Report for Absecon Light Station (New Jersey) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | H. Bamber, Assistant Engineer |
| Location: | S'ly side of Absecon Inlet, Atlantic City, seacoast of New Jersey |
| Date of Report: | 11/18/1907 |
| Latitude: | 39° 21' 59" |
| Longitude: | 74° 24' 52" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 12/07/1854 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 2 21/100 acres. Of this site, 115/1000 acre occ. by Dept. of Agriculture & 230/1000 acre occ. by LSS |
| Area Inclosed: | None by fence, except that occupied by Dept. of Agriculture & Life Saving Service |
| Character of Soil: | Loam covering original sand |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 1500' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None, except low concrete wall on the 3 street sides of the reservation & picket fence on 4th side. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By RR to Atlantic City, NJ |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Station extends along the upper side of Pacific Ave from Vermont Ave & Rhode Island Ave. Distance to RR station & streets about 9/10 mile |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 1 mile |
| Distance to Village: | Station is in Atlantic City NJ |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Street cars pass near the light station. Busses meet trains (10 cents) |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Carriage can be hired at the principal RR stations of the city. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | A brick tower supports lantern |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1857 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | About 169' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 167' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Buildings & sky |
| Color of Tower: | Lower 3rd yellow, middle 3rd black, upper 3rd & lantern yellow |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Tower connected to dwelling by enclosed passage way. |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast, for general navigating purposes |
| Building Materials: | Bricks |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Outerwall 4' 6"; inner wall 9" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Outerwall 18"; inner wall 9" |
| Diameter at Base: | 27' outside |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 15' (Circumference outside wall watchroom 42' 7" Inside diameter 10' 6") |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron spiral stairway; cast iron steps |
| Number of Landings: | 6 |
| Size of Glass: | 21 1/4" x 24" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 8; size double sash taken together, about 2' 4" x 4'. Besides 8 there is a window in the watchroom, glass 20" x 18 1/4", sash 24.5" x 36" |
| Number of Doors: | 4 in tower |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone masonry 10" thick on 12" of grillage, about 9' below surf |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Loam covering original sand |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Added soil is susceptible of being protected by grass & shrubbery; sand underneath is not |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Town dwellings etc., occupy part of block in Atlantic City which has been built up about the station so that it is now entirely surrounded. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 1st |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 12' 0.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 12 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | About 9' 7.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | About 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | All 1' 1 15/16" x 3' 2.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Metal. Nearly all iron, including glass stops |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper having a platinum tipped conical brass point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | A 3/4" copper wire cable extends from the pinnacle of lantern to a standard ground connection. |
| Balustrade: | Iron, nearly all cast iron; height 3' 11.5" wire guards attached to railing have a height of 4' |
| Lantern Doors: | Gallery door is composed of 3 thicknesses of T. & G. strips. It hangs on 3 strap & hook hinges & is provided with a common brass bolt & an outside & an inside brass pull. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron, covered with wood. |
| Watchroom Doors: | There are 2 frame doors at head of stairway, about 4' 6" apart, forming a small hall from which the gallery door opens. |
| Parapet Diameter: | Watchroom is lined with vertical T. & G. strips. Inside diameter, 10' 6". |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 6 ventilators, 3" in diameter, in wall of watchroom. They are covered with 5" brass inside registers. Height of center above floor about 4' 2". |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Iron foot shelf ext. around top 1st course glass |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | No hooks, curtains are on rollers. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Watchroom has 2 small cupboards, between pedestal of lens & stairway, & small coal heating stove |
| How is Relief Called: | Telephones |
| Where is Call System Led: | Watchroom telephone in cupboard by pedestal. Wires lead into top of pedestal, down center col. of tower to pt. about 12" above floor thence to wall of tower; 2 wires lead to dwelling #1; 4 wires to dwelling #2 & 3; thence up outside wall to attic floor |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Cie., Constructeurs A Paris 1834 |
| Year Made: | 1834 |
| Marks and Number: | None found except above (which is on pedestal) |
| Order of Apparatus: | 1st |
| Inside Diameter: | 6' 0.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 315 degrees - 45 degrees blank. Center of 45 degree blank has a magnetic bearing of about N 75 degrees W |
| Number of Panels: | 8, 1 of which is blank (Panels have a center rib above & below central drum) |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 17 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 13 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 6 |
| 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: | Cast iron circular shaft, 2' 9.5". Distance from wooden watchroom floor to lower part of lens floor, 6' 10 1/4" |
| Service Table: | None, except a small wooden shelf on a bracket |
| Draft Tube Description: | A 5" sheet iron tube extends from top of lens frame up into 12" cast iron ventilator tube. To lower end is attached a std. "connecting" tube to which is attached a std. 1st order damper tube. |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | About 146' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | No color |
| Red Sectors Description: | No red sector |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Standard plunger lamp of 1st order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None, except those in watchroom. Left 1 has 2 shelves, right side of passageway between tower & dwelling #1 having 1 shelf. These are used for lamp supplies, etc. 2nd closet on left side has 9 shelves used for household utensils etc. |
| Oil House Description: | A brick oil house, 14' x 18' is located about 60' N of tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 3 galvanized iron tanks, holding 125 gal. each. |
| Other (Describe): | Dwelling #1: 3 closets used for dishes etc & 8 for clothes. Dwell. #2: 3 closets used for clothes, 4th for kitchen utensils. Dwell. #3: 3 closets used for clothes, 2 for dishes & kitchen utensils & 2 misc. Small cellar used for gen. storage. 2 storehouses |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | About 30' W of tower, connected by inclosed passageway |
| Coloring: | White with lead colored trimmings & green shutters |
| Construction Materials: | Brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 10 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Brick oil house, 1 frame & 1 corrugated iron storehouses |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White, storehouse #1 has lead colored trimmings |
| Paths and Walks: | Brick & stone |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None. Shrubbery on grounds to be removed |
| Cultivation Area Available: | All the area occupied as grounds |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sand beach & salt marsh surround city. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Assistant Keepers Dwellings |
| Location: | 10' E of tower |
| Coloring: | White with lead colored trimmings & green shutters |
| Construction Materials: | Brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 one side; 7 2nd side |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 |
| Outhouses: | |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Brick & stone |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None, shrubbery on grounds to be removed. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | All the area occupied as grounds |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sand beach & salt marsh surround city. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Supplied by City water works through pipe connections |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | Cisterns not now in use. #1 has been filled with sand & #2 is used as a cellar |
| Tank Capacity: | #1 under dwelling 1, cap about 2565 gal; #2 under 2nd dwelling 1245 gal. |
| Tank Material: | Brick |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | No prevalent diseases (keeper) |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No landing, wharf or boathouse |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The general character & condition of the premises etc. are good. |