Report for Watts Island (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Comm. Dornin, USN, Inspector 5th LH District
Location:
Date of Report: 08/27/1870
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: They are not enclosed.
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station:
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Detached tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower: It is whitewashed inside & out.
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials: Tower is built of brick & in good condition.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: It is of wood, in good condition, & painted black.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Frames are of wood & in good condition. Glass is in good condition.
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is no covered way from dwelling to tower.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is no ladder at this station.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none required.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling relief.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 5th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
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:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lens of 5th order with Franklin lamp
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare lamp in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 2 spare burners in good condition.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. There is also a closet provided for paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc.
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed: Not enclosed.
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: Keeper cultivates a small part.
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: There is a regulation clock in good condition & kept in the sitting room.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: This station should be provided w/ a boat house, also provided w/ wood, as well as a Screwpile Lighthouse: as there is a great deal of trouble to procure fuel; having to bring it in a boat a distance of 12 miles & then only in small quantities.
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 5.5'
Width: 16.5'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: In very good condition.
Condition
Lantern: In good condition, clean
Illuminating Apparatus: Very clean, in good condition in all respects.
Service Lamp: In good condition, clean. Glass chimney was free from soot smoke or stain.
Oil: Specimens examined & found to be free from all objectionable matter. It had not been filtered
Service Lamp Burner: It was in good condition, free from all gummy or burnt oil. The wicks were well trimmed.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level. The keeper understands how to level it.
Plate Glass: Perfectly clean & clear & free from scratches stains or dirt.
Lens Cover: It was on, & clean, made of cotton ticking hung up in the lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets new. Keeper understands how to regulate them.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: In good condition & clean.
Dwelling: Very good
Stairway and Landing: Clean & painted black.
Inside of Tower:
Glazing of Dwelling: In good condition
Improvements Needed:
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds: Very good. Grounds appear to receive every requisite attention.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Lens is never touched improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: They fit tight
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none of these articles to be seen at time of inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There were none of these things in the rooms mentioned.
Heater: The Keeper understands the use of the heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands use of the ventilator & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They are painted according to instructions. Lightning conductor is in good condition.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: Oil room is in good & clean condition
Oil Carriers: In good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts:
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil:
Number of Dripping Buckets: None
Number of Oil Tanks: 2 holding 100 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are so made
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters are filled w/ refuse oil & covers on. Keeper understands use of covers & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a tin measure at each draw off cock to catch the oil.
Oil Butt Platform: Butts are placed upon a raised platform of plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There was no empty oil butt.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up and packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate.
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition: There are none
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: They are kept clean & properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are in good order & well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are kept clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They are in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Very good


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: He is
Keeper Interested in Duties: He does
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He shows good capacity & appears to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Keeper seems to understand & to wish to conform to Rules & Instructions.
Keeper Complaints: He made none being absent
Keeper Family: He has no family
Keeper Name: Isaac I. Sterling
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: Absent to procure provisions
Number of Assistants: There is 1 allowed at this station.
Assistants Attend to Duty: He attends regularly to his duties.
Assistants Capability: He is capable
Assistants Complaints: He made none
Assistants Family: The assistant's family live on shore.
Assistant Keeper Names: Thomas Tyler, middle age. The assistant was present.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The assistant accompanied me throughout the Inspection.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: They are
Quarterly Returns on Hand: They are
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: They are kept correctly
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: 1
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties: 1
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water: 1
Placards Easily Visible: Yes
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms:


Revolving Machinery Condition
Revolving Machinery: Revolving machinery in good condition. Clock oil is used for lubricating; there is a flash at intervals of 2 minutes.
Weight of Machine: During the day the weight is placed as prescribed by the instructions.
Screwjacks for Raising Machinery: There are none provided.