Report for Mathias Point Shoal (Maryland) - 1909

General
District: 5th
Inspector: John Murdoch, Assistant Lighthouse Engineer
Location: On the end of the shoal off Mathias Point, S'ly side of Potomac River, MD.
Date of Report: 06/20/1909
Latitude: 38° 24' 19"
Longitude: 77° 02' 36"
Premises
Site: Submarine
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat
Distance to Nearest Road: 1/2 mile to steamboat landing at Mathias Point, VA.
Distance to Post Office: 1/2 mile
Distance to Village: 9 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: Steamboat
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Boat 1/2 mile
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Dwelling
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1876
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: June, 1909
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagonal
Form of Tower: No tower
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 43' 6"
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woods
Color of Tower:
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection: No tower
Object of Navigation: Local
Building Materials:
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wood
Number of Landings: 2
Size of Glass: 8" x 14"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 12, 35" x 36"
Number of Doors: 22
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Iron, screw pile, 10' below surface of shoal
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 7'
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36.5"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 36.5" x 34"
Number of Storm Panes: 2
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood, iron & copper
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Brass
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper. Fastened to roof, down side of house to foundation & water
Balustrade: Wood
Lantern Doors: Fitted to frame of lantern, hung on hinges
Floor of Lantern: Wood
Watchroom Doors: Wood, fitted with hinges to lantern floor
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into frame of lantern
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Henry LePaute, Paris
Year Made: Not known
Marks and Number: 3
Order of Apparatus: 5th
Inside Diameter: 14.5"
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 5
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: 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:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Improved 5th order
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: None
Candle Power:


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels:
Diameter of Outside Wick: 1 5/8"
Diameter of Mantel:
Diameter of Circum Circle:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: On 2nd floor fitted with stand
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material: Wood & zinc
Oil House Capacity: 32 5-gal cans
Other (Describe): In several rooms, fitted with shelves, for general purposes.
Suitability: Dry & suited
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Stevens Bell Machine
Time to Start: 2 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: Geo. M. Stevens Co., Boston, Mass.
Year of Manufacture: Not known
Characteristic: A single & a double blow alternately, intervals 30 sec.
Duplication: 1 spiral spring
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:
Bell Signal
Weight: 1200 lbs.
Metal: Bell metal
Diameter: 36"
Height: 28"
Time: 45 minutes
Manufacturer:
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: No tower
Coloring: White
Construction Materials: Wood & iron
Number of Rooms: 7
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 2
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: From roof
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: Not liable
Purity Precaution: By cleaning tanks
Tank Capacity: 4 tanks, 200 gal each; on 1st floor
Tank Material: Iron
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: Malarial
Prevalency: Fall
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: