Report for Point Fermin Light Station (California) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 12th |
| Inspector: | Irby H. Engels, Keeper |
| Location: | W'ly side of entrance to San Pedro Bay |
| Date of Report: | 07/02/1907 |
| Latitude: | 33° 42' 14" |
| Longitude: | 118° 17' 41" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | 11/08/1873 |
| Date of Deed: | 01/20/1875 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 3 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 3 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Clay & sandy loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 200' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | 1 around dwelling |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By street car from city of San Pedro, distance of about 3 miles, thence across private property for a distance of 300'. Same route may be followed with a private conveyance. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | From S.P RR station & landing at San Pedro, 3 miles. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3 miles. |
| Distance to Village: | 3 miles. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By city street cars of San Pedro to point about NE of lighthouse, thence across private property |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Private teams may be hired at San Pedro |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1874 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good, but requires painting outside |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 50' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 154' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Hills in distance |
| Color of Tower: | White, lead colored trimmings |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Rises from middle part of dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast of CA. General navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Brick foundation, wooden structure & iron lantern. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 12.5" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 4.5" |
| Diameter at Base: | 11' inside |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 11' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood |
| Number of Landings: | 5 |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 6; sash 24" x 54" |
| Number of Doors: | 3 30" x 80"; 1 double door 30" x 80" each. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Brick foundation. 4' below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy clay & adobe |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 2" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27" x 36.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 3 size 25" x 35.5" |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron decagonal pyramid 36" high with iron ventilator ball at top |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | 15" outside diameter |
| Lightning Spindle: | None |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | 16' square with 3' high wooden railing around it. |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron door 24" x 33"; wood lined inside 4.5" thick |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood covered with linoleum |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wooden door at landing below lantern floor |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6.5' |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 3. 1 on SW side, 1 on E & 1 on NW sides, with circular brass covers inside with 5.5" x 7" iron boxes open at bottom on outside. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | In wooden blocks |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | No fittings |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Fenestre, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1886 |
| Marks and Number: | BF/33 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 5/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white light |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 4 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 8 |
| 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. 46" high, diameter of top 18", diameter of base 20" |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Tin tube, funnel shaped, with tube 2 1/4" dia leading up into ventilator ball. Base of funnel is 10" dia & 12" high with 28" of 2 1/4" pipe; 40" in all & rests on top of the lens. |
| 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: | Tubular stand lamp with 1 wick, 1.5" dia. 4th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 wick |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Closet on 3rd landing; used for chimneys, wicks, towels, matches etc. 4th landing lamp closet. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil is kept in cellar under keeper's dwelling. Fireplace is over cellar. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Storeroom also used as carpenter shop about 50' from lighthouse. |
| Suitability: | Suitable. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower rises out of keeper's dwelling |
| Coloring: | White, lead color trimmings, red roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Brick foundation, frame bldg, plastered inside. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 rooms & bath. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Stable, storehouse, coal shed & small chicken house near end of stable. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Stable & chicken house white washed. Others white with lead colored trim. |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walks from dwelling to coal house & to gate leading to stable. |
| Area Inclosed: | 3 acres |
| Area of Garden: | No garden |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 2.5 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Clay |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water from roofs of bldgs. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | No |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Eave troughs cleaned. Cisterns cleaned out & white washed inside each year just before rains set in. |
| Tank Capacity: | 3 cisterns; 6,700 gal each |
| Tank Material: | Brick, cement lined with arched tops & iron manhole. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Very healthful |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Outside of tower is dusty & paint discolored, as water supply is not sufficient to permit cleaning. Bldg req. painting. Boards on reservation fence are badly decayed at posts. |