Report for Point of Shoals (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th LH District
Location: James River.
Date of Report: 09/06/1867
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
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:
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Screwpile
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower:
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
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:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is a regulation clock in the sitting room.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is one with hooks at the upper end.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: None


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling the relief at this station.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 6th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
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:
Service Table:
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: Lens of 6th order; Lamp constant level (Steamer's lamp)
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare lamp has just been sent away for repair.
Number of Spare Burners: There were none.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. The small amount of paint on hand was kept in a closet on the balcony. Oil & turpentine are kept in the oil room.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: There is a fog bell worked by hand.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic:
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:
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 5' 6"
Width: 16.5'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Good condition
Condition
Lantern: In good order. Glass properly wiped & clear of webs; dome well cleaned.
Illuminating Apparatus: In good condition. The lens perfectly clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp: Clean outside & inside. Glass chimney free from dust & stains.
Oil: A specimen examined & found to be free from dust & soot etc.
Service Lamp Burner: It was free from gummy or burnt oil, & in good order in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: Found the burner on a level.
Plate Glass: It was clean, free from scratches or stains, though one pane was cracked.
Lens Cover: The lens cover was on; was clean & made of linen ticking. When removed from the lens is hung up in the lantern room.
Lantern Curtains: There were no lantern curtains.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There was no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There was no rod lamp.
Dwelling:
Stairway and Landing: There was a ladder for a stairway painted & in good order.
Inside of Tower: Paint, inside the bldg was in good condition.
Glazing of Dwelling: The glazing is in good condition.
Improvements Needed: There did not appear to be any needed.
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds:


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: A small step ladder is provided. The lens is never touched in this way.
Lantern and Trap Doors: There is no lantern door. Trap door to lantern fits tightly.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were some cleaning rags in the trimming room; the impropriety of having them there was pointed out to the assistant Keeper.
Lucernes or Matches: There were none seen in the lantern, watch or trimming rooms.
Heater: There was no heater.
Ventilation: The assistant understands the use of the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: The dome of the lantern was painted according to instructions & was in good order together with the conductor which was led into the water.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition. 1 window for ventilation.
Oil Carriers: In good condition, & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts:
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: 2 - 60 gallons
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: None
Number of Dripping Buckets: No buckets; 3 dripping pans.
Number of Oil Tanks: 2 - 120 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: Made according to the Direction of the Lighthouse Board.
Oil Butt Covers: The gutters of the oil butts were filled with refuse oil, & the covers properly placed to exclude the air. Air cocks closed.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping pan instead.
Oil Butt Platform: The oil butts were placed upon a box & raised several inches above the floor.
Empty Oil Butts: There was no empty oil butt.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: The cleaning materials are properly packed & kept where they are not likely to be injured by dampness & dust.
Paints Separate: The paint is kept separate but it was found necessary to keep spirits turpentine in the oil room.
Tool Chest: None
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: Everything seems properly cared for in this respect.
Service Box In Good Order: They are well arranged & kept in good order in their proper places.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They were clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They were in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: The general condition in regard to the above was good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: The Keeper was absent
Keeper Interested in Duties: The Keeper was absent
Keeper Capacity for Duties: The Keeper was absent
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: The Keeper was absent
Keeper Complaints: The Keeper was absent
Keeper Family: Keeper has no family at the lighthouse.
Keeper Name: Thomas L. Kendall
Keeper Age: Middle-aged.
Keeper Present or Absent: Absent for purpose of getting a lamp repaired, & to attend court. Not often absent.
Number of Assistants: There is 1 assistant allowed.
Assistants Attend to Duty: Assistant appeared to be attending to his duties.
Assistants Capability: The Assistant Keeper appeared to be capable.
Assistants Complaints: The assistant made no complaint.
Assistants Family:
Assistant Keeper Names: Wm. M. Dickens; young.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The assistant Keeper attended me through the lighthouse.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: Yes
Quarterly Returns on Hand: Yes
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: Yes
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: None
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties: None
Index of Instructions: None
Guide for Mixed Paints: None
Directions for Purifying Water: None
Placards Easily Visible: Yes
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: