Report for Point Sur (California) - 1889
| General |
| District: | 12th |
| Inspector: | Major W.H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, USA |
| Location: | On top of what is known as the Moro Rock & is called Point Sur on the Coast Survey Charts. |
| Date of Report: | 12/23/1889 |
| Latitude: | 36° 18' 10" |
| Longitude: | 121° 53' 45" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Approximately 37 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Rock & sand, covered in spots with a little brush & very little grass. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Vertically 234' horizontally 300' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | In smooth weather steamers can land close up to Point Sur, there is no regular wharf or landing. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By rail or steamer to Monterey CA., thence by private conveyance over a very bad mountain road over a distance called 26 miles to the station. In fine weather, can land on the beach from small boat. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Distant about 2 miles from nearest public road, about 26 miles from Monterey, CA., the nearest RR station or Steamer landing. |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 26 miles. |
| Distance to Village: | About 26 miles to Monterey. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Can get team in Monterey - drive over a bad mountain road to station. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Stone tower with oil house & fog signal bldg attached. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | In 1889 - by hired labor, rock quarried in vicinity. |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | In good order |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square with circular cylinder inside. |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 52' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 272' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | Gray stone |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Natural color of rock of which built |
| Tower Connection: | Tower detached from dwelling, but is part of bldg consisting of tower, oil room & fog signal house. |
| Object of Navigation: | Sea coast for general navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Stone |
| General Description: | Interior & exterior of parapet are of iron, intervening space is filled with stone 18" thick. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' 5" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 18" |
| Diameter at Base: | Of interior cylinder is 12'; of circumscribed square is 14' 10" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | Interior dia. = 12'; exterior 15'; |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron spiral stairway |
| Number of Landings: | 2 - 1 is 1/2 way up in tower, other at level of parapet floor. |
| Size of Glass: | |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 window, semi-circular arch top, width of opening = 2'; height to spring line of arch = 4'. |
| Number of Doors: | 1 outside door with fan light at top, semi-circular, 1 door into lantern & 1 door to parapet gallery. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Founded on rock about 2' below surface of soil. Bottom of interior cylinder is of concrete - cylinder itself is brick, inside cement washed. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Rocky - occasional patches of sand with a little brush. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | No |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower stands well towards W'ly end of Moro rock - reached from dwelling by RR track or by path over & along crest of rock. Access to top of rock is had by cable RR rising from plain below to height of abt 330' in horizontal distance of abt 600'. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 1st |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | 11' 8" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 16 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 10' 3" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 3 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 3 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 30 7/8" x 28 1/6"; 39 3/16" x 28 1/16"; 44 3/4" x 28 1/16" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | No storm panes, but 18 extra panes of outside glass. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron, copper, brass & steel - zinc & tin. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Bronze - platinum point |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | None - lightning conductors are prohibited by the Board in CA. |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | 2 inner wooden doors at vestibule entrance to lantern. 1 iron door leading to parapet gallery. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Hung on hinges, has knob, lock & key. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Are in the planciers of the parapet cornice which communicates with air channels in parapet wall, air registers are inside of lantern near lower part. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Iron |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Bronze screwed into lantern posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Lined with sheet iron |
| How is Relief Called: | Electric bells & wires. |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 5 hours. |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | Lens makes 1 revolution in 4 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | Intervals btwn centers of flashes are about 15 sec. |
| Duration of Flash: | Duration of flash is approx. 4 sec. |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 16 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| 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: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Iron containing clockwork |
| Service Table: | None |
| Draft Tube Description: | Russia sheet iron |
| Revolving Machinery: | Clockwork regulated by weights & fan governor |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | None - all open in center of spiral stairway. |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 5 hours. |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By glass & cast iron in pedestal |
| Regulated: | By increase or decrease of weights aided by varying angle of governor fan. |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | Ruby panels placed in front of every other panel. Above central drum of lens, are also ruby panels or lights of glass, so that all light coming from upper drum of lens is red. Dia. of condensors which produce white flash are abt 10.5"; red flash abt 16.5" |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 5 wick mineral oil lamp |
| Type of Illuminant: | Mineral oil |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | Vertically downwards - 1 end wound on drum, other fastened beneath lantern floor. Weights suspended on a rod, upper end having a sheave. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 in watchroom suitable for spare burner, ready for use, & cleaning materials with doors, 2 shelves & hinges. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil room adjoins base of tower 16' x 12' 8" in plan, fitted with shelves for carrying cans - lighted by 1 window - door with fan light opening outside - another door communicates with tower inside. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 2 cans |
| Other (Describe): | 1 in oil room w/ double doors above & below suitable for wicks, linens, spare lantern, curtains, lens cover & 1 stationary w/ 3 sliding doors suitable for stores. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 2 large return tubular flue boilers - encased in brick. Duplicate 12" steam whistles. |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | Blasts are of 5 sec duration & 35 sec intervals. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | To mark prominent headland |
| Distance and Direction: | In same bldg |
| Water Supply: | Well on sand flat near sea level. water pumped up. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | RR track, also by trail |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Bldg of stone 30' x 36' 8" in plan - walls 12' 3" high, open trussed roof - concrete floor. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | About 1000' E of tower |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Gray sandstone |
| Number of Rooms: | Large double dwelling; 11 rooms in all besides attic. |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 4 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Bldg of frame 19' x 32' was left which can be used for 1 of the assts. Good water closet is detached from main dwelling. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Practically none. Top of rock was cut down so to find area enough to found bldgs on. There is from 6' to 25' spare in width on level ground outside of dwelling. |
| Area Inclosed: | Premises are not inclosed. |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Ocean on 1 side, barren sand flat on other, about a mile in width, beyond this land is only fit for grazing, in fact is a stock range. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Well sunk in sand flat, thence pumped to cistern on top of Moro Rock near dwelling |
| Quality: | Not very good, but drinkable |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | I think not |
| Purity Precaution: | No rain water is used. |
| Tank Capacity: | Large stone cistern near dwelling holds when full about 50,000 gals - tank near fog signal holds about 10,000 gals. |
| Tank Material: | 1 of stone, 1 of redwood. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Simply a square hole, say 6' on side, dug in sand & lined with wood, about 6' deep. |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | Lined with plank. |
| Pump or Bucket: | By steam pump, housed alongside well. |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | A little over 1000'; water accumulates in well by seepage, then pumped into large stone cistern. |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | Don't know of any |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Near dwelling is a house of stone containing hoisting engine to hoist car by cable from sand flat beneath to level of dwelling. Bldg is 35' 6" x 23' 6" in plan, part of which is 20' sq. in plan & used for coal room. |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 sets 1st order |
| Lens Covers: | 2 sets 1st order |
| Damper Tube and Key: | 2 |
| Spare Damper and Key: | 1 |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | None |
| Time Marker: | 1 |
| Gauge: | None |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 Tubular Argand Burner lamp |
| Curtain Hanger: | None |
| Heater: | None |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | 2 linen |
| Lamp Stand: | 1 |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | 2 |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | 2 wire, 1 rope |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | 16 |
| Clutch: | On sling |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | 1 |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | None |
| Feather Brushes: | 2 |
| Linen Towels: | 20 |
| Sponges: | 3 |
| Chamois Skins: | 6 |
| Scissors: | 2 |
| Chimney Filters: | 2 |
| Coupling Pliers: | 1 |
| Service Box and Implements: | 1 box equipped |
| Cleaning Materials: | Whiting, Rotten Stone, Rouge Powder & brick bat |
| Keepers Aprons: | 8 |
| Wicks: |