Report for Point of Shoals Light Station (Virginia) - 1909

General
District: 5th
Inspector: John Murdoch, Assistant Light-House Engineer.
Location: Point opf Shoals, VA, on Point of Shoals, NE'ly side of the main channel of James River, about midway of the curve forming Burnwells Bay and about 3.5 miles below Mulberry Point.
Date of Report: 10/11/1909
Latitude: 37° 04' 06"
Longitude: 76° 39' 12"
Premises
Site: Submarine.
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By small boat.
Distance to Nearest Road: 3/4 mile to steamboat landing.
Distance to Post Office: 1 mile
Distance to Village: 8 miles.
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None.
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Small boat, steamboat landing.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Dwelling.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: 1855
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: Rebio;t. 1871
Condition at This Date: Good
Shape of Tower in Plan: Hexagonal.
Form of Tower: No tower.
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 33 feet
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Woods.
Color of Tower: White; foundation brown.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: By paint.
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation: General navigating purposes.
Building Materials:
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: 2
Size of Glass: 10" x 16"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 6, 5' 3" x 3' 0"
Number of Doors: 18
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Iron sleaves with screws incasing wooden piles. No record of depth.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 5th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 7 feet
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 9
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: 3/8"
Size of Plates: 36" x 28"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Copper, iron & wood.
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper.
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper.
Lightning Spindle: Brass
Description of Lightning Rod: Copper wire rope, fastened to lantern fraem, led over toof to side of house to foundation & water.
Balustrade: Wood
Lantern Doors: Gitted with hinges to frame of lantern.
Floor of Lantern: Wood
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: None.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into frame of lantern.
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: L. Sautter, Paris
Year Made: Unknown
Marks and Number: None.
Order of Apparatus: 5th
Inside Diameter: 11 7/8"
Light Characteristic: Fixed white.
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: 5
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: Iron
Service Table: Iron
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:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Improved, 1 wick
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners: None.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description: 2nd floor, fitted with small pans.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): 1st floor; general purposes.
Suitability: Dry & suitable.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: Stevens bell machine.
Time to Start: 1 minute
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer: Boston, Geo. M. Stevens Co.
Year of Manufacture: Unknown
Characteristic: A single blow at alternate intervals of 5 & 20 seconds.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight: 400 lbs.
Metal: Bell metal
Diameter: 28"
Height: 18"
Time: 1.5 hours
Manufacturer:
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: No tower
Coloring: White.
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 3
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 1 keeper & 1 assistant.
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From roof.
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: Not liable.
Purity Precaution: Tanks cleaned 4 times a year.
Tank Capacity: 2 tanks, 300 gallons each; on first floor.
Tank Material: Iron
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good.
Diseases: Malarial
Prevalency: Spring & Fall.
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: