Report for Venus Point Rear Beacon (South Carolina) - 1885
| General |
| District: | 6th |
| Inspector: | B.B. Smith, Asst. Engineer |
| Location: | On S side of Jones Island, Savannah River. |
| Date of Report: | 11/21/1885 |
| Latitude: | 32° 03' 47" |
| Longitude: | 80° 56' 40" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 1 3/4 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Mud |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 150' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Boat landing |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Walk on planks 200' from tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By rail or steamboat to Savannah, GA., thence by hired boat. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 10 miles to wharf at Savannah, GA. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 10 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 10 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None after reaching Savannah |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Boats can be hired at Savannah, GA. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Triangular skeleton iron structure |
| 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: | Triangular |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 83' from base to top of locomotive headlight lantern. |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 85' |
| 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 system ranges for entering Savannah River, also a leading light for crossing river. |
| Building Materials: | Iron with brick oil house attached at base. |
| General Description: | Beacon is triangular iron structure of 6 series. 6 posts to 2 lower series, 3 to the others. Each series consists of posts, struts & tension rods. Lowest series rests on disks supported by & bolted to foundation. Corner disks are 28.3' apart. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | 28.3' from center to center of inner disks. |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron ladder |
| Number of Landings: | None |
| Size of Glass: | None |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | None |
| Number of Doors: | None |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Foundation consists of 20 piles 20' long upon which are fastened grillage timbers so that top surfaces are 6" below standing water. 6 brick piers rise from top of grillage. Anchor plates are below upper grillage & anchor bolts pass thru piers to disks. |
| 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: | A hoisting arrangement raises & lowers a locomotive headlight lantern which during the day is housed in the brick oil room attached to beacon & resting on same foundation serves also as oil room. Site not susceptible of cultivation w/o a system of dikes. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | Locomotive headlight lantern & reflector. |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 23" reflectors |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | |
| Number of Plates in Height: | |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | |
| Size of Plates: | |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Glass & iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | None |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | None |
| Lightning Spindle: | None |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | |
| Lantern Doors: | |
| Floor of Lantern: | |
| Watchroom Doors: | |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Upper part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 23" Reflector in locomotive headlight lantern. |
| Inside Diameter: | 23" |
| 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: | |
| Oil House Description: | At base of beacon, so placed as to receive lantern when lowered during the day, as well as to serve as an oil house for mineral oil in boxed cans. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 1 dwelling 100' in front of rear beacon & on range line. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Wooden bldg resting on foundation similar to that of the beacon. |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 Keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy & boat house |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walk btwn dwelling & beacon & continued to boat house & privy. |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Soil mud, covered with tall reeds or marsh - ground fast. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Cisterns |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Sufficient |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | Ventilation |
| Tank Capacity: | 2500 gals - under dwelling |
| Tank Material: | Brick & Portland cement mortar. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| 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: | Boathouse & landing are on a small creek flowing into Savannah River & are connected with dwelling by plank walk 300' long. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Beacon, premises & illuminating apparatus are in good condition & do not require any repairs or additions. |