Report for Cape Charles (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Commodore Dornin, Inspector 5th Dist.
Location: Entrance to Chesapeake Bay
Date of Report: 08/22/1870
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: Inclosed by board fences.
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: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewashed
Tower Connection: There is none
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
General Description: Tower is built of brick. Whitewashed inside & outside. In good condition, but shakes very much in every gale of wind.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Made of iron, painted red & in good condition.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: In good condition.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Made of wood & 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 a Regulation clock in good condition placed in the sitting room of the dwelling.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There are 2 ladders.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: 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: 1st
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Revolving white w/ eight flashes. Moderation lamp.
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 1st order.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2 in fair condition.
Number of Spare Burners: There are 5 burners in pretty fair 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:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Illuminating App. is very much out of order & not level. Iron pedestal req's re-fastening. Revolving parts are considerably worn & wheels of carriages req to be taken out & overhauled. Station req's 2 Funck Hydraulic Float Lamps.
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 6' 4"
Width: 19'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: In good condition.
Condition
Lantern: In very good condition in all respects.
Illuminating Apparatus: Clean in good condition in every particular.
Service Lamp: Clean outside & inside. Glass chimney was free from soot, smoke & stains. Damper & pipe in bad order & out of level.
Oil: Sample examined & found to be free from all objectionable matter. It had not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: Burner was found to be free from gummy or burnt oil. Wicks were well trimmed.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level. Keeper understands how to center it.
Plate Glass: It was in good condition, but somewhat stained from bad packing & exposure.
Lens Cover: It was on, clean, made of linen ticking. Was hung up in proper place in Lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets of Lantern curtains clean made of white cotton & linen ticking.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There is 1 Rod Lamp, new.
Dwelling: All in most excellent condition.
Stairway and Landing: Clean & painted red.
Inside of Tower: Very good & clean.
Glazing of Dwelling: Glazing of dwellings are in good condition.
Improvements Needed:
Outhouses: In very good condition & all neatly whitewashed.
Boathouse: Boathouse is in good condition.
Grounds: They are in very neat order. They 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: They fit tight.
Watch or Trimming Room: There are none of these articles to be seen at time of inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There are none of these things to be seen; nothing seemed to be out of place.
Heater: The Keeper knows how to use the heater.
Ventilation: Keepers understand use of the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were painted according to instructions. Lightning conductor was in good condition: led into the ground.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: Oil room was in most excellent condition in all parts.
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: Oil butt gutters were not filled w/ refuse oil & air cocks were not shut. Instructions were given to new keeper to have them attended to.
Drip Bucket Placement: There is a dripping bucket so hung.
Oil Butt Platform: The oil butts are placed upon a raised platform of plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There is 1 empty oil butt, clean & ready for a new supply.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate.
Tool Chest: There is no tool chest, but a quantity of tools.
Tool Condition: They are in good condition & arranged on a shelf for use.
Tools Free from Rust: They were clean & well greased.
Closets Clean: They are clean & appeared to be kept perfectly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They are in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: The general condition is very clean.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Keeper is neat & tidy
Keeper Interested in Duties: He manifests much interest in duties.
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He shows good capacity & seems to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Keeper seems to understand the Rules & Regulations & to wish to conform to them.
Keeper Complaints: The keeper made no complaints
Keeper Family: Keeper's family occupy the dwelling with him.
Keeper Name: R.B. Moore
Keeper Age: Middle age
Keeper Present or Absent: Present
Number of Assistants: 2 assistant keepers are allowed at this station.
Assistants Attend to Duty: They attend regularly to their duties, 1 assistant absent.
Assistants Capability: They are capable.
Assistants Complaints: There was no complaint made.
Assistants Family: They have families who occupy the dwelling with them.
Assistant Keeper Names: Mrs. Potts, middle age; N.G. Borroughs, young.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The keeper & 1 assistant attended 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: They are
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: They are
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: They are
Books Easily Accessible: They are
Blank Books and Forms:


Revolving Machinery Condition
Revolving Machinery: Out of order irregular as to revolution, otherwise clean in all its parts.
Weight of Machine: It was placed as prescribed by instructions & directions.
Screwjacks for Raising Machinery: There is a set of Jack screws in good condition. Keeper knows how to use them.