Report for Cape Henry (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th LH Dist.
Location: Entrance to Chesapeake Bay
Date of Report: 10/12/1867
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:
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:
General Description: Of stone, smooth masonry lined inside w/ brick, in good condition, whitewashed inside & out. Wood window frames, in good condition. Glass in good condition.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron, painted red, in good condition.
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:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern:
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides:
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed:
Number of Plates in Height:
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates:
Size of Plates:
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern:
Construction Material Roof / Cowl:
Ventilator / Cowl:
Lightning Spindle:
Description of Lightning Rod: Lightning conductor was in good condition & led into the ground.
Balustrade:
Lantern Doors:
Floor of Lantern:
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 3 ladders w/o hooks
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: No


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 2nd order
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
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 of 2nd order. French mechanical lamp (Lepaute).
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:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: It is not fit for cultivation.
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: A regulation clock in good condition is kept in the sitting room.
Condition
Lantern: In good condition.
Illuminating Apparatus: Clean & in good condition
Service Lamp: Glass chimney was not free from smoke. Damper & pipe were in tolerably good condition.
Oil: Specimen examined & there were some motes to be seen. Keeper was advised to use the filterer, which he had not been doing.
Service Lamp Burner: Was free from gummy or burnt oil. Wicks were trimmed according to instructions.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Was found to be level.
Plate Glass: Clean, but some of the panes were cracked.
Lens Cover: It was on, was clean; is made of ticking & is hung up in the watchroom when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: None
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is an alarm bell but keeper does not use it, though he understands how to do so.
Rod Lamp: None
Dwelling: Very good
Stairway and Landing: In good condition
Inside of Tower: Nicely whitewashed.
Glazing of Dwelling: Very good
Improvements Needed: None needed
Outhouses: In tolerably good condition
Boathouse:
Grounds: In tolerably good condition. They appear to receive all 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: The lantern door fits tightly, but there is no trap door.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were some of these articles to be seen lying about.
Lucernes or Matches: There were some of these things to be seen in improper places. Keeper's attention was called to the same.
Heater: There was no heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands use of the ventilator & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were so painted.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition
Oil Carriers: In good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: 5
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil:
Number of Dripping Buckets: 7
Number of Oil Tanks: 7, holding 600 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They were so made
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters were filled w/ refuse oil & covers on. Keeper understands the use of the covers & air cocks. Cocks were properly trimmed.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was not, at all of them.
Oil Butt Platform: Oil butts stand upon a raised platform of masonry.
Empty Oil Butts: No empty oil butts at station.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: Yes
Paints Separate: Yes
Tool Chest: There is no tool chest, but some tools.
Tool Condition: Not very clean; were placed on a shelf in a closet.
Tools Free from Rust: Not in good condition.
Closets Clean:
Service Box In Good Order: The service box was in tolerable good condition.
Trimming Scissors Clean: Not very clean when inspected. They had just been used.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: Yes
Lantern Condition: Tolerably good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Was well dressed at the inspection.
Keeper Interested in Duties: Yes
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Yes
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Yes
Keeper Complaints: No
Keeper Family: Yes
Keeper Name: W.A. Harding
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: Present
Number of Assistants: 2
Assistants Attend to Duty: Yes, according to the principal's statement.
Assistants Capability: They are said to be
Assistants Complaints: No
Assistants Family: 1 assistant is the principal keeper's wife; one his brother. They all live in the same dwelling.
Assistant Keeper Names: James M. Harding, young; Julia A.P. Harding, young. Both were present.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Yes


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: They are correctly kept.
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies:
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: