Report for Minots Ledge (Massachusetts) - 1922
| General |
| District: | 2nd |
| Inspector: | F.J. Morse, 1st Asst. Supt. |
| Location: | On outer Minots S of entrance to Boston Harbor |
| Date of Report: | 02/12/1922 |
| Latitude: | 42° 16' 11" |
| Longitude: | 70° 45' 35" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase, shore station (tower submarine site) |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 07/17/1885 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 8.5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | Whole |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Tower built on submerged rock |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Wire board fence & stone wall |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wharf & boat slip (shore station), ladder on tower |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from shore station, by public conveyance to shore station, about 2 3/8 miles |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1850 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1860 |
| 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: | 85' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | Dark grey |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural granite color |
| Tower Connection: | Keeper's dwellings on mainland about 2 1/4 miles distant |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast, general navigation |
| Building Materials: | Granite |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 21 3/4" x 10 1/8" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 10; 25" x 26" |
| Number of Doors: | 1; 3' 2" x 6' 10" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower in excellent condition. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 2nd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | 1 1/8" |
| Height Glazed: | 8' 2.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 35" x 31 1/4"; 31" x 31 1/4"; 31 1/4" x 29 1/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Bronze |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper, 7' long |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Yes, bronze |
| Lantern Doors: | Bronze fitted with hinges |
| Floor of Lantern: | Bronze |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Spring roll curtains |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Work bench stove, desk, tool chest & fog bell machine |
| How is Relief Called: | Electric bells |
| Where is Call System Led: | From lantern to each room |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 3 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | 75,000 |
| Name of Maker: | F. Barbier & Cie |
| Year Made: | 1893 |
| Marks and Number: | BF/98 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 2nd |
| Inside Diameter: | 4' 7" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 30 seconds |
| Flash Interval: | 3-3-16 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | 0.2 |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 15 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 8 |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 8 elements in each of 4 panels. 14 in each of 3 ; 13 in 1; 11 in 7 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 15 flash |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 6 flash |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Iron |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Mercury float |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | Guard only |
| Clock Weight: | About 100 lbs |
| Length of Winding Time: | 3 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | Yes |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass case |
| Regulated: | Ball governor |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 35 mm IOV |
| Type of Illuminant: | Kerosene |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: | 500 cp |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Galv.iron |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 3/8" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | 50' |
| How Led: | Through 3 sheaves |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: | 4" x 10" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: | One only |
| Mercury Float |
| Inside Diameter of Trough: | 2' 9.5" |
| Inside Depth of Trough: | 13.5" |
| Outside Diameter of Float: | 2' 9 1/4" |
| Depth of Float: | 14" |
| Weight of Mercury in Pounds: | About 500 |
| How Often is Mercury Renewed: | Never has been renewed |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 10 closets each fitted with shelves & used for storage |
| Oil House Description: | At shore station no fittings |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 8' 2" x 9' 9" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Bricks |
| Oil House Capacity: | 450 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell struck by machinery |
| Time to Start: | Immediately |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 1 stroke 30 sec silent |
| Duplication: | Necessary parts |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | On lantern gallery guide to Boston Harbor |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | On gallery |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | None |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 975 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | 3' |
| Height: | 2' 2" |
| Time: | 1 hour |
| Manufacturer: | Lighthouse Machine Shop, 2nd District |
| Weights for Operation: | 1000 lbs |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 2 double dwellings on mainland about 2 1/4 miles SW'ly from tower |
| Coloring: | White with lead colored trimmings |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 each suite |
| Number of Dwellings: | 2 |
| Heating Plant: | Direct hot water each |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 in 1 & 1 in other dwelling |
| Furnished Quarters: | All |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | None |
| Outhouses: | 2 fuel houses, 1 storehouse & 1 barn |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White, lead trimmings |
| Paths and Walks: | Paths & gravel driveway |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 1 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/4 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Fast ground, ledges & rock |
| Stove, Maker: | Magee Grand (3) |
| Stove, Size: | 7-18 (3) |
| Sink, Maker: | Not known |
| Sink, Size: | 22" x 48" (3) |
| Pump, Maker: | Douglas (3) |
| Pump, Size: | #2 (3) |
| Lamps: | 3 brass table, 3 brass hand lamps from General Depot |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Town service at shore, tower supplied by tender |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | None at shore station, In the tower by frequent cleanings |
| Tank Capacity: | Tower about 1500 gal |
| Tank Material: | Concrete & granite |
| 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 |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wharf & boathouse at shore station. Road leading to shore station |
| Distance and Direction: | About 2 1/4 miles W'ly from tower |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower in good condition, dwellings & outbuildings at shore station fair, wharf at shore station very poor. |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 27 |
| Type: | Launch |
| Length: | 6' 9" |
| Width: | 25' 5" |
| When Built: | 1898 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1920 |
| Sails: | True |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 29 |
| Type: | Dinghy |
| Length: | 4' 4" |
| Width: | 12' |
| When Built: | Unknown |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1911 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Fair, on davits at tower |
| Boat #3 | |
| Boat Number: | 136 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' |
| When Built: | 1918 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1918 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Gasoline |
| Horsepower: | 7.5 |
| Engine Maker: | Knox, no number, no date |
| Spare Coil: | None |
| Magnet: | None |
| Battery: | Dry - 6 |
| Propeller Diameter: | 18" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 21 pitch, 3 blade |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | Boats #136 & 27 at shore station in boathouse; #29 on davits at tower. |