Report for Conovers Beacon (New Jersey) - 1880

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd district
Location: Front range of Main channel entrance to harbor of NY.
Date of Report: 02/03/1880
Latitude: 40° 28' 14"
Longitude: 74° 03' 22"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: About 3 acres
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Sandy
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 125'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Wood fences
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None - landing may be made on beach at high water. Low water about 3/4 mile further out.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: None
Means to Reach Light Station: By NJ Southern RR to Middletown thence by carriage or wagon.
Distance to Nearest Road: 1/2 mile to public road & 2 miles to RR station.
Distance to Post Office: 1 mile
Distance to Village: 1 mile
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By light wagon or carriage.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower of wood
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1856
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1874 at which time day marks or screens were erected - tower sills etc renewed & otherwise repaired & strengthened in 1877
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagon
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 55' to focal plane
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 60'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Rising ground
Color of Tower: White & red horizontal bands
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Painted
Tower Connection: Detached, about 103' from dwelling - plank walk
Object of Navigation: Channel range NY Harbor
Building Materials: Wood
General Description: 2 day marks or screens are 25' high x 20' wide painted black & are intended to show more plainly the tower when snow is covering the ground.
Wall Thickness at Base: 14"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 7.5"
Diameter at Base: 11' 4"
Diameter at Parapet: 6'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wood
Number of Landings: 3
Size of Glass: 9 x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 4 - 22 x 28.5"
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Brick & stone built solid up to sills, which are heavy timber framing the sides & radii of a hexagon & spreading out beyond the base of tower abt 3 - 4' all around
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy
Soil Susceptibility: No except in some few spots - scanty growth.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower was thoroughly repaired in 1877 - having been supported & braced outside by timbers running 1/2 way up. Sills were entirely replaced as also the lower portion of corner posts to height of some 6 - 10'.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: Special design - no order.
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 5' 1"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 6
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 4'
Number of Plates in Height: 3
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates: 3/16"
Size of Plates: 24 x 24; 15 x 24 & 8.5 x 24
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: Glazed 1 side only
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Wood tinned
Ventilator / Cowl: Sheet iron
Lightning Spindle: Iron
Description of Lightning Rod: Wrought iron
Balustrade: Wood, copper floor.
Lantern Doors: 2 doors of wood, hinges etc.
Floor of Lantern: Wood covered w/ copper.
Watchroom Doors: Trap door in floor of lantern - hinged & ring for lifting.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4 in lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None required
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into window sash.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Sautter, Paris
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 3rd
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Seen in range only.
Number of Panels:
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 5 concentric rings
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 5 concentric rings
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: Iron
Service Table: Wood
Draft Tube Description: Cast iron
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: White
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funck lamp - 1 wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 2
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 fitted w/ shelves etc.
Oil House Description: In bottom part of tower, 1st floor.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 1 - 50 gallon oil butt; 2 - 54 gallon oil butts; Butts placed on wooden stand.
Other (Describe): 4 closets in dwelling - 2 each floor located back of staircase.
Suitability: Dry
Dwelling
Location: Frame bldg, 1 full story & half - pitch roof shingled.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Wood - brick & stone foundation.
Number of Rooms: 5 rooms inc kitchen in lean to addition.
Number of Dwellings: 1
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 2 sheds
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: Enclosed by fences about 3 acres
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Sandy
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain & well water
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Charcoal filter for cistern.
Tank Capacity: Under kitchen. 630 gallons.
Tank Material: Brick lined w/ cement.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: 12' deep
Well Diameter: 2' 3"
Well Lining: Not lined
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: 60'
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthy
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: None - landing may be effected on the beach at high water. Very bad at low water as it is shoal to about 3/4 to 1 mile from shore.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: