Report for York Spit Light Station (Virginia) - 1927

General
District: 5th
Inspector: L.M. Hopkins
Location: In 2 fathoms, north side of entrance to York River, Va.
Date of Report: 10/20/1927
Latitude: 37° 12' 35"
Longitude: 76° 15' 16"
Premises
Site: State of Virginia to the United States by Act of General Assembly.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 01/03/1876
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 4-5/8 nautical miles.
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: By boat, distance about 1.75 nautical miles, Port Hayward, Va.
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village: Port Hayward, Va. about 1.75 nautical miles.
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern:
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1870
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: 38 feet
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woodland
Color of Tower: Superstructure white; lantern black; roof & substructure brown.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: By paint.
Tower Connection: In one.
Object of Navigation: To mark the entrance to York River, Chesapeake Bay, Va.
Building Materials: Wood & iron.
General Description: Hexagonal superstructure on substructure of wooden piles with iron sleeves driven below the surface of the bottom.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron ladders to main deck; wooden spiral stairway from deck to lantern.
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:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th order
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 35.5"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 34.5" x 36 5/8"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: All sides glazed
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood & iron.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper.
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Copper
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Wood.
Lantern Doors: Double hung on inside & outside (2 to each door) with brass hinges.
Floor of Lantern: Wood, tongued & groved, yellow pine.
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern, 3.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into cornice of ceiling.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles: Red, 870 cp; white, 2900 cp.
Name of Maker: Sautter, Lemonier & Cie. Paris.
Year Made: Unknown
Marks and Number: None.
Order of Apparatus: 4th order.
Inside Diameter: 19.75"
Light Characteristic: Fixed red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels: Nonel.
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 4
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: Cast iron.
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: Glass.
Red Sectors Description: White from 107 degrees to 116 degrees; edges out The Point Shoal Buoy 3 & Elbow of York Spit Buoy 2A. White from 145 degrees to 163 degrees, covers entrance to Mobjoack Bay.
Where Color Attached: To lantern.
Form of Colored Glass: Rectangular.
Lamp Description: 4th order Oil vapor
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene.
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power: 600 cp


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 mantel
Diameter of Outside Wick:
Diameter of Mantel: 35 mm
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None.
Oil House Description: In 275 gallon storage tank under main deck.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 2nd floor contains IOV tanks & few days supply of kerosene from main storage tank.
Other (Describe): 6 on 1st floor; 2 on 2nd floor.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: George M. Stevens bell striker.
Time to Start: 1 minute.
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: George M. Stevens.
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 1 stroke, 10 sec. silent, 1 stroke, 10 sec. silent.
Duplication: None.
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: On deck of superstructure & about 1000 yards from edge of channel.
Distance and Direction: East, about 12 feet.
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building: Frame structure on east side; toilet under.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight: 1000 lbs.
Metal: Bell
Diameter: 32"
Height: 29"
Time: 1 hour
Manufacturer: Standard service bell.
Weights for Operation:
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:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker: Imp. New Baltimore
Stove, Size: 700
Sink, Maker: Standard
Sink, Size: 24" x 18" Enamel with intergral back separate draw
Pump, Maker: None.
Pump, Size:
Lamps: 3 table, 3 hand.
Water
How Procured: From roof & stored in 4 tanks.
Quality: Good.
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No; cut-out on spouts.
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: 900 gallons; first floor.
Tank Material: 3 wood; 1 iron, triangular.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases:
Prevalency: None.
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 456
Type: Sq. stern R'd. bottom; motor.
Length: 6' 7"
Width: 22' 0"
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station: 1927
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes.
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 438
Type: Sq. stern R'd. Bottom; Sail.
Length: 6' 3"
Width: 18' 0"
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station: 1925
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes.


Power Boat
Engine Type: 2 cyl. 2 cycle
Horsepower: 12 HP
Engine Maker: Lathrop Co.
Spare Coil: Edison
Magnet: Bosch (Am.) low tension.
Battery: 6 dry cells.
Propeller Diameter: 20"
Propeller Pitch: 26"