Report for Fort Niagara (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | On high E'ly bank of Niagara River, 1/4 mile from its mouth, S'ly shore of Lake Ontario. |
| Date of Report: | 01/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 43° 15' 42" |
| Longitude: | 79° 03' 47" |
| Premises |
| Site: | On Fort Niagara Military Reservation. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 0.84 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 0.84 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Clay |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 125' horizontally, Ground at base of tower at 32' MLL |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Board fence on 3 land sides. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | 4 protection cribs in River. Fort Niagara wharf may be used. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Path down bank, about 150' to protection cribs. Good road 300 yds. to Fort wharf. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By electric cars to Fort Niagara Reservation, end of line about 1/2 mi from light. BY NYCRR to Lewiston & thence by trolley or highway about 6.5 mi to light. By boat from Niagara on the Lake, directly opposite in Canada, to which MCRR runs. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 1/2 mi. to end of electric car line. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1 mi to Youngstown, NY |
| Distance to Village: | 1 mi to Youngstown, NY |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Good road from Lewiston & Youngstown, NY |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | In 1813, on mess house in Niagara Fort. Refitted in 1857. Tower built at present site in 1872. |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Tower raised 10' in 1900. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 64' 3" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 89.5' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Wooded land |
| Color of Tower: | Gray stone upper 10' of buff brick |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of stone & brick |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Lake coast & entrance to Niagara River. |
| Building Materials: | Limestone & brick |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 4' 5" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 2' 3" |
| Diameter at Base: | 15' 4" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 11' 8" round at watch room. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron, circular, checkered. |
| Number of Landings: | 4 intermediate, each 1/2 circle. |
| Size of Glass: | 9" x 14", 9" x 18" new top part 8" x 16" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 - 1 box window, 2 sash each, 6 panes 9" x 14"; 3 each 2' sash - 2 panes 9" x 18"; 5 double 32" x 6' 4" & 28" x 42"; 3 with 3 - 16" x 18" & 1 half round 8" radius |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Solid stone masonry 4' 8" below surface, resting on a bed of concrete, 1' thick |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Clay, garden soil appears to be quite rich black loam. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Good soil. Side hill is protected from erosion of rain, by numerous willows & other trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 36.5" x 26 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 2 = 72 degrees |
| What Bearings: | 237 degrees 20' (SW x W 1/8 W) to 309 degrees 20' (NW 1/2 W) |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron & brass |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron pinnacle with platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Underside of base plate of stair shaft is enveloped with sheet of copper, turned up on 3 sides, on 4th, copper incloses a copper wire rope, 5/8" dia. this rope passes thru foundation of tower, extends horizontally 12' beyond & penetrates ground 8'. |
| Balustrade: | Iron circular gallery, balustrade of iron, 8 stanchions, with closed up nuts of brass, & provided with top & foot rail. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron parapet door, with hinges & spring bolts of brass. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron checkered |
| Watchroom Doors: | Boiler iron trap door, fitted with brass hinges & iron handles. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 iron ventilators in parapet with brass revolving discs, protected outside with brass gauze. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 iron, 8' long. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks screwed into lantern posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | With 2 double closets |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | L. Sautter & Co., Constructeurs a Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th order dioptric Fresnel |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 270 degrees - visible 327 degrees 20' (NNW 7/8 W) to 237 degrees 20' (SW x W 1/8 W) |
| Number of Panels: | 3 panels, 90 degrees each = 270 degrees; 90 degree reflector. |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Iron |
| Service Table: | Iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | 3" copper tube, no damper |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Drop tube built in SE corner of tower in case that in future a revolving apparatus were to be put in. |
| 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: | 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 round wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | A room 12' 6" x 15' 9" in stone bldg, attached to tower by short passage, is used for office & store room. Provided with 2 closets, with shelves for supplies. This room was used for oil room until 1905. |
| Oil House Description: | Square iron oil house 25' S'ly from tower, fitted with 5 iron shelves. Erected in 1905. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' 6 7/8" sq. |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 18 x 5 = 90 - 5 gal. cases |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: | Dry, suited |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | About 140' W'ly from tower. House is built after plans from which several houses in district have been built, examples being Dunkirk Asst. Keeper's & Oswego. |
| Coloring: | Cream, trimmed with chocolate. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6; Kitchen prov. w/ sink & hot water tank att'd to range. Bath on 2nd floor |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Woodshed 12' x 16', 8' posts, 3' S of back porch & projecting 6' E built in 1901. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Gray, trimmed with darker shade of gray |
| Paths and Walks: | Board walk along front 265' & into house. |
| Area Inclosed: | 0.84 acres by board fence on 3 land sides. |
| Area of Garden: | 0.2 acres |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | About 0.32 acres, willow & poplar or cottonwood trees |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 0.2 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Arable clay loam. Mostly covered with grass & some trees. Lot surrounded by grounds of Fort Niagara. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | By connection with waterworks of Fort Niagara, made Fall of 1889. |
| Quality: | Not potable |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | Authorities of Fort Niagara leave a can of distilled water, for drinking purposes at dwelling each day. |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | System supplied from large elevated tank, which is filled from Niagara River, by steam pumping station, at foot of hill. |
| 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: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing may be made at 4 protection cribs in River, at foot of hill, 150' distant from Dwelling by winding foot path. Good road leads down hill to wharf of Fort Niagara. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | To protect foundation of dwelling from erosion of bank, in 1901 a concrete wall 9' high, 3' thick at bottom & 1' at top, 24' long was built at rear of dwelling. River side of lot protected by 4 timber cribs, projecting from shore 30-40'. All in good cond. |