Report for Waackaack Beacon (New Jersey) - 1880

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist.
Location: Near Waackaack Beach - Rear light of range from the inside of the bar to SW spit, Entrance to NY Bay.
Date of Report: 03/03/1880
Latitude: 40° 26' 36"
Longitude: 74° 05' 47"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 2 acres
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Sandy, some loam.
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 1/2 mile
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Fences
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: None
Means to Reach Light Station: Team from Keyport, NJ.
Distance to Nearest Road: 3.5 miles to Keyport, NJ; 3 miles to Port Monmouth RR station & steamboat landing.
Distance to Post Office: 3.5 miles to Keyport.
Distance to Village: 3.5 miles to Keyport.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Conveyance from Keyport.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1856
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1877
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagon
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 68' to focal plane
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 76'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Distant high land beach of Keyport.
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Painted
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: Range entrance to NY Bay.
Building Materials:
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 10"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 9.5"
Diameter at Base: 13' 4"
Diameter at Parapet: 6' 7"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wood
Number of Landings: 3
Size of Glass: 9 x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 4- 22 3/4" x 57"
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Brick & stone built solid up to the sills, which are heavy timbers forming the sides & radii of a hexagon & spreading out beyond the base of tower about 3 to 4' all around.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy
Soil Susceptibility: Yes
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower was thoroughly repaired in 1877 - having been supported & braced outside by timbers measuring halfway up, the sills were entirely replaced, as also the lower portions of corner posts, to the height of some 6 to 10'.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: Special design - no order.
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 5' 4"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 6
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 4'
Number of Plates in Height: 3
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: 24 x 24; 15 x 24; 8.5 x 24
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: Glazed on one side only.
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Wood tinned outside.
Ventilator / Cowl: Sheet iron
Lightning Spindle: Iron
Description of Lightning Rod: Wrought iron
Balustrade: Wood copper floor.
Lantern Doors: 2 doors of wood, hinges, etc.
Floor of Lantern: Wood covered w/ copper
Watchroom Doors: Trap door in floor of lantern - hinged & ring for lifting.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4 in lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None required.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into window frames.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Sautter
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 2nd
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed, seen only in range.
Number of Panels:
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 4 concentric rings.
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: Iron
Service Table: Wood
Draft Tube Description: Cast iron
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: Franklin lamp, 1 wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: 4
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 fitted w/ shelves, etc.
Oil House Description: In bottom part of tower, 1st floor.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 2 - 54 gallon oil butts; 4 - 1 gallon oil cans. Oil butts placed on wooden stand.
Other (Describe): 4 closets in dwelling, 2 each floor - located back of staircase.
Suitability: Dry
Dwelling
Location: Frame bldg, 1 full story & half. Pitched roof shingled.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Wood - brick & stone foundation.
Number of Rooms: 42 rooms, 2 each floor.
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: 2 acres, fences.
Area of Garden: About 1 acre.
Area Timber or Shrubbery: About 1/3 acre.
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: 1 acre
Character of Surroundings: Soil sandy, loam surface.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain & spring
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: 14' deep
Well Diameter: 4'
Well Lining: Brick lining
Pump or Bucket: Bucket
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: About 35'
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency: None
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No