Report for Plymouth (Gurnet) Light Station (Massachusetts) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 2nd |
| Inspector: | Engineer, 2nd & 3rd L.H. Districts |
| Location: | On Gurnet Point, N side of entrance to Plymouth Harbor, MA |
| Date of Report: | 04/03/1880 |
| Latitude: | 42° 00' 10" |
| Longitude: | 70° 36' 03" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 1.5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Loam clay & small rocks |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 180' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Post & rail fence SW side |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None on premises - but right of way to landing & use of same. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Good road down to landing & about 400 yards to same by road from tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | From Boston by Old Colony & Newport RR to Plymouth, thence by boat about 5 miles, to the light station. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 5 miles to RR station at Plymouth. |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 5 miles by water |
| Distance to Village: | About 5 miles to Plymouth |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By boat from Plymouth where there is a RR station. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | 2 towers |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 2 - 31' 3" from center of one to center of other. |
| First Built or Established: | 1769 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1856 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 35' 6" |
| 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: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor - both local & general |
| Building Materials: | Wood - 8 corner posts 8" x 10" |
| General Description: | Both shingled |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | 20' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' 2" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 9" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 in each tower, 1 sash each, 20" x 26" 4 high, each. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 in each tower |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Stone |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Loam |
| Soil Susceptibility: | It is protected by grass & rocks. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 2" each |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 16 each |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 48" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 16" x 48" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 1 plate |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | 3 points on top of lightning conductor |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Wrought iron, led up side of tower & lantern straight into the air. |
| Balustrade: | 3 wrought iron posts, 3' high, 1.5" dia., 2 rails, round iron 7/8" dia. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron doors hung on hinges & fitted into one of the sides of the lantern - secured by latch. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom, cast iron trap door in the floor of lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 1 circular ventilator in floor of lantern, around the base of pedestal. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hooks fastened to nuts on top of iron rim of lantern. |
| 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: | Fixed 270 degrees - from N by E'd to W. |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| 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: | Cast iron |
| Service Table: | Triangular iron table, fastened to pedestal |
| 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: | Hains lamp, 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 4 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 closet under stairway in N tower; fitted w/ shelves, used for paints, oils, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | In base of S tower |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 61 - 5 gallon oil cans. Each can in case of wood. |
| Other (Describe): | Closet in entry of dwelling upstairs, fitted w/ shelf & used for wicks, & small stores. |
| Suitability: | Dry |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | About W by N from towers, 272' (as Keeper goes) |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Old dwelling now used for wood house. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | 1/8 acre |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 1/4 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/8 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Marsh sand beach - loam. fast ground around the lights. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From cistern by pump in kitchen |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Not ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | By cleaning out cistern |
| Tank Capacity: | 920 gallons, in cellar |
| Tank Material: | Brick & cement |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No wharf - land on beach at foot of hill - about W from lighthouse. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 for each lantern |
| Lens Covers: | 2 for each lantern |
| Damper Tube and Key: | |
| Spare Damper and Key: | |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | |
| Time Marker: | |
| Gauge: | |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 for each |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | |
| Curtain Hanger: | |
| Heater: | |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | |
| Lamp Stand: | |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | |
| Clutch: | |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | |
| Feather Brushes: | 4 |
| Linen Towels: | 12 |
| Sponges: | 4 |
| Chamois Skins: | 5 |
| Scissors: | 2 pair curved, 1 pair straight |
| Chimney Filters: | |
| Coupling Pliers: | |
| Service Box and Implements: | 2 |
| Cleaning Materials: | Whiting & rouge powder |
| Keepers Aprons: | 1 |
| Wicks: |