Report for Point Wilson (Washington) - 1880
| General |
| District: | 13th |
| Inspector: | G.L. Gillespie, Maj. of Engineers |
| Location: | On Point Wilson, Admiralty Inlet, WA |
| Date of Report: | 03/05/1880 |
| Latitude: | 48° 08' 41" |
| Longitude: | 122° 45' 05" |
| Premises |
| Site: | |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 19.91 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | Sand & gravel |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 170' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Picket fence enclosing 1 acre |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Good beach landing |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Landing is in immediate vicinity of tower. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By row-boat or by hired carriage from Port Townsend, WA. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Steamboat landing at Port Townsend. Distance 3 miles |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3 miles |
| Distance to Village: | 3 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | By row boat or hired carriage. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1879 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Just completed |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Square |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 46' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 53' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Dark, thick fir forest |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted |
| Tower Connection: | Tower rises from top of Keeper's dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor for general navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | A wooden frame filled in btwn studs with brick laid in cement mortar |
| General Description: | Keeper's dwelling is built upon an almost continuous brick foundation rising 2' above site. |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 7" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 7" |
| Diameter at Base: | 12' |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 12' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden stairway & steps |
| Number of Landings: | 4 |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3 double windows, size of sash 4' 5" x 2'; 1 window size of sash 4' 5" x 2' 10" |
| Number of Doors: | 5 doors in tower |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | A brick foundation 5' below surface. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sand & gravel |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Not practicable by shrubbery or trees - by grass to a limited extent. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Site is on E'ly end of sand spit which extends 3/4 mile out into channel from bluff. Large amts of driftwood is lodged on its shore. Outer end of spit is drifting sands. 3/4 of area of spit at base or shore end covered w/ trees, brush & grass. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | |
| Diameter to Glass: | Inside measuring from angle to angle 6' 10.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27 x 36.5 |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 3 spare panes, 1 storm pane |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Wrought iron with platina point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 5/8" round iron attached to spindle by a loop in end of rod. It is led from roof of lantern over outer edge of tower cornice to which it is attached, there to ground which it penetrates 18", it is carried thence 20' from bldg, then to moist earth 5' deep. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade of wood around outer edge of lantern deck. Outside gallery 3.5' wide, covered with sheet copper. |
| Lantern Doors: | Door in parapet of lantern is of wrought iron, with a wooden lining, fitted with brass hinges & spring catch. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood: tongued & grooved boards 1" thick in 2 thicknesses. |
| Watchroom Doors: | A wooden paneled door at bottom of stairs which lead into lantern. It is fitted with lock & hinges. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | In parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hook is screwed into each angle of lantern, at height of top edge of lantern glass. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Watchroom is fitted with 2 closets & a small table with drawers. |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Fixed. Arc of illumination 270 degrees. Seen over water from WSW N'ly to SE by S |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 7 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 5 |
| 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: | Cast iron |
| Service Table: | Wrought iron attached to pedestal. |
| Draft Tube Description: | Of copper, 4" dia. It is supported by a flange on its lower end which rests on upper metal ring of lens; a smaller tube depends from this flange into which damper tube is fitted & held by friction. |
| 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: | Hains mineral oil lamp, single burner. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 3. 1 fitted for spare panes of plate glass, for lantern & storm panes. Other 2 are fitted with shelves for keeping lamps, wicks, curtains, brushes, cleaning material, etc., etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Oil kept in a bldg separate from tower, fitted with wooden stands. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Closets in tower previously described are of sufficient capacity to store all of the articles required for the light. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suited to purposes for which they were designed. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 12" steam whistle |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | A blast of 8 sec, with interval of 52 sec. |
| Duplication: | |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | E & immediately in front of lighthouse. Point Wilson extends well into channel & is turning point for passing vessels & being very low is dangerous obstruction to vessels in thick weather. |
| Distance and Direction: | 100' |
| Water Supply: | Rain water from water sheds, stored in brick cistern. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Plank walk. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | 1 story frame bldg 16' x 56' with addition of 16' x 20' divided into 4 rooms. Boiler room 6' x 27'; 2 fuel rooms 16' x 20' each; 1 storeroom 9' x 16'. Water sheds are 50 x 100'. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: | Salt water gauge 5/8" x 10.5" |
| Steam Signal |
| Steam Boiler: | |
| Kind: | |
| Tube: | |
| Dimensions: | Dome 3' dia. x 3' high |
| Length: | 12' |
| Diameter: | 3' |
| Tube Description: | 59 tubes 2" x 7' |
| Steam Tube Diameter: | |
| Steam Furnace Kind: | Fire box |
| Furnace Length: | 3' |
| Furnace Width: | 29" |
| Furnace Height: | |
| Steam Heat Surface: | |
| Steam Grate Surface: | |
| Number of Grate Bars: | |
| Kind of Grate Bars: | |
| Steam Fuel: | |
| Steam Safety Valve: | |
| Steam Maximum Pressure: | |
| Steam Working Pressure: | |
| Steam Diameter of Smokestack: | 15" |
| Smokestack Height: | 21' |
| Drum Dimension: | |
| Steam Drum Diameter: | |
| Steam Covering: | |
| Steam Boiler Condition: | |
| Steam Boiler Built: | |
| Where Built: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Steam Heater: | True |
| Kind: | Cast iron |
| Size: | 9 1/4" dia. x 6' 1" long |
| Heater Time Affect: | |
| Steam Engine Kind: | |
| Steam Engine Revolutions: | |
| Steam Engine Cyl. Diameter: | |
| Steam Engine Piston Stroke: | |
| Steam Engine Pipe Size: | Supply 1.5"; exhaust 1" for pump, 2" for engine |
| Steam Engine When Built: | |
| Steam Engine Where Built: | |
| Manufacturer: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Tower rises from roof of keeper's dwelling. |
| Coloring: | |
| Construction Materials: | Foundation & cellar walls are of brick. Substructure of wood, filled in btwn studs with brick. |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Wood house, 2 privies. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | Plank walk from dwelling to fog whistle house & around dwelling. |
| Area Inclosed: | 1 acre with picket fence |
| Area of Garden: | Soil from adjoining bluff will have to be brought to station before garden can be made. |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | Abt. 5 acres |
| Cultivation Area Available: | Not any |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | Douglas #4 Pitcher spout (2); Garratt #1 force closed |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roof of Keeper's dwelling |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | No precautions thought necessary |
| Tank Capacity: | Cisterns are placed on either side of dwelling & have cap'y of 5000 gal. each. |
| Tank Material: | Brick laid in cement mortar. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | That it is good |
| Diseases: | No prevalent disease |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | None |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing is a sand beach. Boat house located about 40' from high tide & about 100' from Keeper's dwelling. Road follows beach for 1/2 mile & from thence over bluff at an easy grade to high plateau on which residences of tower are located. |
| Distance and Direction: | This is a very exposed point; during summer it receives full force of NW winds blowing down straits & in winter of S'ly winds which sweep out of channel. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The illuminating apparatus is in good condition & bldgs are well arranged for convenience of the station. |
| Tools And Accessories |
| Lantern Curtains: | 2 sets |
| Lens Covers: | 2 |
| Damper Tube and Key: | 1 |
| Spare Damper and Key: | None |
| Carillon for Overflow Pump: | None |
| Time Marker: | |
| Gauge: | |
| Spare Lamp Ready for Use: | 1 |
| Rod Lamp Ready for Use: | None |
| Curtain Hanger: | None req'd |
| Heater: | Not req'd |
| Spare Lamp Cover: | None |
| Lamp Stand: | None |
| Mechanical Lamp Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Cords: | |
| Revolving Machinery Weights: | |
| Clutch: | |
| Spare Fly Or Governor: | |
| Gauge for Oil Cistern: | |
| Feather Brushes: | 2 |
| Linen Towels: | 10 |
| Sponges: | 2 |
| Chamois Skins: | 2 |
| Scissors: | 2 straight; 2 curved |
| Chimney Filters: | None |
| Coupling Pliers: | 1 |
| Service Box and Implements: | 1 |
| Cleaning Materials: | Rotten stone, whiting, rouge. |
| Keepers Aprons: | 2 |
| Wicks: |