Report for Passaic Light Station (New Jersey) - 1880

General
District: 3rd
Inspector: Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist.
Location: Near the mouth of Passaic River, Newark Bay, NJ
Date of Report: 03/03/1880
Latitude: 40° 41' 44"
Longitude: 74° 07' 40"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Rip-rap foundation
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Railing of pier
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
Distance to Nearest Road: Bergen about 2 miles RR station
Distance to Post Office: 1 3/4 miles
Distance to Village: 1 3/4 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: From Central RR of New Jersey Bergen Point.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1849
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1859
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 41' to focal plane
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 48'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Low marshy land
Color of Tower: Drab
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Painted
Tower Connection: Connected being built in "L" of dwelling.
Object of Navigation: Channel & local purposes
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 22.5" stone base
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 5"
Diameter at Base: 10' 1.5" square
Diameter at Parapet: 10' 1.5" square
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden stairs
Number of Landings: 3
Size of Glass: (23 x 11) (8 x 14 1/4) (12 x 32)
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Sash (18 x 27 3/4) (10.5 x 3.25) (20 x 27)
Number of Doors: 1 door in tower from outside & 3 inside
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Rip-rap foundation, cut stone pier of headers & stretchers etc.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 6' 9"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 2' 11.5"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 27" x 36"
Number of Storm Panes: 10
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood & iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Iron, zinc lining
Ventilator / Cowl:
Lightning Spindle: Iron
Description of Lightning Rod: Round copper rod leading down into water.
Balustrade: Wrought iron balustrade & cast iron gallery.
Lantern Doors: Iron hinges, etc.
Floor of Lantern: Wooden copper covered.
Watchroom Doors: Trap door, hinges & lifting ring.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 5 in lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None required
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into astragals of lantern.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Sautter
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 range NE x E'd to SW
Number of Panels: 4 (one unglazed)
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
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: None
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: White
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 5th order mineral-oil lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps:
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 fitted w/ shelves
Oil House Description: In cellar no fittings except oil butt bench.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 2 - 100 gallon oil butts; 1 - 50 gallon oil butt; 1 - 10 gallon oil can. Oil butts placed on wooden stand.
Other (Describe): 3 on 1st story & 4 in 2nd story - shelves, etc.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Bell & Stevens Striking App.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Every 15 sec.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: To mark channel into Passaic River.
Distance and Direction: On E side of tower.
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Dwelling
Location: Forms "L" around tower.
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Frame bldg.
Number of Rooms: 6 rooms, 3 each floor.
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 Keeper & 1 assistant for Beacon Light.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: None
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: Pier
Area Inclosed: 51' dia. picket fence around pier.
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: In cellar
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket: Pump in kitchen
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency: No
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Boat davits
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: