Report for Cape Charles (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th LH Dist.
Location: Entrance to Chesapeake Bay
Date of Report: 10/11/1867
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: By a board 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: 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:
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials: Of brick; whitewashed inside & outside & is in very good condition.
General Description: Window frames of wood in excellent condition; glass is all in excellent condition.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron - in perfect condition, neatly painted.
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:
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 2 ladders
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: No
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 1st
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Revolving white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval: 1 minute
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 1st order w/ moderator lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2, in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 5, 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. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. are kept in a closet by themselves.
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: By a board fence
Area of Garden: Keeper cultivates a small garden.
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: A regulation clock in good condition - kept in keeper's sitting room.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Cape Charles light station is in most admirable condition, showing that keeper understands his duties & does not fail to perform them.
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 6' 4"
Width: 19'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Boat is in good condition, but new sails & oars will soon be required.
Condition
Lantern: In very good condition in all respects
Illuminating Apparatus: Clean, & in good condition in every particular
Service Lamp: It was clean outside & inside. Glass chimney free from soot, smoke & stains. Damper & pipe in good order.
Oil: Specimen examined & found to be clear & clean.
Service Lamp Burner: Free from gummy or burnt oil, wicks were trimmed according to instructions.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level.
Plate Glass: Its condition was perfect.
Lens Cover: Lens cover was on, was clean, is of linen sheeting & is hung up in watchroom when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: None
Carillon or Alarm Bell: None
Rod Lamp: None
Dwelling: In admirable condition
Stairway and Landing: Clean
Inside of Tower: Very good
Glazing of Dwelling: In good condition
Improvements Needed: None needed as far as is known.
Outhouses: Very good; all neatly whitewashed
Boathouse: In good condition, but it is a long distance from the water.
Grounds: In very neat condition. Appear to receive every requisite attention.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: No one is allowed to touch the lens improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: Yes
Watch or Trimming Room: None of the above mentioned articles were to be seen.
Lucernes or Matches: There were none of these things to be seen. Nothing so much out of place.
Heater: The keeper knows how to use the heaters.
Ventilation: Keepers know how to use the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were so painted. Lightning rod was in good order & led into the ground.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In most excellent condition in all respects.
Oil Carriers: All in good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: 8
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil:
Number of Dripping Buckets: 10
Number of Oil Tanks: 10, holding 900 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are so made
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters were not filled, the air cocks were closed.
Drip Bucket Placement: Yes
Oil Butt Platform: Are upon a raised platform
Empty Oil Butts: Empty oil butts were clean & ready for a new supply.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: Yes
Paints Separate: Yes
Tool Chest: There is a regular tool chest, but a number of tools.
Tool Condition: In good condition & properly arranged on a shelf.
Tools Free from Rust: Yes
Closets Clean: They appear to receive all requisite attention.
Service Box In Good Order: Yes
Trimming Scissors Clean: Yes
Brushes and Floor Clothes: Yes
Lantern Condition: Very good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Keeper was absent
Keeper Interested in Duties: Keeper absent
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Keeper was absent
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Keeper absent
Keeper Complaints: Keeper was absent
Keeper Family: Yes
Keeper Name: J.G. Potts
Keeper Age: Aged
Keeper Present or Absent: Principal Keeper was absent by permission. He is not often absent.
Number of Assistants: 2, at present there is a vacancy of 1 asst.
Assistants Attend to Duty: The assistant who was in attendence appears to do so.
Assistants Capability: The assistant in attendance appears capable.
Assistants Complaints: No
Assistants Family: 1 assistant is the wife of the keeper. She claims one of the dwellings.
Assistant Keeper Names: Nancy Potts, middle-aged.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The assistant keeper attended me throughout the inspection.


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: None has ever been kept here
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: In good order; clock oil used for lubricating. There is a flash at intervals of 1 minute.
Weight of Machine: Yes
Screwjacks for Raising Machinery: Yes; in good condition. Keeper knows how to use them; it is as stated by the assistant, the principal keeper was absent.