Report for Back River (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, 5th LH District
Location: Chesapeake Bay, VA
Date of Report: 09/08/1867
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Garden is enclosed by a board fence.
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station:
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: Detached tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
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:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewashed.
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
General Description: Built of brick & in good condition.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Of wood & requires some repairs.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: Glass is in good condition.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Wood & in good condition.
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There are 2 ladders, but without hooks.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none provided.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling relief.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Revolving white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval: 1' 30"
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels:
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:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lens of 4th order - Franklin lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2, in good order
Number of Spare Burners: 2, in good condition.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. are kept by themselves in a corner of the oil room.
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed: Garden is enclosed by a board fence.
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: Keeper cultivates a small garden.
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: There is a LHE regulation clock kept in the dwelling in good condition.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: It is respectfully recommended that the dwelling by furnished with a lightning rod.
Condition
Lantern: In good order
Illuminating Apparatus: In good order: Lens was perfectly clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp: In good order in all respects.
Oil: Sample examined & found to be clear, & free from objectionable matter.
Service Lamp Burner: It was in good condition in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level. Keeper told how to center it; & requested to make himself familiar with the process.
Plate Glass: Very clean, & in perfect order.
Lens Cover: It was on; made of white linen sheeting & hung up in lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: There were none
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There was no Rod Lamp.
Dwelling: Neat & in good order & only requires a conductor so far as seen.
Stairway and Landing: Painted & clean.
Inside of Tower: Whitewashed throughout.
Glazing of Dwelling: In good condition
Improvements Needed: Nothing is needed but the lightning rod (conductor).
Outhouses: They are in good condition.
Boathouse: None
Grounds: They are in very neat condition. They have the appearance of neatness & care.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Lens is never touched for any improper purpose.
Lantern and Trap Doors: They fit tightly & answer the purpose.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none to be seen at the time of making the inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There were none to be seen in the rooms mentioned at time of making the inspection.
Heater: Keeper has no heater & requests to be supplied with one.
Ventilation: Keeper understands how to use the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: Dome was painted according to instructions & was in good order. Conductor perfect & led into ground.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition; 1 window for ventilation.
Oil Carriers: In good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: None
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 3
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: None
Number of Dripping Buckets: 3
Number of Oil Tanks: 3, holding 150 gallons.
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They were made according to the directions of the Lighthouse Board.
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters of the oil butts were filled with refuse oil & covers. Keeper understands use of covers & cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping bucket so hung.
Oil Butt Platform: There was a plank btwn the butts & the masonry.
Empty Oil Butts: There were no empty oil butts.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate.
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: Closets, floors & walls of the storeroom are properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are so arranged & kept in good order.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are kept clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They were in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Very good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: He is very much so.
Keeper Interested in Duties: He does.
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He does.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He seems to understand them & to wish to conform to them.
Keeper Complaints:
Keeper Family: He has a family & it occupies the dwelling provided for him.
Keeper Name: W. H. Abdell
Keeper Age: Middle aged
Keeper Present or Absent: He was present
Number of Assistants: There is no assistant.
Assistants Attend to Duty:
Assistants Capability:
Assistants Complaints:
Assistants Family:
Assistant Keeper Names:
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Keeper attended me while making the Inspection.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: Yes
Quarterly Returns on Hand: Yes
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: Yes
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: 1
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties: 1
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water: 1
Placards Easily Visible: Yes
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: 1 blank expenditure book.


Revolving Machinery Condition
Revolving Machinery: Regular in its workings; interval of flash 1' 30". It appears to be well attended to.
Weight of Machine: Weight of revolving machine is placed during the day according to printed instructions.
Screwjacks for Raising Machinery: There were no screw jacks.