Report for Point Adams (Oregon) - 1881

General
District: 13th
Inspector: G.L. Gillespie, Maj. of Engineers
Location: Mouth of Columbia River, OR.
Date of Report: 07/03/1881
Latitude: 46° 11' 36"
Longitude: 123° 58' 40"
Premises
Site:
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 40 acres
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil: Sandy & swampy, about equally divided
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 300'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: About 10 acres enclosed by a board fence for pasture. 100' sq. is enclosed by a neat picket fence, painted, which embraces lighthouse.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: No wharf or landing on premises. Landing for station is at gov't wharf at Fort Stevens.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: A good wagon road is maintained from lighthouse to wharf at Fort Stevens, distance 1.5 miles.
Means to Reach Light Station: River steamer from Portland to Astoria, 100 miles thence by daily steamer to Fort Stevens, 6 miles, thence by private conveyance 1.5 miles to lighthouse.
Distance to Nearest Road: Distance to nearest steamboat landing at wharf at Fort Stevens, 1.5 miles.
Distance to Post Office: Astoria, 7 miles
Distance to Village: To Fort Stevens, 1.5 miles
Facilities for Public Conveyance: From Astoria, steamer daily
Facilities for Private Conveyance: None
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1st established in 1875, discontinued 1/21/1899
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1879
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 49'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 99'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Dark, spruce forest
Color of Tower: Buff
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Painted
Tower Connection: Tower rises from roof of Keeper's dwelling
Object of Navigation: For local navigating purposes.
Building Materials: Wood
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: 8"
Wall Thickness at Parapet: 8"
Diameter at Base: 12'
Diameter at Parapet: 12'
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wooden stairways & steps
Number of Landings: 4
Size of Glass: 10 x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 5 windows size of sash 4' 5" x 2"
Number of Doors: 6
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Tower & keeper's dwelling set on brick walls founded 6' below surface.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sand
Soil Susceptibility: It is not
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower is a low square structure rising 15' above roof of keeper's dwelling. Painted a light buff color, lantern painted black & dome red. Site is a low swampy ridge, skirting the ocean beach.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass: 7'
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 3'
Number of Plates in Height: One
Number of Plates Each Side: One
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 2' 3" wide by 3' 1" high
Number of Storm Panes: 3
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Cast iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron
Ventilator / Cowl: Cast iron
Lightning Spindle: Wrought iron tipped with platina
Description of Lightning Rod: Of iron attached to spindle by a loop led down side of bldg & into ground 2' thence away from bldg 20' thence down 6' to moist earth.
Balustrade: Of wood
Lantern Doors: Lantern door is of iron & fitted with a spring catch.
Floor of Lantern: Wood
Watchroom Doors: Wooden door fitted with lock.
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Parapet wall of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into plate of lantern


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Fitted with work bench, closets & lockers.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus:
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed red
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Seen over water from S by E 3/4 E by S'd & W'd to NW 3/ w.
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: Iron
Service Table: Iron, attached 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: By colored chimneys - ruby
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Hains mineral oil lamp, 1 burner
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1
Number of Spare Burners: 3
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Fitted with shelves, & used for keeping supplies of all kinds for light, except oil.
Oil House Description: Oil room is placed 100' from lighthouse, fitted with shelves, window & door & provided with ventilation.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity: 1 100-gal butt, 1 50-gal butt, 1 10-gal oil can. All placed on wooden stands.
Other (Describe): All rooms are provided with closets fitted with shelves in living rooms & in sleeping rooms, fitted with clothes hooks. Storerooms & pantry for each kitchen fitted with shelves & lockers, etc.
Suitability: Dry & suitable.
Dwelling
Location: Tower rises from roof of keepers dwelling
Coloring:
Construction Materials: Foundation & cellar walls of brick, superstructure of wood.
Number of Rooms: 8
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks: Plank walks around dwelling
Area Inclosed: About 10 acres enclosed by board fence for a pasture. A small space enclosed around dwelling by a neat picket fence
Area of Garden: None
Area Timber or Shrubbery: 20 acres
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Alternate sand ridges & swamps
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Rain water from roof of keeper's dwelling
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: It is not
Purity Precaution: Cistern built of cement & brick underground. Cistern is cleaned out once in 2 or 3 years which is relied upon to keep it pure.
Tank Capacity: Capacity of cistern 5000 gals., placed near dwelling.
Tank Material: Underground cistern, made of 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: It is considered healthy
Diseases: No prevailing diseases.
Prevalency:
Local Causes: There is a large area of swamp land in the immediate vicinity but it does not appear to affect the health of the station.
Recommended Improvements: Think not
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Wharf is a permanent pile structure at Fort Stevens, built for use of that post. No boat house. Road most of the distance is thru a thick heavy forest of green timber. About 3/4 miles of road is across swamps.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Tools And Accessories
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets
Lens Covers: 2 sets
Damper Tube and Key: 2
Spare Damper and Key: 1
Carillon for Overflow Pump: None
Time Marker:
Gauge:
Spare Lamp Ready for Use: 1
Rod Lamp Ready for Use: 1
Curtain Hanger: None
Heater: Not req'd
Spare Lamp Cover:
Lamp Stand:
Mechanical Lamp Cords:
Revolving Machinery Cords:
Revolving Machinery Weights:
Clutch:
Spare Fly Or Governor:
Gauge for Oil Cistern: None
Feather Brushes: 2
Linen Towels: 10
Sponges: 3
Chamois Skins: 4
Scissors: 2 straight, 2 curved
Chimney Filters: 1
Coupling Pliers: 1 pair
Service Box and Implements: 1 tray w/ necessary implements
Cleaning Materials: Rouge, whiting, rotten stone
Keepers Aprons: 4
Wicks: