Report for Hog island Light Station (Virginia) - 1909

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Major W.E. Craighill, CoE, Light-house Engineer.
Location: Hog Island, Seacoast of Virginia, on the southerly part of Hog Island, Norther'ly side of Great Machipongo Inlet.
Date of Report: 03/24/1909
Latitude: 37° 23' 46"
Longitude: 75° 41' 59"
Premises
Site: Exchange for old tract.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 07/27/1893
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 2 703/1000 acres.
Area Inclosed: 2 acres.
Character of Soil: Sandy.
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 1/2 mile.
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Picket fence.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: A wharf, about 3/4 mile from house, not in very good order.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Dirt road, about 3/4 mile.
Means to Reach Light Station: Boat.
Distance to Nearest Road: 14 miles, Exmore, Va.
Distance to Post Office: 3/4 mile.
Distance to Village: 14 miles.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: Mail boat from Exmore, N.Y.P. & N. RR.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Boat.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1852
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1896
Condition at This Date: Good.
Shape of Tower in Plan: Octagonal.
Form of Tower: Pyramidal iron skeleton tower.
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 190 feet.
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 180 feet.
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Trees.
Color of Tower: Black.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint.
Tower Connection: Detached.
Object of Navigation: Seacoast, general.
Building Materials: Iron.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base: 24' 5.75"
Diameter at Parapet: 12'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Spiral, iron.
Number of Landings: 11
Size of Glass: 10" x 14"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 7, 46.75" x 24.75"
Number of Doors: 6
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Concrete, piles & grillage.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sandy & marshy.
Soil Susceptibility: Yes.
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 1st order
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal.
Diameter to Glass: 12 feet
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 16
Type of Bars: Vertical.
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 9' 9"
Number of Plates in Height: 3
Number of Plates Each Side: 3
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: Top, 44 21/32" x 27 13/16"; center, 39 3/16" x 27 13/16"; bottom, 30 15/16" x 27 13/16"
Number of Storm Panes: None.
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None.
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron.
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron.
Lightning Spindle: Coper.
Description of Lightning Rod: None.
Balustrade: Iron.
Lantern Doors: None.
Floor of Lantern: Iron.
Watchroom Doors: 1, wood, on hinges.
Parapet Diameter: 12 feet.
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern.
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 2
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into frame.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: With closets, magneto call bells, stove, chairs, etc.
How is Relief Called: Magneto call bells.
Where is Call System Led: From each keeper's dwelling to watchroom.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 2.5 hours.
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Henry Lepaute, Paris
Year Made: Not given.
Marks and Number: None.
Order of Apparatus: 1st
Inside Diameter: 6' 9"
Light Characteristic: Flashing white every 45 seconds.
Time of Revolution: 6 minutes.
Flash Interval: 45 seconds.
Duration of Flash: 3 seconds.
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 8
Number of Flash Panels: 8
Arc of Each: 45 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 9
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 17
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 8
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Iron.
Service Table: None.
Draft Tube Description: Iron, 4 inches in diameter, connected with damper tube at top of lens. Top end inserted into ventilator ball.
Revolving Machinery: Clockwork.
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Chariot.
Chariot Description: 10 large wheels, 5.5" in diameter; 20 small wheels, 3.5" in diameter.
Length of Drop Tube: 123 feet.
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: 2.5 hours.
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: In case with glass doors.
Regulated: By governor.
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 5 wick first-order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 3
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord:
Size of Clock Cord:
Length of Clock Cord:
How Led: Over 2 pulleys through watchroom.
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 5
Diameter of Outside Wick: 4"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None.
Oil House Description: To south of tower with shelves for oil.
Oil House Inside Dimension: 16' 6" x 18'
Oil House Construction Material: Brick with slate roof.
Oil House Capacity: 578 5 gal. cans.
Other (Describe): Fitted with shelves for storing provisions.
Suitability: Dry, suited.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: None.
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: 3 houses for keepers to the east of tower. Keeper's house between the assistants'.
Coloring: 1st story brick, 2nd story frame covered with shingles, gable ends & window frames brown.
Construction Materials: Enumerated above, roof slate.
Number of Rooms: 9, with closets.
Number of Dwellings: 3
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 in each dwelling.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 3
Outhouse Coloring: Brown.
Paths and Walks: None.
Area Inclosed: 2 acres, by picket fence.
Area of Garden: None.
Area Timber or Shrubbery: Large pines & other trees scattered about.
Cultivation Area Available: None.
Area Cultivated: None.
Character of Surroundings: Sandy soil & marsh land.
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From roofs of dwellings.
Quality: Good.
Quantity: Ample.
Injury Possible: Not liable.
Purity Precaution: Wire screens.
Tank Capacity: 5,000 gallons each, in rear of dwellings.
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 good.
Diseases: None due to local conditions.
Prevalency:
Local Causes: No.
Recommended Improvements: Draining of adjoining property would be beneficial.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: A wharf, about 3/4 mile from house, not in very good condition.
Distance and Direction: About 3/4 mile southeast.
Miscellaneous Remarks: