Report for Genesee Beacon (New York) - 1888

General
District: 10th
Inspector: Major S.M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers
Location: 218' from outer end of W pier, entrance to Charlotte Harbor, mouth of Genesee River, NY
Date of Report: 03/02/1888
Latitude: 43° 15' 46"
Longitude: 77° 36' 02"
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: Beacon rests in center of superstructure of pier which projects 2' above lake level.
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: None
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Pier serves as landing
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Public highway leads to pier, distance from inner end of pier to beacon 2900'.
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat or by elevated walk along pier.
Distance to Nearest Road: Ontario beach 1800'
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Frame tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: Subsequent to 1838; light shown from iron tower for 1st time on 11/5/1880, until 3/5/1884, when frame beacon was erected on outer end of W pier, a distance of 2900' from inner end of pier & light shown from it for 1st time on 4/1/1884.
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1884; Iron tower was taken down in 1885 & transferred to Cleveland Breakwater Light Station.
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: Deck of pier to focal plane 29'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 31'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Ontario beach
Color of Tower: Brown below - white above & lantern black
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Oil paint
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation: Coast & Harbor light
Building Materials: Wood with iron lantern
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 9"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 9"
Diameter at Base: 11'
Diameter at Parapet: 8'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden stairway & steps
Number of Landings: One
Size of Glass: 10" x 20" & 20" x 26"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 3 - 24" x 34.5" & 14" x 24"
Number of Doors: 2
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Beacon rests upon 2 courses 12" x 12" Pine timber securely bolted to upper course of wall timbers & cross ties of superstructure of pier.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Beacon is similar in plan to those erected at Conneaut, Ashtabula & Fairport. Lantern together with lens was transferred from the discontinued main light, on the reservation, and fitted to this beacon.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 7' - outside measurement
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: All 36" x 26 3/4" x 5/16"
Number of Storm Panes: 4
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron, copper & zinc
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Iron, lined with zinc
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron
Lightning Spindle: Steel - has platinum point
Description of Lightning Rod: 3/4" gas pipe attached with an eye which fits over spindle, is led down dome across parapet to outside of railing, thence down to pier & 4' in water.
Balustrade: Iron with 12 posts & 2 rails high made from 1 1/4" wrought iron pipes.
Lantern Doors: Iron fitted with wrought iron hinges - door opens out.
Floor of Lantern: Wood, covered with copper.
Watchroom Doors: Wooden trap door lined with copper
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 5 - in lower part of lantern - of cast iron.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 of wrought iron - 7' 9" long
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass hooks screwed into upper parts of astragals.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Contains machinery of fog bell striking apparatus
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: L. Sautter & Co., Paris
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed - NE & W
Number of Panels: 2 panels & 180 degree reflector
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 7
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 5
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 3' 4"
Service Table: Iron - attached to pedestal
Draft Tube Description: 2.5" tube, of copper, sets over damper tube.
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 chimney
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: 2 - fitted with shelves inclosed with panel & plain doors - used for keeping measures, chimneys, dusters, etc.
Oil House Description: Oil room under stairs in base of beacon for small supply of oil - originally intended for coal bin.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): Covered way, connecting dwelling with abandoned main tower, serves as storeroom & fitted with locker & shelves.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Stevens fog bell striking apparatus
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Bell sounded every 30 sec.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: To mark pier head & harbor entrance
Distance and Direction: Suspended from brackets attached to 2nd story of N face of beacon.
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building: Room in 2nd story of beacon serves as bldg for signal.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: An elevated walk 1823' in length, located on pier, connects shore line with beacon.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is no record on file to show the exact date when pier light was 1st established. The lighthouse crib, proper, which is located on lake side of W pier was rebuilt from water up in 1880 & an iron tower placed upon same (to take place of small beacon)