Report for Plymouth (Gurnet) (Massachusetts) - 1927

General
District: 2nd
Inspector: C. H. Robinson, Asso. Lighthouse Engineer
Location: On Gurnet Point, N'ly side of entrance to harbor of Plymouth, Kingston & Duxbury
Date of Report: 10/26/1927
Latitude: 42° 00' 12"
Longitude: 70° 36' 04"
Premises
Site: Purchase
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 11/12/1802
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 1 acre, 6.5 rods
Area Inclosed: Whole
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 175'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Wire fence
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat or by team, about 3 1/4 miles by boat - Plymouth
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: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1769
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1843
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 102'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Sky
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: Harbor & Bay
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wood
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 7" x 9"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 3; 21.5" x 30.5"
Number of Doors: 1; 3' x 6' 10"
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower has small entrance porch.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 16
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars: 1 1/8"
Height Glazed: 3' 11 1/4"
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 16.5" x 4'
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: 22.5 degrees
What Bearings: Observed each between 328 degrees & 351 degrees.
Construction Material Lantern: Iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Iron
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron
Lightning Spindle: Yes, copper
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Yes, iron
Lantern Doors: Iron with hinges
Floor of Lantern: Iron
Watchroom Doors: Iron trap door hinged
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: None
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Brass hooks in frieze
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 8 hours
Intensity in Candles: 37,000
Name of Maker: James Brothers & Co. Ltd. Lh wrks near Birmingham
Year Made: 1903
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 19.5"
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution: 20 sec
Flash Interval: 7 $ 4.5 sec
Duration of Flash: 0.5 sec
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 3 glass 2 dark (metal)
Number of Flash Panels: 3
Arc of Each: 90 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 3 & bullseye 5 1/4" Diam.
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6 flash
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 3 flash
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced:
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Iron
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: 1.5" brass pipe fitted with small cone on bottom end.
Revolving Machinery:
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Balls
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: None
Clock Weight: 150 lbs
Length of Winding Time: 8 hours
Drive During Rewind: No
Machinery Protection: Mounted in pedestal. No case
Regulated: Fan governor
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 35 mm IOV
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene
Number of Spare Lamps: 3
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power: 500 cp


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord: Cord
Size of Clock Cord: 1/8"
Length of Clock Cord: 120'
How Led: At 1 side of tower
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: 4" x 4 3/4"


Chariot Balls
Balls Description: Flat surface
Cage to Separate Balls: False
Number of Balls: 21
Diameter of Balls: 3/8"


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels:
Diameter of Outside Wick:
Diameter of Mantel: 1 1/4"
Diameter of Circum Circle: One only
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: 1 small closet under stairs used for spare lamps, etc., fitted with shelf.
Oil House Description: About 90' SW'ly from tower
Oil House Inside Dimension: 8' 8" x 10' 8"
Oil House Construction Material: Bricks
Oil House Capacity: About 450 5-gal cans
Other (Describe): None
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 1st class reed horn - if this be disabled - bell struck by machinery
Time to Start: 15 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last: About 5 minutes
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: Horn - 3 sec blast, 12 sec silent Bell - 2 strokes, 30 sec silent
Duplication: Fog signal engines & necessary spare parts
Timing Device: Automatic clocks (2' 3" bell
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: 5 lbs
Height Above Water: About 80'
Compass Direction: 150 degrees
Location: Guide to Plymouth, Duxbury & Kingston harbors
Distance and Direction: 46' 150 degrees
Water Supply: Rain water from roof
Reached from Lighthouse: Concrete walk
Description of Fog Signal Building: Brick
Pressure And Recording Gauge: Yes
Bell Signal
Weight: 1200 lbs
Metal: Bell metal
Diameter: 36"
Height: 30"
Time: 7 hours
Manufacturer: 2nd District Machine Shop - 1908
Weights for Operation: About 1100 lbs


Internal Combustion Signal
Fog Signal Kind:
Internal Combustion Kind: Horizontal - oil
Internal Combustion Manufacturer: August Mietz Iron Foundry
Internal Combustion Date: 1908
Internal Combustion Size: 5" x 6"
Internal Combustion Horsepower: 4
Internal Combustion Fuel: Kerosene
Internal Combustion Starter: Hot ball
Compressor Maker: American Air Compressor Works
Compressor Seat: Separate bed geared
Compressor Machinery: 1 to 2 ratio
Compressor Diameter: 6"
Compressor Stroke: 6"
Compressor RPMs: 150
Character of Air Inlet: 1.5"
Kind of Unloader: Pop valve
Diameter of Delivery Pipe: 2"


Daboll Signal
Daboll: 1st class
Daboll Reed:
Daboll Length: 20"
Daboll Breadth: 5"
Daboll Base Thickness: 1"
Daboll Tip Thickness: 3/8"


Trumpet Signal
Trumpet:
Trumpet Length: 6'
Trumpet Diameter: 5" small end; 11" large
Trumpet Material: Copper


Air Receiver
Number: 2
Diameter: 46"
Height: 84"
Capacity Cubic Feet: 80
Pressure in Each: 5 lbs
Make of Reducing Valve:
Remarks:
Dwelling
Location: About 90' W'ly
Coloring: White lead colored trimmings
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 6 each side
Number of Dwellings: 1 double
Heating Plant: Direct hot water
Number of Keepers: Keeper & 1 asst.
Furnished Quarters: Both
NOT Furnished Quarters: None
Outhouses: Barn & 2 fuel houses
Outhouse Coloring: White lead trimmings
Paths and Walks: Concrete walks
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: About 6 acres
Area Cultivated: 1/4 acre
Character of Surroundings: Sandy
Stove, Maker: Magee, Howes Queen
Stove, Size: 7-18, 8-18
Sink, Maker: Not known
Sink, Size: 20" x 36", 22" x 48"
Pump, Maker: Douglas, Gould
Pump, Size: # 2 (both)
Lamps: 2 brass table, 2 brass hand lamps from General Depot
Water
How Procured: Rain water from roof for all purposes except drinking
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Frequent cleaning of cisterns
Tank Capacity: Keepers 2200 gals; Asst. Keep 1000 gal.
Tank Material: Bricks, cement plastered on inside
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Dug well 60' deep for drinking water
Well Diameter: 4'
Well Lining: Stone lined
Pump or Bucket: 2 buckets
What Power Used: Hand
Distance from Dwelling: About 250'
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes: None
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Beach landing, no wharf or boathouse. drive over sand beach & marsh from Duxbury P.O. to Station about 8 miles
Distance and Direction: Beach landing - about 1000' W'ly from tower
Miscellaneous Remarks: This light changed from 2 fixed white lights to 1 flashing white light 1/24/1924. Old unused tower removed 3/14/1924. Station & apparatus are in very good condition.
Supplemental Reports
C1STCCID letter
31 Oct. 1955
File H2: Converted to mercury float pedestal 1949 or 1950
 
Supts letter
April 1, 1929
Mar. 1929: Bell & machinery transported to Ten Pound Island.