Report for Cape Fear Light Station (North Carolina) - 1918

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Tom H. Gregg
Location: On the SE'ly point of Smith Island, seacoast of North Carolina.
Date of Report: 01/16/1918
Latitude: 33° 50' 47"
Longitude: 77° 57' 58"
Premises
Site: Purchased through condamnation.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission: 01/03/1900
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 30 acres including road to Bald Head.
Area Inclosed: 1/4 acre
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 1370 feet
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Galv. Iron Wire fence.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: No
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat to wharf at Bald Head Light Station, thence by direct road to station. By tender from Charleston, SC, or Wilmington, NC.
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: Cast iron Skeleton tower.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1903
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1917
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: 159 feet.
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woods & sky.
Color of Tower: White. Service room, watch room & Lantern, black.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Lead & oil paint.
Tower Connection: Detached.
Object of Navigation: Seacoast, for general navigation.
Building Materials: Cast iron; bronze lantern; concrete foundation.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Cast iron.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 10" x 14" & 24" x 14"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 6 in stair cylinder, 3' 11" x 2' 1"; 4 in service room 2' 8" x 4' 6"
Number of Doors: 6; 3 in watch room, 1 wood at base of tower. Outside door, steel plate double door 2' 11" x 6' 9".
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 1st
Shape of Lantern: Cylindrical
Diameter to Glass: 12' 6"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides:
Type of Bars: Helical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 9' 9"
Number of Plates in Height: 2.5
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: 2' 9" x 2' 9", triangular 2' 9" x 3' 9" base.
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None.
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron & bronze.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron, conical.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron.
Lightning Spindle: Copper spindle on ventilator ball, platinum point.
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Cast iron floor plates, iron railing.
Lantern Doors: 1, bronze frame, 2' 3" x 5' 2", helical plate glazed; 2 steel rods, pinion thrown.
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron plates, tile glazed floor lights.
Watchroom Doors: None.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 6, brass, 5.5" diam. watch room wall.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 iron, 1 wood.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Yes, brass hooks.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: 2 small lockers, cast iron spiral stairway to lanterns. 2 wood doors 2'3" 6'9" inside. Outside 1 iron door 2'3" x 6'9" hinged in middle.
How is Relief Called: Electric call bells.
Where is Call System Led: To each keeper's dwelling from watch room.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 2 hours.
Intensity in Candles: 48,000 cp
Name of Maker: Henry Lepaute, Paris
Year Made: No date.
Marks and Number: Henry Lepaute, a Paris Constructiur.
Order of Apparatus: 1st
Inside Diameter: 6' 1"
Light Characteristic: Flashing white every 10 seconds.
Time of Revolution: 4 minutes
Flash Interval: 7.5 seconds.
Duration of Flash: 2.5 seconds
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 24
Number of Flash Panels: 24
Arc of Each: 15 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 17
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 18
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 8
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Iron, resting on woodin base, which in turn rests on watch room floor.
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: None above upper metal ring of lens. Gases are dispersed by tin hood 2' above lens, thence through a 1' 6" diam opening passing through lining of roof to ventilator ball.
Revolving Machinery:
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Chariot
Chariot Description: Brass bearing wheels (10) 5.5" diam. 9/16" steel shafts. Guide wheels (20) brass. 3 3/8" diam.
Length of Drop Tube: No tube or box
Clock Weight: 500 lbs.
Length of Winding Time: 2 hours.
Drive During Rewind: No.
Machinery Protection: Cast iron frame glass case.
Regulated: Fan governor & change of drop weights. Weight has a drop of 6' 9".
Lens Protection: None.
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Type A
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord: Steel wire
Size of Clock Cord: 3/8"
Length of Clock Cord: 65 feet
How Led: To watch room direct from drum
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 mantel
Diameter of Outside Wick:
Diameter of Mantel: 55 mm
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 2 small closets in watch room for spare lamp & tools.
Oil House Description: 100 feet southwest of tower.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 11' 7" x 13' 8"
Oil House Construction Material: Brick & structural steel.
Oil House Capacity: 450 cans.
Other (Describe): 2, 2-room store houses, 3 privys connected.
Suitability: Dry & suitable.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: None.
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:
Dwelling
Location: 450 feet SW from tower.
Coloring: White, lead trimmings, green blinds.
Construction Materials: Wood frame, Brick pillars.
Number of Rooms: 4 & detached kitchen.
Number of Dwellings: 3
Heating Plant: Stove in 1 room for burning wood.
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters: All 3
NOT Furnished Quarters: None.
Outhouses: 3, wood, frame
Outhouse Coloring: White, lead trimmings.
Paths and Walks: None.
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: None.
Area Cultivated: None.
Character of Surroundings: Northerly, marsh; Easterly, wooded sandy point; Southerly, beach; Westerly, woods.
Stove, Maker: Shipmate
Stove, Size: #53
Sink, Maker: Porcelain Enamel
Sink, Size: 18" x 30"
Pump, Maker: Rumsey
Pump, Size: #2 Pitcher
Lamps: 1 table lamp.
Water
How Procured: Cistern at each dwelling
Quality: Excellent.
Quantity: Ample.
Injury Possible: Not liable.
Purity Precaution: Cleaned & cemented once a year.
Tank Capacity: 3 - 3600 gals. each at each dwelling.
Tank Material: Cisterns, brick cemented.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful.
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: No.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Wharf 1500 feet long. at Bald Head Light Station. in delapidated condition, on easterly entrance to Cape Fear River, a 30 foot roadway extends from wharf to station. Boat-house on back creek about 1.5 miles from station.
Distance and Direction: 3 miles westerly from station.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Submitted to supersede description dated April 22, 1909.
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 40
Type: Batteau
Length: 5' 9"
Width: 20' 0"
When Built: Unknown
Date Harbored at Station: Feb 15, 1915
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes.
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 1
Type: Batteau
Length: 4' 6"
Width: 17' 0"
When Built: Unknown
Date Harbored at Station: April 22, 1907
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes.


Power Boat
Engine Type: Gasoline
Horsepower: 5 hp
Engine Maker: J.W. Lathrop Co. No number.
Spare Coil: No name
Magnet: No magneto
Battery: 6 dry batteries.
Propeller Diameter: 16"
Propeller Pitch: Unknown, 3 blades.