Report for Bird Island (Massachusetts) - 1920
| General |
| District: | 2nd |
| Inspector: | Frank J. Morse |
| Location: | On Bird Island, Buzzards Bay, Mass. |
| Date of Report: | 09/12/1920 |
| Latitude: | 41° 40' 10" |
| Longitude: | 70° 43' 04" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 05/05/1819 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 2 3/4 acre |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 96' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Boatway & 2 piers |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat, Marion about 3 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: | 1819 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1898 |
| 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: | 37' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sea |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Covered way |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay & guide to Cape Cod Canal entrance |
| Building Materials: | Cobble stones |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Granite winding |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 10" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3; 2 - 8" x 10" - 12 lights; 1 - 8" x 10" - 8 lights |
| Number of Doors: | 1 double each 2' 11.5" x 6' 3" sheathing |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Old fashioned thick walls with batten both inside & outside, walls about 3' thick at bottom & 2' at top. Wooden half deck. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 2" inside diameter |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | 3/4" |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | One |
| Size of Plates: | |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | No |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Yes |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Yes |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron, upper part glazed |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet wall |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | No |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Yes |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None |
| How is Relief Called: | Electric stopping alarm |
| Where is Call System Led: | To dwelling |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 160 sec. |
| Flash Interval: | Continuous fixed |
| Duration of Flash: | 5 secs. |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 4 each 90 degrees |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 2 |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 fixed |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | True |
| Revolving Panels: | 2 |
| How Flash is Produced: | Flash panels revolving around lens |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Chariot wheels |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass case |
| Regulated: | Fan governor |
| Lens Protection: | Cone |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Haines kerosene |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | 1/8" clock cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 1/8" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | About 60' |
| How Led: | Through sheave |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | NE from tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 7' 2" x 9' 3" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Cobble stones |
| Oil House Capacity: | About 500 gallons |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 1,000 lb bell |
| Time to Start: | 1 minute |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 2 strokes, 12 sec silent |
| Duplication: | A few of parts most likely to get out of order. |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | E side of entrance to Sippecan Harbor |
| Distance and Direction: | About 175' SE'ly |
| Water Supply: | None |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Path |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Square tower about 30' tall with battering walls |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1000 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | |
| Height: | |
| Time: | 6 hours |
| Manufacturer: | U.S. Machine Shop, Boston, Mass. |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | S'ly |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | Hot water |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Privy, barn & fuel house |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks part of the way to boat house |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | Yes |
| Area Cultivated: | About 1/8 |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy |
| Stove, Maker: | Howe Monarch Premier |
| Stove, Size: | 7-18 |
| Sink, Maker: | Cast iron |
| Sink, Size: | 22" x 48" |
| Pump, Maker: | Douglas |
| Pump, Size: | #2 |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Cisterns from roof of dwelling |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Yes, requires disconnecting at heavy W'ly storms & washing |
| Purity Precaution: | Turned off when spray flies on roof |
| Tank Capacity: | About 2000 gals. |
| Tank Material: | Brick cisterns |
| 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: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boatslip & boathouse |
| Distance and Direction: | About 200' NE'ly |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 113 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' bottom |
| When Built: | 1914 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 7/7/1916 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 122 |
| Type: | Skiff |
| Length: | 4'5' |
| Width: | 10' |
| When Built: | 1914 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1914 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #3 | |
| Boat Number: | 141 |
| Type: | Power Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' bottom |
| When Built: | 1919 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1919 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Arrow K-1 type |
| Horsepower: | 2 |
| Engine Maker: | |
| Spare Coil: | |
| Magnet: | None |
| Battery: | Dry cells |
| Propeller Diameter: | 10" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 16" |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | Boathouse |