Report for Old Point Comfort (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Commo. T.A. Dornin, USN, LH Inspector 5th Dist.
Location:
Date of Report: 08/24/1870
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station:
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Detached tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewashed
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
General Description: Built of stone rough masonry, whitewashed & in good condition.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Stone & in good condition.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: Glass is clean & in good condition.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Wood & in good condition.
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is a Regulation clock in good condition; kept in the sitting room of dwelling.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is 1 ladder for outside purposes.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling relief.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
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: Lens of 4th order, Franklin lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare lamp in good condition.
Number of Spare Burners: 2 spare burners in good condition.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. are placed in a corner of the oil room.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: There is a Fog bell worked by machinery.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Strikes 8 times in 1 minute.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed: Partly by picket fence & partly by a board fence.
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is one room requiring plastering & the windows require 12 panes, required a piece of copper wire to attach to hammer of fog bell.
Condition
Lantern: In good condition in every respect.
Illuminating Apparatus: In very good condition: lens was perfectly clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp: In very good condition. Glass chimney was free from soot & stains.
Oil: Sample examined & found to be free from all objectionable matter. It had not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: It was in good order in all its parts.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level. Keeper understands how to level it.
Plate Glass: In good condition, clean free from scratches, stains or dirt.
Lens Cover: It was on the lens, clean: hung up in the lantern room when not in use. made of white linen.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets made of linen ticking: put up & taken down at proper times.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There is no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There is a rod lamp in good condition.
Dwelling: Neat & in good condition.
Stairway and Landing: Very clean & whitewashed.
Inside of Tower: Whitewashed throughout & very clean.
Glazing of Dwelling: In bad condition 5 panes cracked.
Improvements Needed: 1 of the rooms require plastering.
Outhouses: Good condition
Boathouse: There are none
Grounds: Grounds are kept in very neat order. They have the appearance of neatness & care.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Lens is never touched improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: This door fits tight.
Watch or Trimming Room: There are none to be seen at time of making Inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There are none to be seen in rooms mentioned at time of inspection.
Heater: Keeper understands use of heater.
Ventilation: The Keeper understands how to ventilate & air the bldg.
Dome: They are painted according to instructions: Lightning Conductor is in good condition.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition, 1 window & door for ventilation.
Oil Carriers: In good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: None
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: None
Number of Dripping Buckets: None, Tin measure used in place.
Number of Oil Tanks: 2 holding 200 gallons.
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are so made.
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters were filled with refuse oil & covers on. Keeper understands use of cover & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There are no drip buckets.
Oil Butt Platform: Oil butts are placed upon a raised platform of plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There are no empty oil butts.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition: There are none
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: Closets are clean & properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are in good order & well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: Very clean
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They are in their proper places & in good order.
Lantern Condition: Very clean.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: He appears to be so.
Keeper Interested in Duties: He does
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He shows good capacity & appears to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He seems to understand the Rules & directions & to wish to conform to them.
Keeper Complaints:
Keeper Family: Keeper's family occupy the dwelling with him.
Keeper Name: Wm. R. Davis
Keeper Age: Middle age.
Keeper Present or Absent:
Number of Assistants: No assistant allowed.
Assistants Attend to Duty:
Assistants Capability:
Assistants Complaints:
Assistants Family:
Assistant Keeper Names: None
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Keeper attended me throughout the Inspection.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: They are
Quarterly Returns on Hand: They are
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: They are not kept at this station.
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: 1
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties: 1
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water: 1
Placards Easily Visible: Yes
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: