Report for Dunkirk Pierhead (New York) - 1909

General
District: 10th
Inspector: Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt
Location: On pierhead at channel (E'ly) end of W pier, SW'ly side of entrance to Dunkirk Harbor, S'ly shore of Lake Erie.
Date of Report: 02/03/1909
Latitude: 42° 29' 35"
Longitude: 79° 20' 46"
Premises
Site: On masonry pierhead at end of US W Pier.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: Pierhead - 40' 6" x 20' 6" = 830 1/4 sq. ft.
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Iron ladder on SW face of pierhead
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: From Dwellings at Main Light: walk along public streets & beach, about 2000' to inner end of W Pier, thence out W Pier to light., 1500', a total distance of 3500' = 0.66 mile.
Distance to Nearest Road: 2100' to main light
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village: On pierhead in Dunkirk Harbor
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1837
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1899
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower: Lower part with vertical sides, upper part pyramidal
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 34' 10"
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 41'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Harbor & city of Dunkirk
Color of Tower: Red below, white above, lantern roof red.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Detached, dwelling located at Main Light 0.66 mile distant.
Object of Navigation: Harbor, pierhead light
Building Materials: Wood, lower part covered with steel shingles.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 10"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 10"
Diameter at Base: 14' 2" sq.
Diameter at Parapet: 8' 10"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden
Number of Landings: 2
Size of Glass: 10" x 12" - 5 windows - 1 half window 10" x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 5.5
Number of Doors: 1 double entrance door, corrugated iron door opening out, & wooden door opening in - 1 door from vestibule to base of tower.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Timber crib, founded on bed rock & rubble leveling stone at 12' below MLL
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Site for foundation excavated to bed rock & back filled with stone to 12' MLL, on this the stone filled wooden crib was placed, up to 3.0 MLL, on crib 3' of Berea sandstone in exterior walls, then 10' of stone masonry exterior walls, filled with concrete.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 7' 3.5"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 2 plates 33" x 36"; 5 plates 35" x 36"
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 1 door = 45 degrees
What Bearings: N 20 degrees 09' E to N 65 degrees 09 E; Azimuth 20 -09 to 65 -09 Bearing of W Pier = N 57 degrees 39' E Pierhead makes angle of 15 degrees towards N with pier. Door faces towards side of pierhead in contact with pier.
Construction Material Lantern: Wood
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Wood, covered with copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Copper
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper, carried down side of tower & 4' into water
Balustrade: Wood, covered with copper, iron pipe rail
Lantern Doors: 1 double, 1 swinging in & 1 swinging out.
Floor of Lantern: Hard maple
Watchroom Doors: None
Parapet Diameter: 6' 11 5/8"
Ventilators
Location / Number: 4 brass revolving, in parapet
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass curtain hooks, screwed into corner posts.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Locker on 2nd floor of tower, fitted with shelves.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: Lens lantern
Inside Diameter: 11 13/16"
Light Characteristic: Fixed red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 240 degrees - visible btwn: Bearing N 85 degrees 44' E (E 3/8 N) to N 34 degrees 16' W (NW 15/16 N); Azimuth 85 -44 to 325 -44; Center of reflector bears 16 degrees 55' to E'ly of center of door, looking from center of lens.
Number of Panels: 2
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 3
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 3
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: Octagonal wooden
Service Table: Wooden, over stairs, shelves beneath.
Draft Tube Description: None
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 chimneys
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lens lantern lamp, 5th order burner, with 5 day reservoir
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: None
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1 1/4"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: On 1st floor, large closet under stairs, fitted with shelves. On 2nd floor, small closet fitted with shelves.
Oil House Description: About 20 gals. usually kept in closet under stairs, balance in oil house at Main Light.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe):
Suitability:
Water
How Procured: City water works of Dunkirk, from Lake Erie.
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible:
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: 60 bbls, under rear porch
Tank Material: Brick
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: New beacon was built in 1899 on site formerly occupied by beacon washed away in 1895. Beacon was built under contract with Frank L. Kalper, of Dunkirk, at a price of $1288.