Machinery: Clockwork
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls:
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: 32'
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: 5 hours and 15 minutes
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: Enclosed in a metallic case with glass panel doors.
Regulated: By a fly
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funk's hydraulic float lamp
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 5
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord:
Size of Clock Cord:
Length of Clock Cord:
How Led: Down thru watchroom floor, then horizontally to a well hole in a drift tube built into wall of tower, thence down to base of tower.
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None
Oil House Description: In base of tower, & in 1 of the storerooms, fitted with wooden stands.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 10 100-gal butts, 2 50-gal butts, 1 30-gal butts, 2 10-gal oil can.
Other (Describe): 2 storerooms 11' x 16' in keeper's dwelling in which lighthouse supplies are kept. 1 storeroom 6' x 12' for provisions etc., a large pantry for the kitchen. There are 4 closets; 1 in each keeper's room. Storerooms & closets fitted w/ shelves, lockers, etc
Suitability: Dry & suited to purposes for which they were designed.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: F. Brown's steam siren
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Blast of 5 sec., with a blast every 90 sec.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: On E side of lighthouse to which it is attached. Special object for establishing entrance to mouth of Columbia River & seacoast.
Distance and Direction: Attached
Water Supply: 3 cylindrical iron tanks 6' dia., 17' 9", 28' 6" & 23' 6" long. Rain water caught from roof of lighthouse. Tanks hold 14700 gals in all
Reached from Lighthouse: Attached
Description of Fog Signal Building: Bldg is of stone laid in courses 1' high & lined with brick; it is attached to the lighthouse & is 28' wide by 32' long.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Dwelling
Location: Surrounds tower. Tower rises from center of roof of dwelling
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Outer walls of cut stone lined with brick. Outer walls raised 6' at top with concrete with steel & concrete roof.
Number of Rooms: 8
Number of Dwellings: 1
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper & 3 assts.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: A brick storehouse (1 story) 20' x 31'
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: Concrete walks around bldg.
Area Inclosed: Lighthouse bldg is enclosed by an iron guard fence, embracing an area averaging 12' wide around dwelling
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: None
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker: Douglas #1 closed spout; Douglas #4 pitcher spout; Knowles steam pump #00
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain water from roof of dwelling
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: It is liable to be injured by salt spray being thrown upon roof of dwelling.
Purity Precaution: No precautions have been taken; it is thought that cleaning out the cistern once in 3 years will keep the water good.
Tank Capacity: A wooden tank w/ cap'y of 1100 & a brick cistern cap'y of 18500 gal. Cistern is excavated out of rock, placed 5' from lighthouse.
Tank Material: Tank made of wood. Cistern is made of brick & cement, the inside plastered with cement.
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:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Landing platform is 40' above mean sea level from which starts an iron stairway of 75 steps leading up eastern slope of rock to top on which lighthouse is located, 90' above sea level.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Tools And Accessories
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets
Lens Covers: 2
Damper Tube and Key: 2
Spare Damper and Key: 1
Carillon for Overflow Pump: None
Time Marker:
Gauge:
Spare Lamp Ready for Use: 1
Rod Lamp Ready for Use: 1
Curtain Hanger: 1
Heater: None
Spare Lamp Cover: 1
Lamp Stand:
Mechanical Lamp Cords:
Revolving Machinery Cords: Cords
Revolving Machinery Weights: Cast iron, weight 500 lbs.
Clutch: 1
Spare Fly Or Governor: 1
Gauge for Oil Cistern: 2
Feather Brushes: 2
Linen Towels: 30
Sponges: 5
Chamois Skins: 4
Scissors: 2 pair straight, 2 curved
Chimney Filters: 2
Coupling Pliers: 1
Service Box and Implements: 1
Cleaning Materials: Rotten stone, rouge powder, spirits of wine
Keepers Aprons: 6
Wicks: