Report for Fort Ripley Shoal Light Station (South Carolina) - 1914
| General |
| District: | 6th |
| Inspector: | F. P. Dillon, Asst. Supt. |
| Location: | In 1 1/3 fathoms of water on Middle Ground, beween South & Folly Island Channels, Charteston Harbor, SC. |
| Date of Report: | 03/22/1914 |
| Latitude: | 32° 45' 52" |
| Longitude: | 79° 54' 07" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Submarine site ceded to US by State of South Carolina Marxh 17, 1877. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | 03/19/1877 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 10 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing steps. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Light draft boat from Charleston, SC. 1.5 miles. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Dwelling supports lantern. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1878 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Aug. 11, 1913 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 44 feet |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Buildings of city of Charleston, SC. |
| Color of Tower: | White on Brown piles, red roof |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Connected. |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor, for general navigation coming to port of Charleston. |
| Building Materials: | Wood on wrought iron screw piles. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood. |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 12" for house. |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6, 34.5" x 34.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 2 outside, 3' 0" x 7' 0"; 2 dormer 24" x 42" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 5th order |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 36.5" x 34" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron frame, wood parapet wall. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron. |
| Lightning Spindle: | 1/2" pipe. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Wood. |
| Lantern Doors: | Wood, double in parapet wall. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap in floor, wood. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern in wood portion. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Crewed to inside at top of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 100 cp |
| Name of Maker: | L. Lautter, Lemonnier et Cie., Paris |
| Year Made: | Unknown |
| Marks and Number: | None. |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 15" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red. |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Cast iron flanged stand. |
| Service Table: | |
| 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: | Linen curtain |
| How Color is Produced: | Red chimney. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | Lamp |
| Form of Colored Glass: | 5th order chemney |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order Hains |
| Type of Illuminant: | Oil |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 3/16" wick |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | Part of dwelling |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 70 5 gal. cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 1 on 1st floor for coal, provisiions & stores; fitted with shelves. |
| Suitability: | Dry, suited. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Stevens, 1873 |
| Time to Start: | Immediately |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Stevens. |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1873 |
| Characteristic: | 1 blow every 10 seconds. |
| Duplication: | None. |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | On south side just outside of dormer window on bracket. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Is part of dwelling, bell outside of windows. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 41 lbs. Lightship bell |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | 31" |
| Height: | 24" |
| Time: | 3' 15" |
| Manufacturer: | Stevens, 1873 |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Part of tower |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Wood, tin roof, surmounted by lantern. |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 on 1st floor; 2 on 2nd floor |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | Kitchen stove. |
| Number of Keepers: | |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | |
| Stove, Maker: | Columbia-816-13 Rose |
| Stove, Size: | Oven 11" x 16" |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: | Tubular hand, 1 hand lantern. |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Tanks in dwelling |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Yes |
| Injury Possible: | Not |
| Purity Precaution: | Tanks ventilated only. |
| Tank Capacity: | 1000 gal. placed on 1st floor in corners of dwelling |
| Tank Material: | Galv. iron. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Faucet |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | In dwelling. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good. |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No. |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Iron steps. |
| Distance and Direction: | At the tower. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat Number: | 10 |
| Type: | Whale |
| Length: | 4' 2" |
| Width: | 16' |
| When Built: | 1914 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Dec. 2, 1913 |
| Sails: | True |
| Suited to Work: | No. cranky |