Report for Great Wicomico River Light Station (Virginia) - 1927

General
District: 5th
Inspector: L. M. Hopkins
Location: In 1.5 fathoms on shoal making out from Fleet Point, VA. Marks entrance to Great Wicomico River.
Date of Report: 10/25/1927
Latitude: 37° 46' 37"
Longitude: 76° 17' 13"
Premises
Site: State of Virginia to US by act of General Assembly.
Date of Reservation: 01/03/1888
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 5 acres
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 3/8 of a nautical mile.
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat, distance about 2 nautical 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: On superstructure.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1889
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: 42 feet
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woodland.
Color of Tower: Superstructure white, lantern black, roof & substructure brown.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: By paint.
Tower Connection: In one.
Object of Navigation: To mark entrance to Great Wicomico River, also aid in navigating Chesapeake Bay.
Building Materials: Wood & iron.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron ladders to main deck; wooden spiral stairway to lantern.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Screw pile structure with lantern on superstructure or dwelling.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th 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: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 34.5" x 36.75"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: All sides glazed.
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood & iron.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper.
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper.
Lightning Spindle: Copper.
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Wood.
Lantern Doors: Hung on outside with brass hinges.
Floor of Lantern: Wood; tongued & grooved yellow pine.
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: In lower part of lantern.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into cornice ceiling.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: No special room for this purpose.
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led: Bell on thermostat for main light.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles: 490 cp
Name of Maker: F. Barbier & C. Cie. Paris
Year Made: 1888
Marks and Number: B F 89
Order of Apparatus: 4th order
Inside Diameter: 19 7/8" approx.
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels: None.
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6
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.
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: Glass.
Red Sectors Description: Red from 332 degrees to 62 degrees, & from 107 degrees to 232 degrees. Sectors cover Dammeron Marsh & shoals off Bull Neck respectively.
Where Color Attached: To lantern.
Form of Colored Glass: Red glass in rectangular form placed against lantern glass.
Lamp Description: 4th order
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power: 45 cp


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 wick
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1.5"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: Tanks under superstructure
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 275 gallons.
Other (Describe): 6 closets on 1st floor, 3 on 2nd floor.
Suitability: Dry.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Fog bell machine (Stevens)
Time to Start: 1 minute.
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: Geo. Stevens Co. Pat. 1873.
Year of Manufacture: Unknown.
Characteristic: 2 strokes, 13 sec. silent, 2 strokes, 13 sec. silent.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: In bell room on east side of superstructure about 300 yeards from channel.
Distance and Direction: In one.
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building: Fog-bell machine room in superstructure on easterly side. Bell outside.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight: 1000
Metal: Bell
Diameter: 36"
Height: 32"
Time:
Manufacturer: I. Register & Sons, Baltimore. 1889.
Weights for Operation:
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:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker: Sexton "Baltimore"
Stove, Size: 818
Sink, Maker: No name
Sink, Size: 12" x 20"
Pump, Maker: None
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From roof & stored in tanks.
Quality: Good.
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: 400 gallons, 1st floor.
Tank Material: 3 Tanks of iron.
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good.
Diseases: None.
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 452
Type: Sq. Stern, R'd bottom, motor.
Length: 6' 7"
Width: 22' 0"
When Built: Unknown
Date Harbored at Station: 1925
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 381
Type: Sq. Stern, R'd bottom; Sail
Length: 6' 3"
Width: 18' 0"
When Built: 1919
Date Harbored at Station: 1922
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes


Power Boat
Engine Type: Single cyl. 2 cycle
Horsepower: 5 HP
Engine Maker: Lathrop Engine Co.
Spare Coil: Edison
Magnet: Gosch (Am.)
Battery: Dry cells; 4.
Propeller Diameter: 18"
Propeller Pitch: 20"


Miscellaneous
General Information:
Boats on Station: Davits