Report for Reedy Island Range Rear Light Station (Delaware) - 1908

General
District: 4th
Inspector: Thos. J. Rout, Jr. Draftsman
Location: On the westerly side of Delaware River, Del. on the southerly prolongation of the 30' dredged channel, extending N from the Baker Range line and 14, 616' (2 2/5 miles) S by W 7/8 W in rear of the front light of this range.
Date of Report: 03/12/1908
Latitude: 39° 24' 22"
Longitude: 75° 35' 26"
Premises
Site: Purchase
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 09/13/1901
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 5 62/100 acres
Area Inclosed: 5 62/100 acres
Character of Soil: Loam
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 1/2 mile (to Blackbird Creek)
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Wire fence
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: No wharf
Means to Reach Light Station: By RR to Townsend, Del., thence by private conveyance to station.
Distance to Nearest Road: Station is on a public road. Distance to RR station about 7 miles by road.
Distance to Post Office: About 1340 feet
Distance to Village: Station is in village of Taylors Bridge
Facilities for Public Conveyance: None
Facilities for Private Conveyance: Horses can be hired in Townsend, distance about 7 miles & in Taylors Bridge
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Wooden post, with hoisting apparatus for headlight lamp & case.
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1904
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
Condition at This Date: Excellent
Shape of Tower in Plan: No tower, temporary light is supported on a wooden post
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: Top of post is 101' above ground
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 102' 0"
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Background of post, trees & sky
Color of Tower: Post unpainted, with black, triangular slotted day mark.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Daymark is painted
Tower Connection: Detached
Object of Navigation: Channel & range for general navigating purposes.
Building Materials: Post is of wood.
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base: No tower
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:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Post rests on a timber 12" in diameter x 6' long, 3' below surface.
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Loam
Soil Susceptibility: By either
Miscellaneous Remarks: Post in good condition, site in poor condition. Water stands around the house. It is proposed to fill in & grade around the dwelling sometime in the future.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: Headlight post only. Post is of wood, provided with a hoisting apparatus.
Shape of Lantern: No lantern
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides:
Type of Bars:
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed:
Number of Plates in Height:
Number of Plates Each Side:
Thickness of Plates:
Size of Plates:
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern:
Construction Material Roof / Cowl:
Ventilator / Cowl:
Lightning Spindle:
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade:
Lantern Doors:
Floor of Lantern:
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: No machinery
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Not known
Year Made: Not known
Marks and Number: None
Order of Apparatus: 22" parabolic reflector
Inside Diameter: No lens
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution: Not moveable
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part: No lens, reflector used
Number of Panels: No lens, 22" silvered reflector used
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: None
Service Table: None
Draft Tube Description: No lens
Revolving Machinery: No lens
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls:
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: None
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: No machinery
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection:
Regulated:
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced: No color
Red Sectors Description: No red sector
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Lamp is a locomotive headlight lamp, with one wick.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: One
Number of Spare Burners: None, except that on the spare lamp.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: No tower
Oil House Description: A brick oil house, 8' x 12' in plan, is located about 23.5' N of the dwelling. It has a concrete floor & a set of 5 shelves at one end.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): 2 closets with shelves in 1st floor of dwelling, one used for storage of preserves & one for clothes. 4 closets on 2nd floor with shelves, used for storage of clothes. 1 set of shelves on landing of basement stairs, used for storage of food.
Suitability: Dry & suitable
Dwelling
Location: About 145' SW of the post.
Coloring: White, with lead colored trimmings, green blinds, & brown roof.
Construction Materials: Frame, brick foundation
Number of Rooms: 8
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: One
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: Frame barn & brick oil house & privy
Outhouse Coloring: White, with lead colored trimmings
Paths and Walks: None. The keeper has placed some temporary planks around the premises.
Area Inclosed: About 5 62/100 acres by wire fences.
Area of Garden: One acre
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: All, except what is occupied by the buildings & grounds.
Area Cultivated: One acre
Character of Surroundings: Farming lands
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From a dug well. The station has a driven well, but the water is not good & is not used for domestic purposes.
Quality: Good
Quantity: Not ample in a dry season
Injury Possible: Not liable
Purity Precaution:
Tank Capacity: No tanks or cisterns
Tank Material:
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Dug well was made by Keeper & is about 8' deep. Bored well is about 150' deep but water is not fit for domestic use.
Well Diameter: Dug well about 18"; driven well about 2"
Well Lining: Dug well lined with a wooden barrel; driven well has upper 70' lined with 2" black iron casing.
Pump or Bucket: Bucket from dug well & pump from driven well
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: Each well is about 2' from dwelling.
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements: Yes, draining or other artificial means would improve sanitary conditions.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Dwelling is new & in excellent condition & when drains are laid & grading completed it will be a desirable station. A permanent tower will be erected at this station as soon as the necessary appropriation is available.