Report for Penfield Reef (New York) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 3rd |
| Inspector: | Genl. J.C. Duane, Engineer, 3rd LH Dist. |
| Location: | On a reef of the same name in Long Island Sound, off Bridgeport Harbor, CT |
| Date of Report: | 03/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 41° 07' 03" |
| Longitude: | 73° 13' 11" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Stone pier, rip-rap foundation, 9.160 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Rip-rap foundation. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Iron railing around the pier. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing wharf of granite attached to pier. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from Fairfield or Bridgeport. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | To nearest public road abt 1 3/4 miles; to nearest RR station 4.5 miles; to nearest Steamboat landing 5 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | Fairfield, CT., about 2 miles. |
| Distance to Village: | Fairfield, CT., about 2 miles. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Small boat from Bridgeport, Black Rock, or Fairfield, CT. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower on dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1873; Fog bell established in 1874 |
| 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: | 37' to focal plane. |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 54' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Towers of Fairfield, Black Rock & Bridgeport, CT. |
| Color of Tower: | Wooden part is white |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted |
| Tower Connection: | Tower surmounts Keeper's dwelling. |
| Object of Navigation: | To guide into Bridgeport & Black Rock Harbors. Also, Sound coast light. |
| 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: | Wooden stair of dwelling. |
| Number of Landings: | 3 |
| Size of Glass: | 8.25 x 15.5 |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 - 20.25 x 36.75", metal sash. |
| Number of Doors: | None |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Built on house - gable end. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy loam, level & arable. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes, by grass, shrubbery & trees. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 9" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 32.5 x 36.25" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron, & wooden parapet |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron lined w/ zinc |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron platinum point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/2" copper wire rope reaching from pinnacle of lantern to stone pier. From thence a solid copper rod extending below bottom of pier. |
| Balustrade: | Iron railing 3' 3" high; wooden gallery covered w/ copper. |
| Lantern Doors: | 2 doors; 1 internal & 1 external. Hung w/ 8" brass strap hinges & brass bolts. |
| Floor of Lantern: | 2 courses of yellow pine flooring plank 1" thick covered w/ sheet copper. |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door made of 1 1/4" thick pine flooring, double thickness hung w/ galvanized wrought iron hinges & ring. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 3 ventilators made of copper & brass in parapet of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into iron frame of lantern. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None |
| How is Relief Called: | None required. |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Sautter |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing red |
| Time of Revolution: | 1 minute |
| Flash Interval: | 5 secs. |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Flashing 360 deg. Range of visibility N x E'd & S'd x W |
| Number of Panels: | |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 12 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?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Whole apparatus revolving. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron |
| Service Table: | Sheet iron |
| Draft Tube Description: | Cylinder of sheet copper connected to center ring of 6" dia. w/ screws. Not connected to damper tube. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clock work (Sautter). |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 28' |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Cased in glass. |
| Regulated: | By fan governor & weight. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Red, by colored chimney. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order mineral oil lamp. |
| 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: | Thru floor & stairwell of 2nd story. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | |
| Oil House Description: | Oil room is placed in SW corner of bldg on 1st floor & fitted w/ bench for oil butts, made of yellow pine. Box for spare glass & closet for supplies, etc. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 3 - 50 gallon oil butts; 1- 10 gallon oil can; 1- 2 gallon oil can. Oil butts placed on yellow pine bench for the purpose. |
| Other (Describe): | A large pantry opening into kitchen, on 1st floor. Closets in each of the remaining rooms fitted w/ shelves, hooks, etc. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to the purpose. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell, of bell metal, operated by Stevens Striking machine. |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 2 blows in quick succession at intervals of 20 secs. Will run for 1.5 hours w/o winding. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Attached to dwelling on S front. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Upon granite pier, & surmounted by tower. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Granite, 1 story & attic, mansard roof. Frame shingled & trimmed. 1st story granite. |
| Number of Rooms: | 7; Kitchen, sitting room, oil room on 1st floor; 4 bedrooms on 2nd. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper & 1 assistant. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | 9.160 sq. ft. |
| 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 from roof. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable to such injury to any great extent, means having been taken to guard against it. |
| Purity Precaution: | Cistern is provided w/ a filter & pipes made to disconnect in case of high seas & storms. |
| Tank Capacity: | 3900 gallons; NE corner of cellar. |
| Tank Material: | Brick, lined w/ cement. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | Pump from cistern in kitchen. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing wharf of same material as pier; built on N side of pier, 16' square on top & 10' high from low water. Boat hung on davits, no housing for it. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |