Report for Mussel Bed Shoals (Rhode Island) - 1878

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Engineer 3rd LH Dist.
Location: In Narragansett Bay, on SE side of channel opposite Bristol Ferry Lighthouse.
Date of Report: 10/03/1878
Latitude: 41° 38' 11" N
Longitude: 71° 15' 56" W
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: That embraced in the pier surface.
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: None
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 20'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Iron railing on pier
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Iron ladder & boat davits
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: None
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat from Bristol Ferry
Distance to Nearest Road: Nearest road, 1/2 mile; RR station 1/4 mile; Steamboat landing 1/4 mile.
Distance to Post Office: Bristol Ferry about 1/2 mile
Distance to Village: Bristol Ferry about 1/2 mile
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: By private boat from Bristol Ferry
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Beacon
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1873 Granite pier rebuilt in Nov. 1877.
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: Pier rebuilt 1877.
Condition at This Date: Pier in excellent condition, Dwelling & tower should be rebuilt.
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagonal
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: Land
Color of Tower: Red
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: On top of small house 2' square. Keeper lives on shore 1/2 mile distant.
Object of Navigation: Guide thru Bristol Ferry channel.
Building Materials: Wood, on square granite piers.
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: 1
Size of Glass: 11" x 14" for regular windows; 10 x 10 x 4 x 8.5
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 3; 4' 6" x 2"
Number of Doors: 2
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Granite piers
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: None
Soil Susceptibility: No
Miscellaneous Remarks: Beacon leans badly.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 6th
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 4'
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 6
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 2' 2.5"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: About 3/8"
Size of Plates: 28.5" x 27"
Number of Storm Panes: 1
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron & wood
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Iron
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron
Lightning Spindle: None
Description of Lightning Rod: None
Balustrade: None around lantern
Lantern Doors: None
Floor of Lantern: None Wooden slip to stand on
Watchroom Doors: None
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 2 in lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: Not required
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: None
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 270 degrees
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 3, 1 door with reflector
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 3
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: None
Service Table: None
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 chimney
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 4th 1-wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 3
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 2 shelves for supplies
Oil House Description: In first story of house
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): 2 fitted with shelves 1 on 1st & 1 on 2nd floor.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Bell - srtuck by Stevens striking apparatus.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 1 blow every 20 sec.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: Fog signal on top of house
Distance and Direction: Connected with
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse: By ladder
Description of Fog Signal Building: Frame on top of house
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Dwelling
Location: Small house in case of stormy weather Keeper can remain at station.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 1 room & small attic
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: None
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: None
Area Inclosed: Pier
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: None
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: In the report for the year ending June 30, 1887, it has been recommended that the present house be replaced by a more substantial one which may be used as a Keeper's dwelling. A balance of special appropriation now on hand should be employed for purpose.