Report for Fire Island (New York) - 1880

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist.
Location: On E side of Fire Island Inlet, S side of Long Island, NY
Date of Report: 03/03/1880
Latitude: 40° 37' 55"
Longitude: 73° 13' 09"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: About 1/3 acre
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Sand
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 150'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: A railing around the stone pier upon which the bldg & tower stand (100 x 150')
Wharf or Landing on Premises: A wooden wharf much dilapidated.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: None
Means to Reach Light Station: 9 miles from Babylon on the S Shore RR. During the summer, a small steamboat runs btwn the Island & Babylon. Otherwise, reached by sail boat.
Distance to Nearest Road: To Penataquot village & the RR, distance is 4 miles; To the Lighthouse across the Bay, distance is 7 or 8 miles.
Distance to Post Office: To Babylon, 9 miles
Distance to Village: Penataquot, 4 miles.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: RR & private conveyance.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Sailboat from RR station across bay 7 to 8 miles.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1826
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: Refitted in 1858 - repaired in 1872.
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Circular
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 152' to focal plane
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 168'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woods
Color of Tower: Yellow
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Cement wash
Tower Connection: Connected by covered way from the Keeper's dwelling.
Object of Navigation: Seacoast & general purposes.
Building Materials: Brick. Iron staircase, railings. Parapet platform of granite.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 10' 9"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 2' 4"
Diameter at Base: Interior, 10' 6"
Diameter at Parapet: Interior, 10' 6"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Cast iron
Number of Landings: 9, including lantern deck
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 7 - double french 2' & 5' wide.
Number of Doors: 1
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Rubble & concrete foundation extending 15' below the Surface of Stone pier.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy
Soil Susceptibility: No
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 1st
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 11' 4", interior
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 16
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 9' 9"
Number of Plates in Height: 3
Number of Plates Each Side: 3
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: Lower, 27 5/8 x 30 3/4"; middle 27 5/8 x 39"; upper 27 5/8 x 26 3/4"
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Copper, platinum point
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper rod, outside of tower.
Balustrade: Copper, pipe railing - iron gallery
Lantern Doors: Wood lined w/ copper
Floor of Lantern: Copper inside, cast iron outside.
Watchroom Doors: Trap door of wood, lined w/ copper.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 5 of cast iron
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 of wrought iron
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: None


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Wooden floor, copper covered. Heater & strainer, Lighthouse clock.
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 1st
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Flashing white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval: 1 minute
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Flashing; Compass visibility - ENE x S'd to W x S
Number of Panels: 8
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: White
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description:
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps:
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: In 1st story of dwelling house fitted w/ 8 oil butts, 1 strainer & oil cans, tools, burners, glasses etc.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 6 - 100 gallon oil butts; 1 - 50 gallon oil butt; 1- 100 gallon oil can (for waste). Oil butts are placed on wooden bench.
Other (Describe): In the dwelling & used for tools etc., & domestic purposes generally.
Suitability: Dry & suited.
Dwelling
Location: Connected w/ tower by covered way.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: NY cut granite - 1.5 stories high w/ cellar underneath.
Number of Rooms: 2 sitting rooms; 6 sleeping rooms; 2 kitchens; 3 cellars (1 used as storeroom & 1 for work shop); 8 closets.
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 Keeper & 2 assistants
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 1 small shed
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: 15,000 sq. ft. (area of pier)
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings: Sand entirely
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: 2 wells, 1 w/ pump - the other dry.
Quality: Good
Quantity: Yes
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: No tanks, no cistern.
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Well
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: At hand
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: No boathouse, wooden landing wharf out of repair. Landing easy.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: