Report for Bass Harbor Head Light Station (Maine) - 1935

General
District: 1st
Inspector: Thomas Sampson, Asst. Superintendent
Location: On Bass Harbor Head ME, the southwesterly point of Mt. Desert Island, on easterly side of lower end of Blue Hill Bay & easterly side of entrance to Bass Harbor
Date of Report: 05/03/1935
Latitude: 44° 13' 19"
Longitude: 68° 20' 16"
Premises
Site: Purchase
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 06/12/1857
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 3.382 acreas + right of way
Area Inclosed: Entire site
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 25 ft
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Boatslip
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: Auto
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village: 1 mile to Ellsworth or McKinley
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1858
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: 56 ft
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Forest
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewash
Tower Connection: Connected by a covered way
Object of Navigation: Harbor
Building Materials: Brick
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Cast iron
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 10" x 16" & 9" x 16"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 2-13" x 36"
Number of Doors: One
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th order
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10
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: 36" x 26.5"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron in 10 sections bolted inside & lined with zinc
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron
Lightning Spindle: Yes
Description of Lightning Rod: Wrought iron and copper spindle
Balustrade: 1 rail supported by 8 posts
Lantern Doors: 1 door, brass hinges
Floor of Lantern: Cast iron
Watchroom Doors: Wooden door in lantern deck
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: In parapet
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Spring roller curtains
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Henry Lapaute
Year Made: Not known
Marks and Number: 11 Rue Desnouettes, Paris
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 19 1/4"
Light Characteristic: Fixed
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: 90 degrees
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each: 90 degrees
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: Four posts with circular top & base and center table
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: Red chimney
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached: Illuminating apparatus
Form of Colored Glass: Red chimney
Lamp Description: Regular 4th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: 2
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: 205' northwesterly from tower
Oil House Inside Dimension: 8'8" x 10'8"
Oil House Construction Material: Red Brick
Oil House Capacity: 450 - fitted with 2 139 gal tanks for bulk kerosene in bulk
Other (Describe): Closet in coveredway for storing lamp materials, etc.
Suitability: Dry & suited to purpose designed
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Bell struck by machinery in single blow every 10 seconds
Time to Start: Starts immediately
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Single blow every 10 sec.
Duplication: Spare springs & parts can be obtained at Lighthouse Storehouse South Portland ME
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: Guide to Bass Harbor
Distance and Direction: 19' southeasterly
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse: Plank walk
Description of Fog Signal Building: Brick bell house, pyramidal wooden weight box, white, lead trimmings, tower painted, house whitewashed
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight: 4017 lbs
Metal: Bronze
Diameter: 5'
Height: 4'
Time: 5 hours
Manufacturer: G.M. Stevens, Boston, date not known
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: Northerly connect to tower by porch
Coloring: White with lead color trimmings
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 6
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 1
Outhouse Coloring: White with lead colored trimmings
Paths and Walks: Path & walk
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Fast ground - rocky with light cover of loam
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain from roof of dwelling
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Cistern cleaned frequently
Tank Capacity: 1800 gals in cellar of dwelling
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: Healthful
Diseases: None prevalent
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boat house and boat slip
Distance and Direction: 55 ft westerly
Miscellaneous Remarks: Premises, tower, buildings & illuminating apparatus are in good condition.
Hoisting Engines
Hoisting Engine Kind: Handwinch
Engine RPMs:
Engine Diameter:
Engine Stroke:
Engine Boiler:
Engine Maker and Date:
Serial Number:
Cylinders and Size:
Horsepower:
Fuel:
Hoist Starter:
Hoist Miscellaneous: