Report for Franklin Island Light Station (Maine) - 1908

General
District: 1st
Inspector: Major Edw. Burr, USA Engineer 1st Lighthouse Dist.
Location: In the NW'ly side of Franklin Island, ME, Muscongus Bay & on the SE'ly side of an entrance to St. George River.
Date of Report: 02/19/1908
Latitude: 43° 53' 32" N
Longitude: 69° 22' 31" W
Premises
Site: Jurisdiction & right of the Commonwealth of MA therein to not exceeding 12 acres granted to US
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission: 06/26/1806
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 12 acres (whole island)
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Loam
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 100'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Boat slip
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: None
Means to Reach Light Station: Boat
Distance to Nearest Road: Steamboat landing at Friendship, ME - 6 miles
Distance to Post Office: Friendship 6 miles
Distance to Village: Friendship 6 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Boat from Steamboat Landing at Friendship, 6 miles
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1807
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1855
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Circular
Form of Tower: Conical
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 40.5'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 56 3/4'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woods
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewash
Tower Connection: Connected by back service room
Object of Navigation: Local navigating purposes
Building Materials: Brick
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 24"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 18"
Diameter at Base: 12'
Diameter at Parapet: 11'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Cast iron - open work
Number of Landings: One
Size of Glass: 10 3/4" x 10"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 3 - 48" x 24"
Number of Doors: One
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Stone
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Loam
Soil Susceptibility: Yes
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 6'
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 35.5"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 36" x 28"
Number of Storm Panes: None
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron - Dome shaped, made in 8 sections, flanged & bolted on inside & lined with zinc.
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron
Lightning Spindle: Bronze with copper tip
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper ribbon attached to lantern deck, led down outside of tower, along surface 5' & enters soil pipe.
Balustrade: 1 rail, 1.5" x .5" with 8 1" posts; outside gallery is cast iron 36" wide.
Lantern Doors: Cast iron 31" x 25.5"; .5" thick
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron
Watchroom Doors: None
Parapet Diameter: None
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into sash bars
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 6 hours
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: L. Sautter & Co.
Year Made: Not given
Marks and Number: Constructeurs a Paris
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 20"
Light Characteristic: Fixed white varied by white flash every 90 sec.
Time of Revolution: 1 revolution in 3 minutes
Flash Interval: 84 sec.
Duration of Flash: 6 sec.
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Each fixed part 120 degrees
Number of Panels: 6
Number of Flash Panels: 2
Arc of Each: 60 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 5
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 3
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels: 2 of the fixed panels are removed & bullseyes inserted.
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Cast iron
Service Table: None
Draft Tube Description: None
Revolving Machinery: 4th order revolving clock
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Pintal
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: 26'
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: 6 hours
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: By tin case
Regulated: By fan governor
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funk-Heap 1 wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: One
Number of Spare Burners: One
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord: Cord
Size of Clock Cord:
Length of Clock Cord:
How Led: Over leading sheave & down inside of tower
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: Red brick oil house 191' E 1/2 W from tower.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): Closet in service room, fitted with 2 shelves & used for lamp supplies.
Suitability: Dry & suited to purpose.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Hand bell rung in answer to signals
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic:
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Dwelling
Location: Attached to service room on N'ly side of tower.
Coloring: White
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 6
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Barn 100' from tower on NE'ly side
Outhouse Coloring: White
Paths and Walks: Board walk along front of dwelling.
Area Inclosed: Whole area by wire fence
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: About 1/4 of whole island
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain water from roof of dwelling
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Cleaned yearly
Tank Capacity: 2 cisterns in dwelling cellar - 1000 gals each
Tank Material: Brick
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Very healthful
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boathouse painted white & has boat slip
Distance and Direction: 340' on N'ly side of tower
Miscellaneous Remarks: