Report for Elm Tree Beacon (New York) - 1880

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd district
Location: Staten Island, NY. Front light of Swash Channel Range, entrance to New York Bay.
Date of Report: 02/03/1880
Latitude: 40° 33' 46"
Longitude: 74° 05' 47"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Sandy & loam
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 30'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Fences
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None - may be made on the beach
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: None
Means to Reach Light Station: About 1 mile from New Dorp station on the Staten Island RR
Distance to Nearest Road: 1 mile from New Dorp station
Distance to Post Office: New Dorp 1 mile
Distance to Village: New Dorp 1 mile
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Walk from New Dorp station on the Staten Island RR.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1856
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
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: 62'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Growth of evergreens & fields etc.
Color of Tower: White & red
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Painted
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: Range for Swash Channel
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
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
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Brick & stone built solid up to sills, which are heavy timbers forming the sides & radii of a hexagon & spreading out beyond base of tower about 3 to 4' all around.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy
Soil Susceptibility: Yes, by grass, shrubbery & trees
Miscellaneous Remarks: New sills were put in during the spring of 1877.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: No order, special design
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:
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:
Lightning Spindle: Iron
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Wood, copper floor
Lantern Doors: Door 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:
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 only in range.
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:
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 fitted w/ shelves, etc.
Oil House Description: In bottom part of tower.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 1 - 50 gallon oil butt; 2 - 54 gallon oil butts.
Other (Describe): 4 closets in dwelling. 2 each story, located back of stairs.
Suitability: Dry
Dwelling
Location: Frame bldg 1 full story & half - pitch roof shingled.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Wood -- stone foundation
Number of Rooms: 5 - including kitchen in the addition.
Number of Dwellings: 1
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Wood shed or barn
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: Fences 3 sides
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: Nearly all
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings: Sandy - loam surface.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: In front of house
Tank Material: Brick, cement lining
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No