Report for Craney Island (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J. M. Berrien, Inspector of District
Location:
Date of Report: 09/06/1867
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: Screwpile
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:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps:
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: There is a LHE regulation clock in good condition, kept in the trimming room.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There are none
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling the "Relief" at this station.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 5th
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: Fresnel lens of the 5th order with Franklin lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 2 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. There is also a closet provided for paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc..
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: There is a fog bell worked by machinery, which is in good order.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Bell strikes once in every 15 seconds.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 4' 4"
Width: 16.5'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: In very good condition.
Condition
Lantern: In good order, glass properly wiped & clear of webs. Dome well cleaned.
Illuminating Apparatus: In good condition; the lens in every part was as clean as it could be made. Keeper appears to understand how & does keep the apparatus in neat order.
Service Lamp: Clean outside & inside; glass chimney was free from dust & stains.
Oil: A specimen examined & found to be limpid; free from dust & all objectionable matter. It had not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: It was free from gummy or burnt oil & in good order in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Found the burner on a level. Keeper appears to be aware of the importance of keeping "center of the flame at the focal point of the apparatus when the lamp is lighted" & to be familiar with instructions & directions which enable him to so keep it.
Plate Glass: Glass was found to be free from scratches & from dirt.
Lens Cover: Was not on; was clean, made of linen ticking. When not in use is properly folded & placed in the watchroom.
Lantern Curtains: They were up & were clean: at night they are folded up & placed in the watchroom. The curtains are put up & taken down at the proper times.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell at this station.
Rod Lamp: Rod lamp was clean & in good condition. Keeper is aware of the purpose for which it is furnished.
Dwelling: Very good
Stairway and Landing: Clean & painted white.
Inside of Tower: Paint inside of lighthouse in good order.
Glazing of Dwelling: The glazing was in good condition.
Improvements Needed: There did not appear to be any needed.
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds:


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: A stepladded is used. Keeper knows the impropriety of placing hands or feet upon the lens.
Lantern and Trap Doors: The lantern door & trap door to lantern on watchroom fit tightly.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none at the time of making the inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There were no Lucernes or lighting lamps, lucifer matches & tinder boxes in the watch or trimming rooms. Keeper's attention was called to the instructions in regard to this matter.
Heater: Keeper appears to understand when & how to use the heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands the use of the ventilators & how to air the bldg when the weather is suitable for the same.
Dome: They were painted according to instructions & with the conductor in good order. The latter led into the water.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition, 1 window for ventilation - no appearance of waste.
Oil Carriers: Free of oil, in good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts:
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: 1
Number of Dripping Buckets: 3 dripping pans, no buckets
Number of Oil Tanks: 2 - holding 100 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: Made according to the directions of the Lighthouse Board.
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters of the oil butts were filled with refuse oil & the covers properly placed to exclude the air. Air cocks closed. Keeper understands use of covers & cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping pan instead.
Oil Butt Platform: The oil butts are on a thick plank raised above the floor.
Empty Oil Butts: There was no empty oil butt.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: The cleaning materials are properly packed & placed in a closet where they cannot be injured.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: Everything seems to be properly cared for in this respect.
Service Box In Good Order: They are well arranged & kept in good order.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are kept clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They are in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Everything is in good order indicating that the keeper gives strict attention to the Instructions & Directions.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: He is as much so as the nature of his employment will permit.
Keeper Interested in Duties: He appears to take much interest in his duties.
Keeper Capacity for Duties: Keeper shows good capacity for his duties & appears to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Keeper is intelligent & seems to understand & conform to the rules, regulations etc. furnished for his guidance.
Keeper Complaints: The Keeper made no complaint.
Keeper Family: Keeper has a family living with him in the lighthouse.
Keeper Name: S. T. Myster
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: Keeper was present
Number of Assistants: There is 1 assistant allowed at this station.
Assistants Attend to Duty: Assistant gives satisfaction to the Keeper in attending to the duties.
Assistants Capability: The assistant is said to be very capable.
Assistants Complaints: The assistant was absent when the inspection took place.
Assistants Family:
Assistant Keeper Names: N. A. Myster, young.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The principal Keeper attended me through the bldg & answered satisfactorily all questions in regard to his task.


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: Yes
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: 1
Placards Easily Visible: Yes
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: