Report for Point Reyes Light Station (California) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 18th |
| Inspector: | Howard Cox |
| Location: | Coast of CA about 30 mi N of San Francisco near Drakes Bay |
| Date of Report: | 08/03/1910 |
| Latitude: | 37° 59' 39" |
| Longitude: | 123° 01' 24" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 03/20/1856 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 100 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | All |
| Character of Soil: | Black soil, sand & barren rock |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 175' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Barb wire fence on land side of reservation across point from water to water. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None, but supplies & material are landed on beach at Drakes Bay about 3 mi dist. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Rather steep & sandy surfaces but passable for heavy loads. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By rail from Sausilito to Pt. Reyes Sta., thence by teams or mail stage to Pt. Reyes Post Office, thence by private rig to light station about 12 mi. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 25 miles to Point Reyes Station on A.W.Pac. RR/ |
| Distance to Post Office: | 12 miles to Pt. Reyes, P.O. |
| Distance to Village: | Inverness about 20 miles. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Daily mail & passenger stage from Pt. Reyes Station to Post Office thence by private team. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Team at Geary Ranch near landing at Drakes Bay when approaching station by boat or Tender about 3 mi. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Iron tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 flashing white light |
| First Built or Established: | 1870 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1910 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Polygonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 34' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 294' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | High bluff of yellow or brown rock with patches of green |
| Color of Tower: | White, lantern black |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached 1000' distant connected by 450 wood steps with pipe hand rail |
| Object of Navigation: | General navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Cast & wrought iron |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 1/2" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 1/4" |
| Diameter at Base: | 19' 8" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' 2" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 25" x 29.5" x 1/4" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 2 without sash |
| Number of Doors: | 2; 1 - 2' 3/4" x 6' 10"; other 2' 3/4" x 5' 6" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Sandstone masonry set on surface rock |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & bare rock |
| Soil Susceptibility: | All soil now covered with natural growth of grass, weeds & brush. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Additional deed July, 28, 1869. Tower on top of narrow ridge of sandstone formation, which breaks off abruptly on S side, where shelving rock extends to water. N side has steep, slope nearly covered with vegetation. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 1st order |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 12' 2" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 11' 6" |
| Number of Sides: | 16 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 10' 1" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | Upper 27 3/4" x 3' 9"; middle 27 3/4" x 3' 3"; Lower 27 3/4" x 30.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 3 |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Glass & iron with brass screws & outside stops |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron frame, copper covered, pyramidal shape. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Brass, 20" dia., 20 small holes in lower rim & 20" finial on top. |
| Lightning Spindle: | None |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Iron 1/4" thick, x 24" wide |
| Lantern Doors: | None |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | 1 outside door to watchroom, 24.5" w x 5.6" h of 1/4" iron, with outside brass hinges & inside lock. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 12' 2" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern, sliding brass plates 8 in number |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 stationary iron ladder 11' long. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Hartshorn spring shade rollers. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Walls lined with wood & wooden floor, 4 small lockers in wall 18" deep at bottom, 6" at top. 1 small wall shelf for lamp & chimneys, small wood table & chairs. |
| How is Relief Called: | Telephones - Chicago Intercommunicating |
| Where is Call System Led: | To signal & Keepers dwellings. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 2 hours 10 minutes |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier & Fenestre |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | None visible |
| Order of Apparatus: | 1st |
| Inside Diameter: | 6' 1" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing white every 5 sec. |
| Time of Revolution: | 2 min |
| Flash Interval: | 5 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | 1/3 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Can be seen from due N to E by S on water being about = to arc of 260 degrees. |
| Number of Panels: | 24 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 24 |
| Arc of Each: | 15 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 16 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 18 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 8 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Lens mounted on chariot wheels & driven by weight clock. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron panes 4' dia. glass doors on 4 sides. |
| Service Table: | Cast iron top of pedestal 6' dia surrounded by small brass rail below bottom of lens. |
| Draft Tube Description: | Tube of sheet copper 3' 6" long, 6" dia at top, 4" at bottom, into which damper tube slides, & is held by stem of damper engaging with bevel gear held in bracket hanging from upper tube. |
| Revolving Machinery: | Weight driven clock work |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Chariot |
| Chariot Description: | Steel ring with screwed-in spindles carrying 10 6" conical tread solid brass wheels. |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 21' 8" |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 2 hours 10 minutes |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By iron pedestal frame with 4 doors |
| Regulated: | By varying weight on clock cord & by raising or lowering weights on arms of centrifugal governor operating feathering air vanes geared to clockwork. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 1st order |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | 3/8" steel cable 45' long |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Thru 2 pulleys on watchroom floor & 1 on under side of lantern floor. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 4.5" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | 14' from tower about level of watchroom floor. Partitioned off from W end of coal room. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 16 x 19' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Redwood |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Lower part of tower is used for storeroom at this station. |
| Suitability: | Dry |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Gasoline engine, air compressor Std. Crosby & 6" siren |
| Time to Start: | 6 min |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | 4 min |
| Manufacturer: | S.F. Douk Gas Eng. Co. & Dow Pump Co. |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1910 |
| Characteristic: | 2.5 sec blast every 35 sec. |
| Duplication: | All parts except air fuel & water tanks. |
| Timing Device: | Crosby automatic |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Siren 35 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | 110' |
| Compass Direction: | W'ly |
| Location: | Extreme W'n point of Pt. Reyes for general navigating purposes. |
| Distance and Direction: | 150' W'ly 90' lower |
| Water Supply: | Storage tanks below rain shed. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By wood stairway of 260 steps & path around bluff with hand rail on outer side. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Frame, 34' x 20' x 14', 1/3 pitch roof, horiz. rustic outside, vert. t&g ceiling inside, 2 windows, 1 sliding door W side. 2 windows N end, 1 window & sliding door E side, wide sliding door & high windows S end, small lean-to tool room NE cor; toilet SE. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Siren Signal |
| Siren: | Cylindrical |
| Siren Diameter: | 6" |
| Siren Built Date: | 1909 |
| Siren Manufacturer: | Tompkinsville Depot |
| Siren Ports: | 20; 3/36" x 2 3/4" |
| Siren Revolutions: | Unknown |
| Siren Governor: | Friction blocks |
| Siren Condition: | Good |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | |
| Kind: | Gasoline or distillate |
| Manufacturer: | Douk Gas Eng. Co. |
| Date Made: | 1910 |
| Nominal Size: | 7 1/4 x 11 |
| Horsepower: | 15 |
| Compressor: | Horizontal |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | Dow Pump Co. |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Separate & belt driven 10" double leather belt 10' centers |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 1050' E from tower & about 270' higher |
| Coloring: | Painted white, lead colored trimmings, green window shutters & brown roof. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood frame, rustic covered. |
| Number of Rooms: | 9 + 2 baths in double; 4 + bath in each cottage. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 2 in double, 1 each cottage. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 6; 2 storerooms, 1 coal house, carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, barn |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White with brown roof. |
| Paths and Walks: | 1 wagon road thru reservation planked for 200' btwn dwellings. |
| Area Inclosed: | E end of reservation bounded by barb wire fence reaching across point from water to water. |
| Area of Garden: | None, but some hay is raised by Keeper on hillside |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None, except natural growth by small brush |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 2 acres or more while trees could be grown along road way & inside boundary fence, furnishing wind break, shade & future fuel supply. |
| Area Cultivated: | None except small area growing hay |
| Character of Surroundings: | High points are bare rock, lower places good soil & sand mostly covered with small brush & wild vegetation. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | 2 rain sheds, total area about 15,200 sq. ft. |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No danger at all as rain sheds are 400' or more above high water. |
| Purity Precaution: | None, tanks & cisterns have not been cleaned for some time |
| Tank Capacity: | Large cistern 200' W of dwelling 75,000 gal cap; 4 10,000 gal cap ea near dwellings; 3 tanks, 25,000, 35,000 & 42,000 gal capacity |
| Tank Material: | Cisterns, brick & cement; tanks, wood |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | No sickness known in this vicinity |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Beach landing at Drakes Bay where there is small frame storehouse 15' x 30' with gable roof painted brown & white washed walls 1 door on bay side. (Landing not owned by government) |
| Distance and Direction: | About due E 2 miles in air-line, about 3 miles by wagon road. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | F.S. bldg rebuilt July, 1910. Toilet & Lav were placed in small room at S end. Fuel tank for engines loc 30' S of signal bldg in 5x6x7' brick tank pit covered with 1/2 pitch shingle roof. Each engine fuel pump is connected with fuel tank by 1/2" pipe. |