Report for Cape Henry (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Commodore Dornin, LH Inspector 5th Dist.
Location: Entrance to Chesapeake Bay
Date of Report: 08/19/1870
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: They are not enclosed.
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: Good
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 inside & outside.
Tower Connection: There is none.
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials: Built of stone. Smooth masonry lined inside w/ brick.
General Description:
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: 3 cracked, the rest in good condition.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 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, kept in the sitting room.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is 1 inside ladder in good condition.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is 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: 2nd
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
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 Funck Hyrdaulic Float Lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 in good condition.
Number of Spare Burners: 2 spare burners in good condition. Rec'd 2 to be sent to Staten Island Depot for repairs. 1 formerly sent from office at Norfolk.
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:
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:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: A portion of the bridge from main dwelling to tower is broken down (a distance of abt 20' which still remains disconnected) Keeper often finds it very difficult to get to tower, especially during gales of wind in consequence of broken state of bridge.
Condition
Lantern: In good condition in all respects.
Illuminating Apparatus: In good condition clean & perfect in all its parts.
Service Lamp: In good condition clean outside & inside. Glass chimney was free from soot, smoke or stains.
Oil: Specimen examined & found to be free from all objectionable matter. It has not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: In good condition free from gummy or burnt oil. Wicks were well trimmed.
Service Lamp Burner Level: In good condition & found to be level. Keeper understands how to level it.
Plate Glass: In good condition, clean free from scratches, stains or dirt.
Lens Cover: It was on, made of white linen & hung up in the lantern room.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets new made of linen ticking.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There is a Rod lamp in good condition.
Dwelling: The general condition is very good.
Stairway and Landing: In good condition, painted red.
Inside of Tower: Very good.
Glazing of Dwelling: Very good
Improvements Needed:
Outhouses: Very bad condition.
Boathouse: There are none.
Grounds: Very good. As neat as can be expected as the sand shifts with every wind.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: The Lens is never touched improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: These doors fit properly
Watch or Trimming Room: None of these were to be seen at time of Inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: None of these things were seen in the rooms mentioned.
Heater: Keeper knows how to use the heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands use of Ventilator & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were painted according to instructions & in good order. Lightning conductor is in good condition.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In very good condition.
Oil Carriers: In good condition; clean & 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 are so made
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters are filled with refuse oil, with covers on. Keepers understand use of covers & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There is a bucket so hung.
Oil Butt Platform: They are placed upon a raised platform made of plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There is an empty oil butt clean & ready for use.


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.
Tool Condition: Some few tools.
Tools Free from Rust: They were clean & properly greased.
Closets Clean: They are kept clean & properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are in good condition, & well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are kept clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They are in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Very good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Keeper is neat & tidy
Keeper Interested in Duties: He does
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Keeper shows good capacity & appears to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He seems to understand the rules & directions & to wish to conform to them.
Keeper Complaints: The Keeper was present.
Keeper Family: Keeper's family occupy dwelling with him.
Keeper Name: Henry Richardson
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: Keeper was present
Number of Assistants: There are 2 assistants allowed at this station.
Assistants Attend to Duty: They do.
Assistants Capability: They are.
Assistants Complaints: They made none.
Assistants Family: 1 assistant has no family.
Assistant Keeper Names: Charles Brown, 2nd Asst., old man.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The principal accompanied me throughout the inspection.


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: 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:
Placards Easily Visible: Yes
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: