Report for Long Island Head Light Station (Massachusetts) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 2nd |
| Inspector: | Engineer, 2nd & 3rd L.H. Districts |
| Location: | On E end of Long Island. Boston Harbor, MA |
| Date of Report: | 04/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 42° 19' 46" |
| Longitude: | 70° 57' 23" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | By old deed about 3 acres. Taken few feet all but about 10,000 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Loam & clay |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 338' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Post & strip board fence around premises. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Land on beach near boathouse. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Hard road to landing, very steep hill - 1242' from tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat. 3 months in summer by steamboat - when she runs from Boston to the Island. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 3 miles by boat to land at S Boston Point |
| Distance to Post Office: | 5 miles to Boston where keeper gets mail. |
| Distance to Village: | 2.5 miles to Hull |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By steamboat 3 month in summer |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | From Boston - where keeper gets his provisions it is 5 miles. He generally goes up in the lighthouse boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1819 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Refitted 1855 |
| Condition at This Date: | Small tower |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Round |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 28.5' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 121' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | By paint |
| Tower Connection: | Joins dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor |
| Building Materials: | Cast iron & bricks |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 1' 11" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 5" |
| Diameter at Base: | 9' 10" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 6' 3" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron stairs |
| Number of Landings: | 1 |
| Size of Glass: | No tower windows |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | None |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Granite about 3' |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Loam & gravel |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Protected by grass. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7.5' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 16 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 4' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 16.5" x 48" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 1 side of plan or 1 plate |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | None |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | 8 cast iron posts, 3' high, 1 1/4" dia., w/ round rail at top, 5/8" iron & lower rail 1" x 1/4" parapet 1' 8" |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron hung on hinges & fastened w/ latch fitted in one of lantern. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor of lantern |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 1 circular ventilator in floor of lantern, around base of pedestal. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks fastened w/ screws to upper ring of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Arc 270 degrees. From W by N'd around to S. |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Triangular, iron table fastened to pedestal |
| Draft Tube Description: | Sheet iron - dia. 2" - no damper. |
| 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 Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Hains lamp, 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | A large closet in back room - once used for a cellarway. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 3 - 50 gallon oil butts (not in use); 30 - 5 gallon oil cans, in cases for kerosene oil.; 2 oil butts in tower floor & 1 in back room near tower (not used). |
| Other (Describe): | 1 portable closet in back room - fitted w/ shelves & used for small stores for lamps. |
| Suitability: | Dry |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | N corner of back room joins tower. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | An old stone house |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 1 barn, 1 woodshed. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks in ground from dwelling to outhouses. |
| Area Inclosed: | About 10,000 sq. ft. enclosed by strip board fence. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Fast ground. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From cistern & well |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | By cleaning out cistern |
| Tank Capacity: | 872 gallons, in cellar |
| Tank Material: | Bricks & cement |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | 50' deep |
| Well Diameter: | 3.5' |
| Well Lining: | Lined up w/ cobble stone |
| Pump or Bucket: | Bucket |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 26.5' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Land on a gravel beach, no wharf. Boathouse 21 x 12 & 7.5 posts - stands in 6 piles & is over the water at 1/2 flood tide. A plank walk from boathouse to beach. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 sets |
| Lens Covers: | 2 |
| Damper Tube and Key: | |
| Spare Damper and Key: | |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | |
| Time Marker: | |
| Gauge: | |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | |
| Curtain Hanger: | |
| Heater: | |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | |
| Lamp Stand: | |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | |
| Clutch: | |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | |
| Feather Brushes: | 1 |
| Linen Towels: | 6 |
| Sponges: | 1 |
| Chamois Skins: | 2 |
| Scissors: | 4 |
| Chimney Filters: | |
| Coupling Pliers: | |
| Service Box and Implements: | 1 of tin |
| Cleaning Materials: | Soap - whiting, rouge & spirits of wine |
| Keepers Aprons: | 2 |
| Wicks: |