Report for Cohansey Light Station (New Jersey) - 1908
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | Thos. J. Rout, Jr. Draftsman |
| Location: | On S'ly side of Cohansey Creek, NJ near its mouth, N'ly side of upper end of Delaware Bay |
| Date of Report: | 02/28/1908 |
| Latitude: | 39° 20' 33" |
| Longitude: | 75° 21' 44" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 12/23/1882 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 10 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Salt marsh |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 180' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Frame boat landing, supported on piles. Top about 8.5' x 8.5' & about 2.5' above mean high water |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Boat landing is connected to lighthouse by elevated boardwalks |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By RR to Greenwich Pier, NJ & thence by small private boat to station |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 2.5 miles across marsh to public road. About 5 miles to RR station (Greenwich Pier) by boat |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 5.5 miles to Greenwich, NJ |
| Distance to Village: | About 5.5 miles to Greenwich, NJ |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Boats can usually be hired in Greenwich Pier. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern tower is on frame dwelling, forming a lighthouse |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1838 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1883 |
| Condition at This Date: | Poor |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Lantern tower is square |
| Form of Tower: | Lantern tower is prismatic |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | No detached tower. Distance on lighthouse is about 39'. From ground to base of lighthouse, 6' 2" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 42' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Distant trees & sky |
| Color of Tower: | Lighthouse is white with black lantern & tower, green blinds |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Lighthouse is painted |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern tower is on dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay & harbor, marking mouth of Cohansey River, for local navigating purposes |
| Building Materials: | Lighthouse & lantern tower is a frame structure |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Of lighthouse about 7" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Of lighthouse about 7" |
| Diameter at Base: | Lantern tower is square, 10' 2" x 10' 2" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | Lantern tower is square, 10' 2" x 10' 2" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | None, except 2nd & watchroom floors |
| Size of Glass: | 9" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2; 31.5" x 4' 5.5" ( in watchroom) |
| Number of Doors: | In lighthouse, 18 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Lighthouse foundation consists of cast iron columns which are supported by wooden piles, depth not known |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Salt marsh |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Soil is susceptible of being protected by grass |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower is well painted inside. Some minor repairs should be made. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | From floor to glass, cylindrical, above this polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 4 3/8" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 9 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | About 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 9 - 3' x 2' 4"; 2 panes of ruby glass, 1 - 20 3/4" x 34 1/8" & 1 - 24" x 34 1/8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None, but on account of a strip of paint 14" high, light shows dimly from points in Cohansey Creek |
| What Bearings: | SSE 1/4 E & W 3/4 S |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Lantern sills, posts roof etc of iron, parapet walls of wood |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/8" x 1.5' copper ribbon extends about 4" above spindle of lantern, thence down post on NW side of lantern, across roof & down corner of lighthouse to ground connection. Ribbon is wired to spindle in 2 places. |
| Balustrade: | Both of wood. Gallery covered with tin & a grillage |
| Lantern Doors: | Double doors in lower wall of lantern; hung on hinges & provided with iron handle & bolts. Opening is 26.5" wide x 26" high |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wooden trap door in lantern floor fitted with T hinges & lifting ring. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 3 3/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 ventilators in lower wall of lantern each having 3" diameter brass disc covers |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 9 brass hooks are tapped into the lantern posts |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 2 windows, small stairway leading to lantern, small moveable table 23" x 36" x 29.5" high & shelf 9" x 35", supported on brackets also 2 closets provided with shelves, used for storage of lamp supplies |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Cie, Constructeurs A Paris |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | None, except name of maker |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white with fixed red sector, between W 3/4 S & NNW 5/8 W |
| Time of Revolution: | Not moveable |
| Flash Interval: | No flashes |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 270 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | No flashes |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron, 39 3/4" high |
| Service Table: | Cast iron, fan shaped, 33.5" above floor, & attached to pedestal |
| Draft Tube Description: | No tube |
| Revolving Machinery: | Not moveable |
| 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 glass |
| Red Sectors Description: | Red between W 3/4 S & NNW 5/8 W. 2 ruby panes 24" wide x 34 1/8" & 20 3/4" x 34 1/8" |
| Where Color Attached: | To lantern by means of wooden frames against the lantern posts. |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order Haines lamp with 1 wick. 15 5/8" from base to top of button. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1, 3 in all |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None, except that on spare lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 2 closets in watchroom. They have hinged doors & shelves & are used for storage of lamp supplies |
| Oil House Description: | Temporary frame oil shed stands outside of bank 46' SW of lighthouse. It has hinged door, but no shelves & is 5' 2" x 7' in plan. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Pantry & dresser on 1st floor has shelves & used for storage of food. 4 closets with shelves 2 used for dishes, 1 for storage of preserves & the other for clothes. 2 closets on 2nd floor each fitted with shelves & used for clothes. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Lantern is on dwelling |
| Coloring: | Lighthouse, white, with black tower & lantern. |
| Construction Materials: | Frame on pile foundation & lined inside with wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame oil house, frame storehouse, frame privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | All are white |
| Paths and Walks: | Elevated boardwalks. Brick pavement is laid under lighthouse |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Salt marsh |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roof of lighthouse, by means of downspouts leading to 4 tanks |
| Quality: | Good when properly cared for |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | Downspouts have been provided with cutoffs |
| Tank Capacity: | 2 iron tanks are placed under stairway in pantry. Cap about 650 gal. each & 2 round wooden tanks under lighthouse, Cap about 1300 gal each |
| Tank Material: | 2 are of iron, 2 of wood |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | No well |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | There is a revetted boat slip on reservation. Near this is frame boat landing, supported on wooden piles. Its top is about 8.5' x 8.5' & 2.5' above mean high water |
| Distance and Direction: | Landing & boat slip are about 235' NE from lighthouse. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Storeroom used to store preserves. Frame stove house, 8' 1" x 14' 9" sets about 3' 9" S of lighthouse used for gen. storage. Illum. app. is in excellent condition. Premises are in bad condition & extensive repairs will be req'd if station to be continued |