Report for Bombay Hook Light Station (Delaware) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | H. Bamber, Assistant Engineer and others |
| Location: | Located about 800 feet SW from the mouth of the Smyrna River, westerly side of Delaware River |
| Date of Report: | 12/09/1907 |
| Latitude: | 39° 21' 49" |
| Longitude: | 75° 30' 38" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 07/30/1831 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | To edge of marsh, about 3.5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | About 2 7/10 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Loam and salt marsh |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 260' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Wire fences |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | None |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | None |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By railroad to Smyrna, Del. And thence by private conveyance to station. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | Station is on a public road. Distance to Smyrna railroad station, over road now used about 8 miles |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 8 miles by road to Smyrna |
| Distance to Village: | About 8 miles by road to Smyrna |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | There are livery stables in Smyrna |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern tower on brick dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1831 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Fair |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Prismatic |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 48' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 47 1/2' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Distant trees |
| Color of Tower: | White with lead colored trimmings, green shutters and black lantern |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint and whitewash |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern tower is on dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay and harbor, for local navigating purposes |
| Building Materials: | |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 2 bricks - about 17" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | About 13" gable about 9" |
| Diameter at Base: | About 6' 3" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | About 6' 3" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden from attic to watchroom floor, spiral |
| Number of Landings: | None beside floors |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 10" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1, lower sash 13" x 2'3 3/4"; up 22.5" x 2'3 3/4" |
| Number of Doors: | 24 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Probably brick. Depth probably about 5' below the surface. Cellar floor is about 4' below |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Loam and salt marsh |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Loam is susceptible |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The marsh on the bay side of the reservation is wearing away. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | From floor to glass, cylindrical, polygonal above |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 4 3/8" and 6' 8 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 12 |
| Type of Bars: | Diagonal |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' in the clear |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | About 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | Isoceles trapezoid bases 29" and 12" altitude 37" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Wood, metal and glass. Lower part of wall is wood |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Iron pinnacle of lantern. Central brass pt & 6 cop |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | A 3/4" copper rod run from lantern sill down tower to ridge of lighthouse roof, along ridge to SE gable & vertically down to a level of eaves where it joins a 3/4" pipe which runs down to std ground connection. |
| Balustrade: | Iron, in 8 sections. There are 2 rails. The spaces between are filled with heavy wire guards. |
| Lantern Doors: | There is 1 inside and 1 outside door to balcony. Outside door fastens with a hook & inside door with a button. Each is fitted with an iron ring. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | There is a trap door hung on hinges and fitted with an iron lifting ring. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 1 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 6 ventilators in lower wall of lantern, having inside wooden covers |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtains are hung by loops of string to bolt heads |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | On landing just below lantern has a closet fitted with shelves & used for lamps & supplies |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter & Co. |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | L Sautter & Co. Construction a Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 270 degrees fixed |
| Number of Panels: | 4, One is filled with a silver plated copper reflector, about 12" x 15" lying between NE 3/4 N and SE 3/4 E |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| 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, height not known. Hgt above floor 3' 2 3/4" |
| Service Table: | Plate iron on a wrought iron frame, triangular in shape & attached to pedestal & wall of lantern |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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: | No color |
| Red Sectors Description: | No red sectors |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Standard 4th order single wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | One, 3 in all |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | There is a closet in the watchroom, fitted with shelves and used for lamps and supplies |
| Oil House Description: | A frame oil house 9' x 12' in plan is located about 5.5' W of lighthouse. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | There are 6 closets in the 2nd floor. 3 of these are fitted with shelves & hooks & used for clothes, 3 are fitted with shelves & used for general purposes. |
| Suitability: | Dry and suitable |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Lantern is on dwelling, forming a lighthouse |
| Coloring: | White, lead colored trimmings, green shutters, black lantern |
| Construction Materials: | Brick and wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 besides pantry and halls |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | One |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame barn, frame oil house & brick privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Barn & oil house are white. Privy is red brick |
| Paths and Walks: | There are brick walks about lighthouse extending to oilhouse, wall, cistern & privy |
| Area Inclosed: | About 2 7/10 acres |
| Area of Garden: | About 1/3 acre |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 1 3/4 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | About 1/3 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Salt marsh and clay loam |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From 2 wells and roof of lighthouse by means of downspouts to cisterns |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Yes |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Downspouts have been provided with cut-offs |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern #1 located in SW angle of lighthouse & has 600 gal. Cap. Cistern #2 located about 4' N of lighthouse has 1300 gal. Cap. |
| Tank Material: | Brick |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | #1, open about 14' deep, water hard and brackish; #2, driven, at barn 26' deep. Keeper states "water is best on the island" |
| Well Diameter: | #1- 4', #2 - 1.5' |
| Well Lining: | #1 - brick, #2 - 1.5' pipe |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump in #2, none in #1 |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | #1 is about 18' from dwelling, #2 about 100' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | None prevalent |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The general character and condition of the premises etc. are good. |