Report for Venus Point Front Beacon (South Carolina) - 1885
General |
District: | 6th |
Inspector: | B.B. Smith, Asst. Engineer |
Location: | On SE end of Jones Island, Savannah River. |
Date of Report: | 11/21/1885 |
Latitude: | 32° 03' 25" |
Longitude: | 80° 55' 33" |
Premises |
Site: | |
Date of Reservation: | |
Date of Deed: | |
Date of Permission: | |
Date of Lease: | |
Area of the Entire Site: | 2 1/2 acres |
Area Inclosed: | |
Character of Soil: | Mud |
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 1/4 mile |
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Boat landing at end of plank walk |
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Plank walk 1/4 mile long running from beacon to boat landing, 3' above ground. |
Means to Reach Light Station: | By rail or steamboat to Savannah, GA., thence by hired boat. |
Distance to Nearest Road: | 11 miles to wharf at Savannah, GA. |
Distance to Post Office: | |
Distance to Village: | |
Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Square iron beacon with lantern on top |
Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
First Built or Established: | 1884 |
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Never |
Condition at This Date: | Good |
Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
Form of Tower: | |
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 32' |
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 30' |
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
Color of Tower: | Brown |
Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
Tower Connection: | Detached |
Object of Navigation: | 1 of the system of ranges for entering Savannah River, GA. |
Building Materials: | |
General Description: | Beacon is square skeleton iron structure of 4 angle-iron posts with braces at corners & struts midway btwn base & lantern. Landing rests on struts. Posts are fastened to iron sills which rest on timber caps of tramway on piles driven 20' into ground. |
Wall Thickness at Base: | |
Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
Diameter at Base: | |
Diameter at Parapet: | |
Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron ladder |
Number of Landings: | 1 |
Size of Glass: | 8" x 10" |
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 - 28" x 24" |
Number of Doors: | 1 trap door |
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Wooden piles driven 20' |
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Mud |
Soil Susceptibility: | Not shifting & does not require protection. Overflowed by storm tides & sometimes by high springs. |
Miscellaneous Remarks: | Wooden caps strapped to piles & posts & sills bolted to caps. Site not susceptible of cultivation without dikes to keep out salt water. |
Lantern and Fixtures |
Order of Lantern: | Square sheet iron lantern |
Shape of Lantern: | Square |
Diameter to Glass: | 9' x 9' at bottom; 6' x 6' at top. |
Diameter in the Clear: | |
Number of Sides: | 4 |
Type of Bars: | |
Thickness of Bars: | |
Height Glazed: | 27" |
Number of Plates in Height: | One |
Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 side glazed by 1 plate |
Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
Size of Plates: | 24" x 27" |
Number of Storm Panes: | 1 |
Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 270 degrees |
What Bearings: | |
Construction Material Lantern: | Iron & glass |
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | |
Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
Lightning Spindle: | Wrought iron |
Description of Lightning Rod: | Wrought iron - runs to water. |
Balustrade: | None |
Lantern Doors: | Trap door fitted with hinges, staple & padlock. |
Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom |
Parapet Diameter: |
Ventilators |
Location / Number: | 3 - in lantern wall |
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Wooden ladders outside from ground to sill of windows |
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed in. |
Illuminating Apparatus |
Kind of Apparatus: | |
Intensity in Candles: | |
Name of Maker: | |
Year Made: | |
Marks and Number: | |
Order of Apparatus: | Locomotive headlight reflector |
Inside Diameter: | |
Light Characteristic: | Fixed |
Time of Revolution: | |
Flash Interval: | |
Duration of Flash: | |
Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Range lights. Can be seen from E to SE. |
Number of Panels: | |
Number of Flash Panels: | |
Arc of Each: | |
Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | |
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | |
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: | |
Service Table: | |
Draft Tube Description: | |
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: | White |
Red Sectors Description: | |
Where Color Attached: | |
Form of Colored Glass: | |
Lamp Description: | Locomotive headlight lamp with 1 wick. |
Type of Illuminant: | |
Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
Candle Power: |
Closets and Store Rooms |
Tower Closet Use: | Closet in wooden pedestal of lamp & reflector, for holding cleaning materials & tools. |
Oil House Description: | None. Oil house is at Rear Beacon. |
Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
Oil House Construction Material: | |
Oil House Capacity: | |
Other (Describe): | |
Suitability: |
Healthfulness |
General Opinion: | Some danger from malarial fevers |
Diseases: | Malarial fevers |
Prevalency: | In Summer & Autumn |
Local Causes: | All around |
Recommended Improvements: | No |
Miscellaneous |
Access to Lighthouse: | Boat landing is at end of plank walk 1400' long running from rear beacon to Savannah River. |
Distance and Direction: | |
Miscellaneous Remarks: | Beacon, premises, & illuminating apparatus are in good condition & do not require repairs or additions. |