Report for Niagara River Range Rear Beacon (New York) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Chas. Bartlett, Chief Clerk and Norris Works, Supt |
| Location: | 1603.4' N 29 degrees E of Front Beacon, in an angle of small park at Niagara & Hampshire Sts., Buffalo, NY |
| Date of Report: | 01/03/1909 |
| Latitude: | 42° 54' 36" |
| Longitude: | 78° 54' 00" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Buffalo City Park Property. Oil house on original site of Black Rock Light. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/12/1854 |
| Date of Permission: | 10/12/1898 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | LH site, 719 sq. ft. - Oil house site 75' x 75' = 5597 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | 306 sq. ft. at LH site. |
| Character of Soil: | LH Site: portion not inclosed covered with grass. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Iron picket fence, close about tower, 7' high. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Electric trolley cars in Niagara St. adjoining. By public streets. Oil house reached by tow path of Erie Canal or by boat on Canal. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Adjoins public street. In angle of park at intersection Niagara St.& Front Ave. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 2.3 miles, Buffalo, NY |
| Distance to Village: | In city of Buffalo, NY. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Trolley cars on Niagara St., immediately adjoining. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | 2.3 miles along public streets of Buffalo from Post Office. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1885 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1899 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Octagonal in plan, pyramidal above 1st story. |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 51' 2" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 103' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | Lower story dark green, remainder of tower, including channel face of lantern roof, white, other faces of lantern roof, black. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Lead & oil paint |
| Tower Connection: | No dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Range for approaching head of Niagara River from Lake Erie. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 12" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 8" |
| Diameter at Base: | 14' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' 10" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden, angular, winding |
| Number of Landings: | 4, including lantern floor |
| Size of Glass: | 4 windows, 8 lts. 9" x 12" - 2 windows, 4 lts., 9" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6 - 2 have 1 sash each, 2' 5 10/16" x 2' 10 1/16", with 4 lts., 9" x 12" on hinges.; 4 have 2 sashes, each 2' 10" x 2' 3" to 3.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 outside |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Concrete - 5' below surface |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Clayey [sic] loam |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Surrounded by grass area of small park. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Of pleasing appearance. Is now rather low to show well above surrounding structures. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 3' 7.5" radius |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11 3/16" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One plate in each of 3 sides |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | One 35" x 36" - two 33" x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 5 = 270 degrees |
| What Bearings: | 96 degrees 80' (E 9/16 S) to 321 degrees 30' (NW 9/16 N) |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Wood, copper roof. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Octagonal in plan, dome shaped, in elevation. Built of wood, copper covered. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper ball |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass, platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 3/8" copper wire, attached to spindle by a simple loop about same, led down N side of tower & looped into iron rod driven into ground. |
| Balustrade: | Gallery of wood, covered with copper. Iron balustrade. |
| Lantern Doors: | Double wooden, 1 swinging out, & 1 swinging in. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Hard pine. |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 brass |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass, screwed into cover posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | On 1st floor. Fitted with wash bowl, connected with Buffalo City Water Works & sewer system. Closet under stairs. Provided with table & chair. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Lens made in France. Mounting at 3rd Dist. LH Depot |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 90 degree lens lantern |
| Inside Diameter: | 11 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 90 degrees |
| Number of Panels: | 1 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| 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: | Wooden, 4' 3.5" high. Short dia. of octagonal top 1' 8" |
| Service Table: | Wooden, over stairs, 3' 2.5" high, 2 shelves below. |
| 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: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Lens lantern base with 5th order burner, |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 round wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Large closet under stairs in 1st story, for paint, cleaning supplies, etc. Small closet in room below lantern for wicks, lamps, supplies, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | No oil house at site of tower. Oil house, circular iron, located at old site of Black Rock Light, btwn foot of Albany St. & Fort St., on lot known as No. 8, 75' x 75', adjoining Erie Canal tow path, abt 1100' distant from light. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: | Suited |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Pipe connected with Buffalo City Water Works |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | None |
| 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: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | All in good condition. Tower is now rather low to show well above surrounding structures. |