Report for Old Point Comfort Light Station (Virginia) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 5th |
| Inspector: | Major W.E. Craighill, CoE, USA, Light-House Engine |
| Location: | Old Point Comfort, on the northerly side of the entrance to Hampton Roads, Va., on the beach in front of Fort Monroe. |
| Date of Report: | 03/19/1909 |
| Latitude: | 37° 00' 06" |
| Longitude: | 76° 15' 24" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Ceded by State of Virginaa |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 07/30/1803 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 2 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 2 acres. |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 200 yards to Hampton Roads. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Wooden fence in rear, wire fence in front. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | 200 feet. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Railroad, steamboat or private conveyance. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1/4 mile to each. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1/4 mile. |
| Distance to Village: | 1/4 mile. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Numerous railroad & steamboat lines from New York, Baltimore & other points. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By carriage from wharf at Fort Monroe, VA., 1/4 mile. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1802 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good. |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal. |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal. |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 52 feet 4" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 53' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Fort Monroe. |
| Color of Tower: | White. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint. |
| Tower Connection: | Detached. |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay & harbor, general & local. |
| Building Materials: | Stone. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' 6" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 18" |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' 3" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Stone |
| Number of Landings: | None |
| Size of Glass: | 12" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Not known. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal. |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 6" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical. |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 41" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 28.5" x 41" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Composition. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Attached to lantern & led down on outside of tower. |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Hung by hinges to parapet. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron. |
| Watchroom Doors: | None. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 5' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Fitted to cornice of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None. |
| How is Relief Called: | None. |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry Lepaute |
| Year Made: | Unknown. |
| Marks and Number: | Henry Lepaute, Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 20" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red. |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None. |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Iron |
| Service Table: | Iron |
| 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: | By ruby chimneys. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | Illuminating apparatur. |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Chimney. |
| Lamp Description: | 4th-order, 1 wick. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None. |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.25" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | With shelves for spare lamps & chimneys. |
| Oil House Description: | Sheet iron on brick foundation, about 60 feet east of tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' x 8" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Sheet iron. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 55 cans. |
| Other (Describe): | None. |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell & custer machine. |
| Time to Start: | None. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Not known. |
| Year of Manufacture: | Not known. |
| Characteristic: | Single blow every 10 seconds. |
| Duplication: | None. |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Facing Hampton Roads. |
| Distance and Direction: | 80 feet, SE'ly |
| Water Supply: | None. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | No walkway. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Iron skeleton structure. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | Not known. |
| Metal: | Bell |
| Diameter: | 40" |
| Height: | 30" |
| Time: | 3 hours. |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | About 20 feet, west. |
| Coloring: | White. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Stable. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Brown. |
| Paths and Walks: | Brick. |
| Area Inclosed: | 2 acres, by wire fence in front & wooden fence in rear. |
| Area of Garden: | None. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | A few small trees. |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None. |
| Area Cultivated: | None. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From military post & cistern. |
| Quality: | Good. |
| Quantity: | Ample. |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable. |
| Purity Precaution: | In cistern, wire screens fitted to inflow pipes. |
| Tank Capacity: | 2,500 gallons, under kitch3en. |
| Tank Material: | Brick. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good. |
| Diseases: | None. |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: | No. |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Fort Monroe, steamboat landing. |
| Distance and Direction: | 1/4 mile, westerly. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |