Report for Muscle Bed Shoal Beacon (Rhode Island) - 1873

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: LH Engineer 3rd Dist. from notes & recs in office.
Location: Opposite Bristol Ferry point, S side of entrance to Mount Hope Bay, RI
Date of Report: 12/03/1873
Latitude: 41° 38' 9"
Longitude: 71° 15' 36"
Premises
Site:
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: None
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boats from Bristol ferry landing, or from ferry on S side of Mount Hope Bay, beacon is built in water.
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office: 2 miles
Distance to Village: Bristol 2 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Wood posts, 4" x 6"
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1873
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: In order
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagon
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 19'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 35'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Mount Hope Point & hills at head of Mount Hope Bay.
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Oil paint
Tower Connection: Connected, a small tower rises from center of front of keeper's dwelling
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials: Wood
General Description: A frame bldg.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: White pine step ladders
Number of Landings: 1 step ladder landing
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: None
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Beacon is built on a granite pier 13' at top & 18' dia. at base, supported by a rip-rap foundation. Supports for small tower & lantern are by 4 wood posts, 4" x 6" set upright from base of dwelling.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Frame dwelling, 1.5 stories in height is built on a square, stone pier & is surmounted by a small hexagonal tower which supports the lantern. A fog bell is also erected on top of dwelling.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 6th, small
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 42" btwn parallel sides
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 6
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 26.5"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 24.5" x 26.5"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron & glass
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Composed of plate iron 1/8" thick.
Ventilator / Cowl:
Lightning Spindle:
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Wrought iron railing.
Lantern Doors:
Floor of Lantern:
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
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 red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed 270 degrees
Number of Panels:
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum:
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum:
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:
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description:
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: By red chimney - fixed red.
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funcks lamp, 1 wick to burner
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 2
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None
Oil House Description: On 1st floor of dwelling in one corner. Oil butts sit on wooden stand of yellow pine.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 2 50-gallon oil butts, 1 5-gallon oil can.
Other (Describe): 2 closets fitted w/ shelves placed in corner of dwelling on 1st & 2nd floor used for cooking utensils. Closet on 2nd floor used for tools, chimneys etc.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Bell metal bell mounted under a gallows beam over dwelling house.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Actuated by a Steven Fog bell clockwork, striking 1 blow each 20 secs., was put in operation August 1, 1873.
Duplication:
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: Wood bldg, 1.5 stories in height. Size 12' 4" x 12' 4" square.
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Dwelling
Location: Connected, a small tower is built on top of keeper's dwelling upon which lantern rests.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Wood frame bldg.
Number of Rooms: 2 small rooms
Number of Dwellings: 1
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: None
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: Conveyed from shore
Quality: Good
Quantity:
Injury Possible:
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity:
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthy
Diseases:
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: