Report for Tangier Sound Light Station (Virginia) - 1927

General
District: 5th
Inspector: L.M. Hopkins
Location: In 3/4 fathoms, W side of S entrance to sound (VA).
Date of Report: 06/10/1927
Latitude: 37° 47' 17"
Longitude: 75° 58' 27"
Premises
Site: Deed executed by the Governor of Virginia under the provisions of a statute that state passed 4/16/1874
Date of Reservation: 12/13/1888
Date of Deed:
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 5 acres
Area Inclosed:
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: 7/8 of a nautical mile
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence:
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Yes
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: (a). Boat. (b) 4.5 nautical miles to Tangier, VA.
Distance to Nearest Road:
Distance to Post Office:
Distance to Village:
Facilities for Public Conveyance:
Facilities for Private Conveyance:
Means Used for Support of Lantern: On superstructure
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1890
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1919
Condition at This Date:
Shape of Tower in Plan:
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball:
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 39'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: None
Color of Tower: Superstructure, white, lantern black, roof & substructure brown
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: In one
Object of Navigation: To mark entrance to Tangier Sound, Chesapeake Bay, VA.
Building Materials: Wood & iron
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron ladders to main deck; wooden spiral stairway to lantern
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 8" x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern:
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 8
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36.5"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side: 1
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: 36.5" X 34.5"
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern:
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Wood, iron, copper
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Copper
Ventilator / Cowl: Copper
Lightning Spindle: Copper
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Wood
Lantern Doors: Hung on outside with brass hinges
Floor of Lantern: Wood; tongued & grooved yellow pine
Watchroom Doors:
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: 3 in lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 1 small step ladder
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into cornice ceiling


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: With closets & fog-bell machine
How is Relief Called:
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles: 490
Name of Maker: Sauter, Lemonnier & Cie
Year Made: 1889
Marks and Number: Paris, 1889, No. 340
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 20"
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 4
Number of Flash Panels:
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
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description:
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 glass 1/8"
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached: To lantern
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 4th order
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene
Number of Spare Lamps: 3
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power: 490 CP
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Screwpile structure
Oil House Description: Storage tank, 275 gal, under superstructure
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): 3 closets on 1st floor, 1 cupboard, & 4 storerooms on 2nd floor
Suitability: (a.) Dry (b.) Well suited for purpose.
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: No. 4 Gamewell
Time to Start: 1 minute
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 1 stroke 10 sec silent
Duplication: 1 large spring
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location: Installed in watchroom of superstructure located on channel (E) side to cover entrance to sound.
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply: Rain water from roof stored in tanks.
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
Bell Signal
Weight: 1000 lbs
Metal: Bell
Diameter: 36"
Height: 30"
Time: 55 min
Manufacturer: No. 4 Gamewell
Weights for Operation:
Dwelling
Location: Dwelling in superstructure
Coloring: White
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: 8
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: 3
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated:
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker: S.B. Sexton Stove & Mfg. Co.
Stove, Size: Imp. new Balto. # 701
Sink, Maker: No name; enamel
Sink, Size: 18 x 24
Pump, Maker: None
Pump, Size: None
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: From roof stored in tanks
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Avoiding use of paint on roof containing injurious properties; keeping tanks clean & water aerated
Tank Capacity: 1 iron, 2 wood cap 1000 gal.
Tank Material: 2 cypress, 1 steel
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description:
Well Diameter:
Well Lining:
Pump or Bucket:
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling:
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Good
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes:
Recommended Improvements:
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Piles, with wooden deck extends about 30' on N side & about 12' wide.
Distance and Direction:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Boats
Boat #1
Boat Number: 416
Type: Sail
Length: 6'3"
Width: 18'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station: 7/26/22
Sails: True
Suited to Work: Yes
 
Boat #2
Boat Number: 462
Type: Motor
Length: 6' 7"
Width: 22'
When Built: 1926
Date Harbored at Station: 10/8/26
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Yes


Power Boat
Engine Type: Internal Combustion
Horsepower: 6
Engine Maker: # 22575
Spare Coil:
Magnet: Robert Bosch (American)
Battery: Dry cells, 6, Columbia or equal
Propeller Diameter: 18"
Propeller Pitch: 20"


Miscellaneous
General Information:
Boats on Station: Hoisted to davits