Report for Chester Rock Light Station (Connecticut) - 1889

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Lighthouse Engineer 3rd Dist.
Location: Near mouth of Deep River, Connecticut River.
Date of Report: 12/22/1889
Latitude: 41° 23' 54"
Longitude: 72° 26' 02"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Water site
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Land directly on ladder from small boat.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By small boat from Deep River.
Distance to Nearest Road: About 5/8 mile to dock & RR station in Deep River.
Distance to Post Office: 5/8 mile to Deep River, Ct.
Distance to Village: 5/8 mile to Deep River, Ct.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By small boat.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1889
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagon
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 13'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 23'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Channel both sides
Color of Tower: Wood
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Natural color of shingles
Tower Connection: No dwelling
Object of Navigation: Channel
Building Materials: Wood
General Description: Crib extends up to high water, above this there is a frustrum of a square pyramid 15' at base, 10' at top & 6' 8" high filled with small tone; sheathed at sides & top w/ 3" planking; corners are protected by 1/4 x 18" boiler plates & angle irons 4.5".
Wall Thickness at Base: 2" sheathing & shingles on frame.
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 2" sheathing & shingles on frame.
Diameter at Base: 8' across hexagon
Diameter at Parapet: 4' across hexagon at top.
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden ladder with small platform at top to enable keeper to attend to lamp.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: No windows
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: No windows
Number of Doors: 1 door with upper portion glazed.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: 15' square crib foundation made of yellow pine timbers sheathed w/ 3" planking & filled w/ small stone; resting on rocky bottom of river. Foundation is protected by rip rap.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Water site
Soil Susceptibility: Water site
Miscellaneous Remarks: The up-stream sides are protected by 1/4 x 18" horizontal strips of iron at freshet level. Tower is a frustrum of an hexagonal pyramid surmounted by a small lantern set on top frame. Inside has planed joist & ceiling varnishes; outside is shingled.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: Beacon lantern
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 3' 8" outside bottom ring
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 6
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 26"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 26 5/8" x 24 1/4"
Number of Storm Panes: None; 2 extra lights same size.
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Brass & copper
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Pinnacle of lantern
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper ribbon 1/8 by 1.5" connected to metal of lantern nailed to tower & pier & carried into water below low water to copper plate 2' square.
Balustrade: Small shelf gallery for cleaning outside of lantern glass & wooden ladder.
Lantern Doors: None
Floor of Lantern: None
Watchroom Doors: None
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 2 in upper part of lower wall
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: Small wooden ladder
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Fitted to inside upper frame.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 6th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Entire horizon
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: None
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: None
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: Fastened on shelf
Service Table: None
Draft Tube Description: Ventilating tube in ball on center of lantern
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: Ruby chimney
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funck, 6th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 3 in set.
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: Oil kept in boxes in lower part of tower.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe):
Suitability:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Land on ladder on pier from small boat.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: