Report for Point of Shoals (Virginia) - 1870

General
District: 5th
Inspector: Commodore Dornin LH Inspector 5th Dist.
Location: James River
Date of Report: 08/15/1870
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: 4 windows 12 panes each, 12 x 9.
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: There is a marine clock in good condition kept in the sitting room.
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is one ladder for outside work.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling relief.
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: 6th order lens, Funck's hydraulic float lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare lamp in good condition
Number of Spare Burners: 2 spare burners
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. There is also a shelf provided for paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. 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:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring: White, red roof
Construction Materials: Wood, tin roof
Number of Rooms: 4, Kitchen, living, chamber, store
Number of Dwellings: 1, 18' square 1-story
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
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: "Morning Star" cooking stove
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: 1 cistern
Quality:
Quantity:
Injury Possible:
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: About 300 gallons.
Tank Material: Iron
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type: Flat bottom
Length: 5' 6"
Width: 16'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Very good condition.
Condition
Lantern: In good condition in all respects.
Illuminating Apparatus: In good condition, the lens perfectly clean in all respects in all parts.
Service Lamp: Very good & in good condition.
Oil: Sample examined & found to be free from all objectionable matter. Oil has not been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: It was free from gummy & burnt oil, & is in good order in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level.
Plate Glass: It was clean, free from scratches or dirt & stains. 1 pane was cracked.
Lens Cover: It was on; clean, made of linen ticking: hung up in the Lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: 2 sets new, made of linen ticking, took up & taken down at proper time.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There was no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There is a Rod Lamp in very good condition.
Dwelling:
Stairway and Landing: There was a ladder for a stairway & in good order.
Inside of Tower: Painted inside & in good condition.
Glazing of Dwelling: Glazing is in good condition.
Improvements Needed:
Outhouses:
Boathouse:
Grounds:


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Lens are never touched improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: There is no lantern door, the trap door to lantern fits tightly.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none of these articles to be seen during the Inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: None of these things were to be see in the rooms mentioned.
Heater: There was no heater.
Ventilation: Keepers understand use of the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were painted according to instructions & in good order. The lightning conductor was in good condition.


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: 1
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts:
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil:
Number of Dripping Buckets: No buckets. 2 dripping pans.
Number of Oil Tanks: 1 holding 100 gallons.
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: Oil butt is made according to directions of Lighthouse Board.
Oil Butt Covers: The gutter was filled w/ refuse oil. Cover was on. Keeper understands use of covers & oil cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping pan instead.
Oil Butt Platform: Butt is placed upon a box raised above the floor.
Empty Oil Butts: There was no empty oil butt.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate.
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: Everything is properly cared for in this respect.
Service Box In Good Order: They are in good condition & well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are kept clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They are in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Very good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Keeper is very neat & tidy.
Keeper Interested in Duties: He manifests much interest in his duties.
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He shows good capacity & seems to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: Keeper seems to understand the Rules & directions & to wish to conform to them.
Keeper Complaints: He made none
Keeper Family: Keeper has no family
Keeper Name: Wm. M. Dickens
Keeper Age: Young
Keeper Present or Absent: Keeper was present
Number of Assistants: There is 1 assistant allowed.
Assistants Attend to Duty: They attend regularly to their duties.
Assistants Capability: They appear to be capable.
Assistants Complaints: He made none
Assistants Family: Assistant has no family.
Assistant Keeper Names: Wm. M. Moody, young.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Principal & assistant attended me throughout the Inspection.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: They are
Quarterly Returns on Hand: They are
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: They are
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: The Vessels passed book is correctly kept.
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies:
Placard Directions Copies:
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties:
Index of Instructions:
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water:
Placards Easily Visible:
Books Easily Accessible: They are
Blank Books and Forms: