Report for North Brother Island (New York) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist. |
| Location: | On S end of North Brother Island - East River, NY |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 40° 47' 58" |
| Longitude: | 73° 53' 54" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 1 acre |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 36' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Picket fence |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By small boat from shore near Morrisania. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | To public road about 1 mile; To RR station Morrisania 1 1/4 mile; To steamboat landing 3 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1.5 miles to Morrisania |
| Distance to Village: | 1.5 miles to Morrisania |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By small boat from shore. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1869 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 38' to focal plane |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 50' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Shore of East River |
| Color of Tower: | Drab |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted |
| Tower Connection: | Tower rises from centre front of Keeper's dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | To guide thru channel btwn N & S Brother's Island. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 7" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 7" |
| Diameter at Base: | 8' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 8' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood, 1st to 2nd stories dwelling. Open stair from watchroom to lantern. |
| Number of Landings: | 1 each story |
| Size of Glass: | 8 x 10" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3; 12 x 19" |
| Number of Doors: | Trap door to lantern |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rocky - loam surface. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes, by grass, shrubbery & trees |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 6th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 3" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 32 1/2 x 36" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | One |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron & wood casing |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" square brass rod fastened to spindle by eye & led down SE corner of house about 4' into ground 1' away from house. |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | 2 wooden doors, locks, etc. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 in parapet of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into frame of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | LePaute |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 6th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed 270 degrees; Compass E 1/2 N by S'd to N 1/2 W |
| Number of Panels: | 4 (3 panels lens, 1 panel door) |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Iron |
| 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: | White |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 closet & shelf for chimneys |
| Oil House Description: | In 1st story adjoining tower, fitted w/ closet, workbench, glass box etc. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 2 - 50 gallon oil butts; 1 - 10 gallon oil can; Oil butts placed on wooden bench |
| Other (Describe): | 2 in kitchen; 1 in oil room; A large pantry adjoining dining room. 1 in sitting room; 4 in 2nd story 1 to each room. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower surmounts keeper's dwelling S side in center of front. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Frame, mansard roof shingled & tinned. |
| Number of Rooms: | 7 rooms. Kitchen, dining room, sitting room, oil room, pantry 1st story; 4 bedrooms 2nd story. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Boathouse |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | 1/2 acre picket fence |
| Area of Garden: | 1/4 acre |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 1/4 acre |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 1/4 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/4 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Rocky, sand & loam |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain & well |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Filter - charcoal & lime |
| Tank Capacity: | 4,000 gals; under dwelling |
| Tank Material: | Brick w/ cement lining. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | 10' deep |
| Well Diameter: | 3' |
| Well Lining: | Stone |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 72' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boathouse framed timber. 173' distant from dwelling. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |