Report for Yaquina Head (Oregon) - 1881
| General |
| District: | 13th |
| Inspector: | G.L. Gillespie, Maj. of Engineers |
| Location: | On W'ly end of Cape Foulweather (Yaquina Head) OR |
| Date of Report: | 07/03/1881 |
| Latitude: | 44° 43' 30" |
| Longitude: | 124° 05' 00" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 17.86 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Dark clayey loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 250' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Entire site is enclosed by fence running across point of cape from S to N shore. Keeper's dwelling is also enclosed by a neat picket fence. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | No wharf or landing on premises. A landing can be made with a boat, on beach in smooth weather, but is usually dangerous. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | 1/4 mile. No road. Trail leads down steep bluff to beach. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By RR to "Corvallis" 80 miles, thence by stage to Newport 60 miles, thence by private conveyance 5 miles to Lighthouse. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Distance to nearest public road, at Newport on Yaquina Bay, is 5 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 5 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 5 miles to Newport on Yaquina Bay |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Light station can be reached from town of Newport on Yaquina Bay. Distance 5 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1870 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Slight repairs made in 1880 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 81' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 151' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Dark |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast |
| Building Materials: | Brick |
| General Description: | Tower located on extreme W'ly point of cape, within 20' of edge of a perpendicular rocky cliff 70' above sea level. Keeper's dwelling is located 70' E of tower, at which point cape is only 250' wide, with perpendicular cliffs of rock on either side. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 20" |
| Diameter at Base: | 28' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 16' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron |
| Number of Landings: | 5 |
| Size of Glass: | 10 x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 windows, size of sash 6' 6" x 2' 3" |
| Number of Doors: | 4 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete. 7' below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Dark clayey loam |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Grass grows well. Winds are too violent for shrubbery or trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Wind at times sweeps across point of cape with great violence taking gravel stones from the cliffs 100' distant & hurling them against the dwelling with such force as to break the glass in the windows. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 1st |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 11' 6" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 16 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 9' 7.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | Bottom 2' 6 7/8"; middle 3' 3 3/16"; top 3' 8 3/4" - all 2' 4 3/16" wide |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 3 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Sheet copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Lightning conductor of iron, attached to spindle by a loop in the end of the rod. It is led down side of tower & 2' below surface of ground, thence away from tower 20' horizontally, thence down 5' to moist earth. |
| Balustrade: | Outside gallery is of cast iron. Balustrade consists of wrought iron posts, rails & balustrade. |
| Lantern Doors: | There are no doors in the lantern. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wooden door fitted into an iron frame, hung with butt hinges & fastened by a spring lock. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 (iron) |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtain hooks screwed into iron work at top of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | A work-bench with lockers underneath. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 8 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 18 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 8 |
| 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: | Wooden service table in watchroom. |
| Draft Tube Description: | Tube made of iron, 4" dia., supported & held in place by lugs. Upper end of damper tube fits closely into its lower end. Tube 2' 9 7/8" long x 3 13/16" dia. |
| 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: | Funck's hydraulic float lamp - 4 wicks |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | No closets in tower. Closets in oil house are fitted up with shelves & close fitting doors. All the small articles of such as wicks, towels, lens covers etc are kept in there. |
| Oil House Description: | Located within 6' of tower & connected to it by a narrow passage. It is divided into 2 rooms: in 1 the oil butts are placed on cast iron stands covered with wood. In the other room are closets for curtains, lens covers, etc. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 10 100-gal butts, 1 50-gal butts, 1 10-gal oil can |
| Other (Describe): | All supplies are stored in oil house in closets & on shelves. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purposes for which they were designed. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Located 70' from lighthouse tower. Double tenement & 2 stories high. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 2 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 in one, 1 in the other. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Wood houses, privies & stable. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Gravel walk around dwelling & from dwelling to tower. |
| Area Inclosed: | A board fence runs across point of cape from S shore to N shore, enclosing entire site. Keeper's dwelling is also enclosed by a neat picket fence. |
| Area of Garden: | About 1 acre |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 1 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | About 1 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Soil is a dark clayey loam, covered with grass. No shrubbery or trees. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | Douglas #2 closed spout (2); McDonald #2 pitcher spout; Deming Co., #4 pitcher spout. |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roof of keeper's dwelling |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable to injury by storm tides & seas. |
| Purity Precaution: | Water is stored in brick underground cisterns. They are usually cleaned out once a year. |
| Tank Capacity: | 1 cistern, cap'y 11000 gals, placed near rear of keeper's dwelling |
| Tank Material: | 1 underground cistern built of brick & cement. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | General opinion is that it is good. |
| Diseases: | No prevalent diseases at station or in vicinity. |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No landing near lighthouse, except on beach in smooth weather. Supplies usually landed on beach 2 miles from lighthouse. No wharf or boathouse. Road from lighthouse to town of Newport on Yaquina Bay is a passably good wagon road. |
| Distance and Direction: | Teams can only haul small loads over wagon road. In passing over road from lighthouse, 1st 2 miles is hilly, with hard ground; next 1.5 miles is on sea beach, very good except 3 hours at high water, next 1.5 miles, into Newport is sandy & hilly. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | General character & condition of premises is good. Fences are neatly whitewashed, grounds free from rubbish, tower & bldgs in good condition; illuminating apparatus clean & in order. Premises as a whole present a neat & tidy appearance. |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 sets |
| Lens Covers: | 2 sets |
| Damper Tube and Key: | 2 |
| Spare Damper and Key: | 1 |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | None |
| Time Marker: | |
| Gauge: | |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Curtain Hanger: | 1 |
| Heater: | Not req'd |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | |
| Lamp Stand: | |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | |
| Clutch: | |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | 1 |
| Feather Brushes: | 3 |
| Linen Towels: | 10 |
| Sponges: | 3 |
| Chamois Skins: | 6 |
| Scissors: | 2 straight; 2 curved |
| Chimney Filters: | 1 |
| Coupling Pliers: | 1 pair |
| Service Box and Implements: | 1 |
| Cleaning Materials: | Rotten stone, rouge, whiting, spirits of wine, etc. |
| Keepers Aprons: | 6 |
| Wicks: |