Report for Norwalk Island (Connecticut) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist. |
| Location: | On W end of Norwalk Island, called "Sheffield Island", one of the Norwalk group W side entrance to Norwalk, CT. |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 41° 02' 53" |
| Longitude: | 73° 25' 11" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 3 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Level & arable, loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Abt. 150' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | 1 side by board fence; remainder by water of Sound. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | No wharf - landing is made on beach & is difficult, |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | From Norwalk Ct., which is a station on the NY & NH RR. By small boat hired for the occasion. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 2 miles from Norwalk steamboat landing. RR station 2 miles. Public road, 1 mile. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 2 miles to Norwalk, CT. |
| Distance to Village: | 2 miles to Norwalk, CT |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat from Norwalk |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower on dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1826, new lantern 1857 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1869 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square breaking into octagon. |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 46' to focal plane |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 52' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Connecticut shore |
| Color of Tower: | Grey |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted color of granite. |
| Tower Connection: | Surmounts dwelling being on gable in center of front. |
| Object of Navigation: | Sound & entrance to Norwalk Harbor. |
| Building Materials: | Tower is of cast iron & placed on gable end of dwelling. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 6" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6" |
| Diameter at Base: | 7' 7" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 7' 7" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood in dwelling; iron steps from watchroom up. |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 8 3/4 x 15 3/4" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 window 20" x 37" - iron sash |
| Number of Doors: | None - trap door to lantern |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Rests on Keeper's dwelling front wall. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Level & arable, loam surface. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes - all. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower & dwelling were built in 1826. Both reconstructed in 1869. Dwelling is of granite, 2 stories & garret pitch roof. Lantern & tower of iron placed on gable end. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 6" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 12 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 3" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 23" x 39" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 3 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron lined w/ wood, glass. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron, platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper fastened to a spindle on a lantern. |
| Balustrade: | Wrought iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Outside iron - with latch fastening. Inside wood - w/ batton fastening. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron trap door on floor. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 of cast iron in parapet of lantern. Fitted w/ iron registers inside. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into iron frame of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed varied by red flash. |
| Time of Revolution: | 2 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | 45 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | 15 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed varied by red flashes at intervals of 1 minute, 315 degrees, Compass E x N 1/2 N by S'd to W x S 1/2 S |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| 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: | Flashes are produced by vertical panels revolving outside of fixed lens. 2 panels. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Iron |
| Service Table: | Iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork, LePaute makers. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 28' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Case w/ glass doors |
| Regulated: | Governor & weights |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | By ruby glass placed over panels (size 13 x 20") |
| 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: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Down side of tower & into dwelling. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | Oil is kept in the 1st story of dwelling near front entrance, closet, etc. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 1 - 100 gallon oil butt; 1 - 82 gallon oil butt; 1 - 2 gallon oil can. Oil butts placed on wooden stand. |
| Other (Describe): | There are small closets in all of the rooms - used for domestic purposes. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower surmounts dwelling being placed on gable end centre of front. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Granite 2 stories high - kitchen in bldg attached. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 - kitchen, sitting rm., dining rm., oil rm., & 4 bedrooms 2nd story. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | A barn belonging to keeper |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | 3 acres enclosed one side by a fence - remaining sides by the Sound. |
| Area of Garden: | 1/4 acre. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | 1/2 acre. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 2 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/4 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Level & arable. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Cistern - rain |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | All necessary |
| Tank Capacity: | 7,300 gallons - beneath kitchen. |
| Tank Material: | Brick & cement lining |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Well not used. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing is made on the beach. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |