Report for Bergen Point Light Station (New Jersey) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist. |
| Location: | On reef of rocks near Bergen Point at entrance of Newark Bay from KillvanKull, NJ |
| Date of Report: | 02/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 40° 38' 32" |
| Longitude: | 74° 08' 56" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Built on reef of rocks - rip-rap foundation. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Railing to stone pier |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from Bergen Point, MD or from Steamboat landing Elin Park, Staten Island, NY. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | RR station, NJ Central Bergen PL, 1 mile. Steamboat landing, Elem Park 1/4 mile. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1/2 mile |
| Distance to Village: | 1/4 mile Elin Park, Port Richmond, Staten Island |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Small boat |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By small boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1849 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1859 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 41' to focal plane |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 48' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Village of Bergen Point passing to starboard. |
| Color of Tower: | Gray |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of the stone. |
| Tower Connection: | Connected being built in the "L" of dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Marks entrance to Newark Bay, local purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Granite |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 20" thick throughout. |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 20" thich throughout. |
| Diameter at Base: | 11' square |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 11' square |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden stairs |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 24 x 13 1/4"; 20.5 x 13 1/4"; 19.5 round |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 18" x 51 1/4"; 24 x 7 1/4"; 27 7 1/4"; 24 x 24"; 11 x 57.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 4, one outside; & 3 into dwelling. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Rip-rap foundation on the reef of rocks, surmounted by a cut stone pier alternate header & stretcher. 5 courses (10') high & 53' dia. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 11" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 27" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron w/ wood parapet |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron lined w/ zinc |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper wire rope lead from spindle down SE corner of tower to pier & over into water. |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Hung on butts & catch latch. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor of lantern - reached by a step ladder from landing below. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 in parapet of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Buttons screwed into iron frame of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 315 degrees fixed; Compass bearings E x N x S'd & W'd to N x E |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Iron |
| Service Table: | Iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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: | White |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Flat wick lamps for mineral oil |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | In the cellar under Dwelling, no fittings. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 1 - 100 gallon oil butt; 1 - 50 gallon oil butt. Oil butts placed on oil butt bench. |
| Other (Describe): | 3 on the 1st story & 4 on the 2nd - provided w/ shelves, etc. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purposes for which designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | Struck by machinery every 15 secs (Stevens apparatus) |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Hung from upper windows, S side of tower. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Forms an "L" around the tower. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Frame bldg tin roof. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms, 3 each floor. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| 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: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Charcoal filter |
| Tank Capacity: | 5800 gallons under kitchen in the pier. |
| Tank Material: | Brick lined w/ cement. |
| 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: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |