Report for White Shoal (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th LH District
Location: James River
Date of Report: 09/07/1867
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:
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: Screwpile
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:
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps:
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is a time piece kept in the sitting room. It is represented to be in bad condition.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is a ladder for outside use, but no hooks in the end.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling the 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: 6th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
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 the 6th order Fountain Lamp (steamers lens)
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 is in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 1 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): Utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials are placed on shelves in the oil room. There was no better place provided. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc.. are kept in a corner of the oil room.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: There is a fog bell worked by hand.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic:
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 5' 6"
Width: 16.5'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: In tolerable condition only.
Condition
Lantern: Not in very good order; Keeper directed to make an improvement.
Illuminating Apparatus: In good order; the lens was perfectly clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp: Clean; glass chimney was free from dust & stains.
Oil: A specimen was examined & found to be clear & free from dust or soot etc.
Service Lamp Burner: It was free from gummy or burnt oil & in good order in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Found the burner on a level.
Plate Glass: It was clean & free from scratches or stains
Lens Cover: Lens cover was on; was clean & made of linen ticking, when removed from the lens, is hung up in the lantern room.
Lantern Curtains: There were no lantern curtains.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There was no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There was no Rod lamp.
Dwelling:
Stairway and Landing: The paint inside the bldg required scrubbing. The Keeper was requested to scrub it.
Inside of Tower:
Glazing of Dwelling: Glazing is in good condition.
Improvements Needed: Lightning conductor should be replaced.
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds:


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: A small ladder is provided. The lens is never touched by hands or feet for support.
Lantern and Trap Doors: The trap door to the lantern room fits tightly.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none to be seen at the time of making the inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There were matches seen in the oil room; the keeper admonished on the subject & shown the regulations.
Heater: There was no heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands the use of the ventilator & how to air the bldg.
Dome: The dome was painted according to instructions & was in good order. The conductor was broken & requires to be lengthened so as to reach the water.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In pretty good condition, 1 window for ventilation.
Oil Carriers: In pretty good condition & arranged for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: None
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 1
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: None
Number of Dripping Buckets: There were 3 dripping pans
Number of Oil Tanks: 1, 50 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They were made according to the directions of the Lighthouse Board.
Oil Butt Covers: The gutters of the oil butts were out of order & leaked. The Keeper understands the use of the covers & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping pan instead.
Oil Butt Platform: The oil butt was placed on a box to raise it from the floor.
Empty Oil Butts: There was no empty oil butt.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: Everything is properly cared for in this respect.
Service Box In Good Order: There was no service box.
Trimming Scissors Clean: The trimming scissors were clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They were in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: The general condition in regard to the above was pretty good, but it could be improved.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Not very tidy, but stated that he had been sick.
Keeper Interested in Duties: He manifested some interest.
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Keeper seemed rather dull, but was not unwilling to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He seems to understand them, but does not conform to them as thoroughly as he ought.
Keeper Complaints: He made none.
Keeper Family: Keeper has a wife, who is his assistant.
Keeper Name: Peter J. Huncke
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: He was present
Number of Assistants: 1 assistant is allowed.
Assistants Attend to Duty: The assistant does.
Assistants Capability: The assistant is represented so to be.
Assistants Complaints: She was absent.
Assistants Family:
Assistant Keeper Names: Margaret Huncke, young.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Keeper attended me through the lighthouse.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: Yes
Quarterly Returns on Hand: Yes
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: Yes
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: None
Instructions and Directions Copies: None
Placard Directions Copies: None
Notice to Visitors Copies: None
Summary of Duties: 1
Index of Instructions: None
Guide for Mixed Paints: None
Directions for Purifying Water: None
Placards Easily Visible: The notice to visitors is
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: 1 blank expenditure book on hand.