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. |