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. |