Report for Point Montara Light Station (California) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 12th |
| Inspector: | Henry Hall, Keeper |
| Location: | On Point Montara, seacoast of CA, & about 2 3/4 miles to N & W of Pillar Point |
| Date of Report: | 07/02/1907 |
| Latitude: | 37° 32' 04" |
| Longitude: | 122° 31' 00" |
| Premises |
| Site: | By purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 04/02/1874 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 11 3/4 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 11 3/4 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Mostly caly with some loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 55' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | 1 - around dwelling & garden. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | County road from Half Moon Bay & right of way from county road to reservation. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 1/4 mile to county road |
| Distance to Post Office: | 8 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 8 miles to Half Moon Bay |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Ocean Shore RR in course of construction. Station promised in vicinity of reservation. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Can hire conveyance from livery stables at Half Moon Bay - 8 miles. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Post lantern on post. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | Fog Signal est. 1875; Light in 1900 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | F.S. bldg rebuilt 1901; Dwelling repaired 1904 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | None |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 55' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Red barn & tank house on hill, also flag staff. |
| Color of Tower: | Lamp post is white |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | |
| Tower Connection: | Light is on post in ground - detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast for general navigation. |
| Building Materials: | None |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | |
| Number of Doors: | |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Post anchored with cross braces & set in ground 4' |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Mostly clay |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Grass |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Post lantern is made of light structural steel covered with galv. iron & is set on concrete base. Floor is about 3' 8" above ground & is reached by steps. Door is hung from top. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | Post lantern |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 6" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 4' 3.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 5 sides glazed |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 7" x 4' |
| Number of Storm Panes: | No |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 3 sides |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron & wood on concrete base. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Galvanized iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Star ventilator |
| Lightning Spindle: | None |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None |
| Balustrade: | None |
| Lantern Doors: | 1 galvanized iron door provided with bolt near lower edge. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood. 2" x 10' planks |
| Watchroom Doors: | None |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 1 in lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Step ladder |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | None |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None |
| How is Relief Called: | Call bells from Fog Signal to dwelling |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | No name |
| Year Made: | No date |
| Marks and Number: | No marks |
| Order of Apparatus: | Lens lantern |
| Inside Diameter: | 11.5 |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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: | Wood |
| Service Table: | Wood |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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: | Ruby chimney |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Funck tubular. 1 wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 complete |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | 1 room in N wing of fog signal bldg. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | 1 room S wing of fog signal bldg fitted with 2 small closets containing shelves. Small storeroom provided in lower part of lantern for storing lamp supplies, etc. |
| Suitability: | Suitable for purpose used. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 12" whistles |
| Time to Start: | 50 minutes with cold water |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | No name |
| Year of Manufacture: | No date |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec blast every 25 sec. |
| Duplication: | Engines, boilers & whistles |
| Timing Device: | Gardner 3/4 governor |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Whistle |
| Height Above Water: | 68' |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Sunken reef a little SW of station |
| Distance and Direction: | About 150' N of light |
| Water Supply: | Running creek dammed Hydraulic ram to pump to tanks. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By walk 300' NE |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Main bldg 32' sq. about 30' to peak of roof with small wings on N & S ends. Coal shed E of N wing. Concrete foundation, main bldg finished in natural wood. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | 2, 30H Peach boilers |
| Kind: | Horizontal |
| Tube: | Flue tube |
| Dimensions: | 12' |
| Length: | 3.5' |
| Diameter: | |
| Tube Description: | 41 tubes to each boiler |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | 3" |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | |
| Furnace Length: | 12' |
| Furnace Width: | 4' |
| Furnace Height: | |
| Steam Heat Surface: | 430' each |
| Steam Grate Surface: | 1.6 sq. ft. |
| Number of Grate Bars: | 16 to each |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | 4' wood grate bars |
| Steam Fuel: | Pine, wood |
| Steam Safety Valve: | No. 3 Ashton Lockup pop safety valve. |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | 120 lbs |
| Steam Working Pressure: | 60 - 65 lbs |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 21" |
| Smokestack Height: | 32' |
| Drum Dimension: | 4' long |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | 2' 6" |
| Steam Covering: | Asbestos |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | Good |
| Steam Boiler Built: | S boiler setup 2/15/1899; N boiler setup Feb, 1906 |
| Where Built: | N boiler - Erie, PA; S boiler - San Francisco, CA |
| Manufacturer: | S boiler - Moynihan; N boiler - PA Boiler Works. |
| Steam Heater: | False |
| Kind: | |
| Size: | |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | Horizontal |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | 300 |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | 6" |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | 12" |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | 3/4" |
| Steam Engine When Built: | No date |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | No name |
| Manufacturer: | No name |
| Whistle Signal |
| Whistle Diameter: | 12" |
| Whistle Height: | S - 4' 3"; N - 5' 6" |
| Whistle Orifice: | S - 3"; N - 2.5" |
| Whistle Tone: | |
| Whistle Chime: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 90' E by N of light |
| Coloring: | White, with lead color trimming & red roofs |
| Construction Materials: | Wood with brick foundation under older part & concrete under new part. |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 & bath on lower floor; 5 & bath upstairs. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper, lower floor; assistant, upper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Barn, storehouse, tank house, chicken sheds & store shed for cattle. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Barn, tank house & storm shed - red; Storeroom white with lead trim; all others white. |
| Paths and Walks: | Short cement walks in front & back of dwelling. |
| Area Inclosed: | 11 3/4 acres enclosed by 4 board fences. |
| Area of Garden: | About 500 sq. ft., enclosed by picket fence. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 6 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | 2 acres, rest used as pasturage. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Clay |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Both rain water pumped from cistern by hand pump & running water pumped by hydraulic ram. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Cleansing the cistern in the fall & disconnecting all leader pipes 'til after a heavy fall of rain, so as to wash the roofs & gutters. |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern of 15,000 gal in NE corner of yard. |
| Tank Material: | Cistern of concrete, tanks redwood. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Considered healthy |
| Diseases: | Catarrh & rheumatism |
| Prevalency: | December & January, May & June - the foggy seasons |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | County road from Half Moon Bay to station is good in summer time, but almost impassable in winter. |
| Distance and Direction: | County road 8 miles SE to Half Moon Bay. Steamer landing at Half Moon Bay, 4 miles. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Phone msgs must be sent to Francis, General Merchant, Half Moon Bay via San Mateo Telegram thru Sunset rte & sent to station by spec. del. Barn recently rebuilt on new site. Gov't road from station to county road about 1 mile to be rebuilt on new survey. |