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.