Report for Niagara River Front Range (New York) - 1888

General
District: 10th
Inspector: Major S.M. Mansfield, Corps of Engineers
Location: On outer bank of Erie Canal (E bank of Niagara River, near its head) 800' E by S from Buffalo Water Works Inlet Pier.
Date of Report: 03/09/1888
Latitude: 42° 54' 25"
Longitude: 78° 54' 08"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: Displaced by mast
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 5'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Outer bank of Erie Canal.
Means to Reach Light Station: By row boat, or on foot on outer bank of canal.
Distance to Nearest Road: City street RR 1/2 mile
Distance to Post Office: 2 miles
Distance to Village: In city of Buffalo, NY
Facilities for Public Conveyance: Boat or on foot
Facilities for Private Conveyance: To RR station 1/2 mile.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Mast
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: July 5, 1885
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square, & tapering towards top.
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 28'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 33'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Bluff, covered with grass, trees & bldgs.
Color of Tower: White - slats of circular gridiron painted alternately black & white.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: No dwelling
Object of Navigation: Local navigating purposes - for crossing Lime Kiln Reef - for entering & leaving Niagara River.
Building Materials: Wood & iron
General Description: Light consists of mast painted white, 28' high, surmounted by circular gridiron daymark (6' 3" wide in center & of same height) with 4" slats, spaced 4" apart, painted alternately black & white.
Wall Thickness at Base: 18"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: Top 8"
Diameter at Base: 18"
Diameter at Parapet: 8"
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Moveable wooden ladder, 8' long - reaches to platform.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Mast is let 5' into berm bank of canal, composed of stone.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Mast is provided with locomotive headlight & necessary sheaves for raising & lowering lantern, which is held in place by wire guides - mast has square wooden platform, 6' 1" dia., 8' above base (top of bank of canal) upon which lantern is lowered.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: Reflector - Locomotive headlight.
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 20" - width 27" - height 34" (all outside measurements)
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 4
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 24" dia. circular
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 24" dia. - circular
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 3 Reflector parabolic 22' dia. silver plated face
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Sheet iron painted black.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl:
Ventilator / Cowl:
Lightning Spindle:
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade:
Lantern Doors:
Floor of Lantern:
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Boat house in vicinity of this range is divided by partition into 2 apts.; 1 of which is used as watchroom & fitted with bunk & shelves.
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Utica NY Headlight Works
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus:
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Fixed - range for entering or leaving Niagara River, NY
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:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Tin reservoir - capacity 2 qts.; Burner 1 3/8" dia. 1 wick.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 headlight complete for both ranges.
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: Frame bldg (boat house) located on a portion of Fort Porter, NY military reservation which was set apart for use of these ranges & Horseshoe Reef Light, is divided by a partition & fitted with necessary shelves.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): In frame bldg., as described above, is fitted with closets for cleaning materials.
Suitability: Dry
Water
How Procured: From river
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: Not easily injured.
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:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Outer bank of canal serves as landing, light & frame structure where stores are kept can be reached by water, either by canal, or Black Rock Harbor, & by foot on outer bank of canal.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Mast & fixtures in good condition. Congress on 3/3/1885, appropriated $250 for establishment of range lights to guide into entrance of Niagara River. Permission obtained from State Canal Dept. & city of Buffalo to erect masts on outer bank of Erie Canal