Report for Horseshoe Reef (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | In 6' of water, at head of Niagara River, on E'ly side of Canadian channel & N'ly side of N entrance to Buffalo Harbor. On S'ly part of middle reef in Canada. about 3/4 mile SW'ly from Horseshoe Reef. |
| Date of Report: | 02/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 52' 53" |
| Longitude: | 78° 54' 56" |
| Premises |
| Site: | In navigable waters of Canada - Dwelling located on USLH reservation on S Pier Buffalo, inner end. Site ceded to US for lighthouse purposes by Great Britain, in protocol, signed by Lord Palmerston & Abbot Lawrence, Dec. 9, 1850. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | No particular area reserved for light or dwelling. Light occupied crib 38' 3" sq. w/ surrounding protection cribs & rip-rap. Dwelling occupied 75' x 150' = 1/4 acre. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | At light - none; at dwelling - sand. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Top of foundation pier at +14' 9.5" |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Hanging iron ladder on S'ly corner. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | 1 2/3 mile to foot Erie St., Buffalo. Nearly 1 mile to old Fort Erie, Canada. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By row boat. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1 2/3 mile to foot Erie St., Buffalo, NY |
| Distance to Post Office: | 2 1/5 mi (air line) to Buffalo, NY post office. |
| Distance to Village: | 2 1/5 mi (air line) to Buffalo, NY post office. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | 1 2/3 mi from foot Erie St., or from Keeper's dwelling on S Pier, opposite foot Erie St., by small boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern supported by roof of "quarters" |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1856 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Repaired 1871 - thoroughly rebuilt & repaired in Spring of 1906. |
| Condition at This Date: | First class condition. |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Quarters, square; parapet of lantern, circular; 10 sides glass |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | Deck of pier to ventilator ball 34' 2.5" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 43' 10" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Bldgs, trees, & smoke of City of Buffalo. |
| Color of Tower: | Quarters, white with lead color trim, black lantern above. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Lead & oil paint. |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern rises from roof of "quarters" bldg. |
| Object of Navigation: | For local & general navigation. Marks outer limits of N entrance to Buffalo Harbor & beginning of Canadian Channel in Niagara River. |
| Building Materials: | Heavy braced iron posts beneath quarters, quarters built with iron frame, covered with wood & corrugated iron. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 6 5/8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 18' 6' x 18' 6" x 8' 11" high to edge of roof. |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron ladder, raised to ceiling, when not in use. |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 12" x 24" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 - 1 sash 2' 4 1/4" x 2' 3 3/4" - 2 lights; 1 sash 2' 4 1/4" x 2' 3 1/4" - 2 lights; 1 - 1 sash 2' 4 1/4" x 2' 5.5" |
| Number of Doors: | Iron trap door in floor of lantern & 1 in ceiling of quarters. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Wooden crib of oak, 40' x 40', abt 7' high, resting on reef; Within walls of crib solid stone pier of heavy coursed flint limestone masonry is built rising 14' 1" above top of crib = total height of 14' 9.5" above MLL. Stone pier is 38' 4" sq. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Foundation pier protected on NW, SW & SE faces by stone filled crib, 14' wide & 7' high MLL., placed close to foundation pier; & by heavy mass of large 3-4 ton rubble stone piled to protect light from heavy SW seas. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical parapet - polygonal glass |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 2" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | All 36.5" x 26 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron, 1/4" boiler plate parapet. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron, lined with zinc. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron spindle, platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 9/16" copper cable, loop hangs over spindle on top of ball, led down N side of pier & end hangs with 2' immersed in water. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery 2' 3.5" wide with railing. Access secured by means of iron steps & ladder, from balcony about quarters SE side. |
| Lantern Doors: | Trap door in lantern floor. Another trap door, of iron, 2' 3" below, in ceiling of quarters. No door out onto lantern balcony. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron, checkered. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron trap door, fitted with brass hinges. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 7' 2" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 iron ventilators in parapet, fitted with round brass revolving discs. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None - light wooden ladder for use in reaching roof of quarters & lantern balcony, from main balcony. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks in lantern posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Quarters below lantern 18.5' x 18.5' x 8' 11" high to edge of roof, divided into 4 rooms:Kitchen - fitted with stove, cupboard, wood & coal box & shelf, pantry & storeroom - fitted with cupboards & shelves, bed room, office - fitted with desk & table. |
| How is Relief Called: | Automatic electric alarm bell rings in case lens ceases to revolve. |
| Where is Call System Led: | Placed in "quarters" below |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 4 hrs. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier, Benard & Turenne |
| Year Made: | 1908 |
| Marks and Number: | USLHE 424 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 11/16" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashes red every 5 sec. |
| Time of Revolution: | 20 sec. |
| Flash Interval: | 5 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 bullseye lenses |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 4 |
| Arc of Each: | 90 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 center disc surrounded by 4 full circles of prisms. |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 4 segments of circles of prisms |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 2 segments of circles of prisms |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | 4 panels of lens revolve about a vertical axis every 20 sec., giving a flash every 5 sec. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | 3' 5 1/4" high, cast iron top 18 1/4" dia., supported by 4 brass posts. Clock inclosed in pedestal, under top by glass. |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | 4th order revolving clock, fan governor. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 11' 1" - Floor of lantern to floor "quarters" = 11' 1" minus weight & pulleys = 2' 8" = available fall 8' 5" |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 4 hrs. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass case inclosing copper portion of pedestal. |
| Regulated: | Revolving fan governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | 1/8" cable |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Weight supported by 4 parts. Dbl & triple blocks, weight descends thru wooden box 12" x 13" under lantern in corner of room, in "quarters" |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | Steel discs 4" dia., v grooves 3 1/4" dia. |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 12 or 13 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1/2" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 circular wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | Square iron oil house on SW side of deck of pier, below quarters, 7' 6 7/8" sq. fitted with 5 iron shelves. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 18 x 5 = 90 5-gal cases of oil. |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: | Suited. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | "quarters" bldg at LH beneath lantern. Dbl dwelling located at inner end of Buffalo S Pier, 1 2/3 mi from light. |
| Coloring: | Dark red, trimmed with dark green |
| Construction Materials: | Wood, shingle roof, brick foundation. |
| Number of Rooms: | Each side has 3 rooms & pantry on 1st floor & 3 rooms & bath on 2nd. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 each side. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | 4' cement walk past front of house, 65' distant, leading to US Engr's ferry slip. |
| Area Inclosed: | Not inclosed |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | Grass on front yard. Rear yard & adj. beach - sand |
| Character of Surroundings: | Area in front has thin layer of rich soil & grass growing. Area at rear & sides, low sandy beach. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | At dwelling - 1.5" galv. iron water pipe connecting with dbl line of 4" pipe leading under Buffalo River, connecting with Buffalo City Water Works. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable, except as pipe under River may be injured by vessels dragging anchors or by dredging operations. |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Plumbing |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Fairly healthful. Some trouble from coal dust blown across Buffalo River, from Lockawanna boat trestle on N Pier. |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | A "Strachen" patent boat launching apparatus was placed upon the NE side of deck of masonry pier in April, 1882. This is still in use. Pair of boat davits located on balcony deck above "Strachan" hoist, takes boat from top of pier when necessary & stow it |
| Distance and Direction: | Ashore, keeper stores boat in ferry slip of US Engineers, opposite foot of Erie St., about 125' distant from dwelling. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |