Report for Choptank River Light Station (Maryland) - 1927
| General |
| District: | 5th |
| Inspector: | T.S. Johnson |
| Location: | On N side of entrance to Choptank River, Md. |
| Date of Report: | 09/28/1927 |
| Latitude: | 38° 39' 22" |
| Longitude: | 76° 11' 06" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Title to site & cession of jurisdiction was conveyed to the US by state of Maryland |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | 07/24/1874 |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 5 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | No wharf |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat about 2 miles to Oxford, Md. |
| 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: | Screw pile structure |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1871 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1921 |
| 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: | 35' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Land |
| Color of Tower: | White on brown piles |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | |
| Tower Connection: | Above keepers dwelling (screw pile structure) |
| Object of Navigation: | For local navigation entering Choptank River, Md. |
| Building Materials: | Wood |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | |
| Number of Doors: | 6 - 2' 6" x 6' 6" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | This is a screwpile structure, originally at Cherrystone Inlet, VA. Moved to present site in 1921. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th order |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 9 single lights |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" thick, 36.5" high, 28 3/4" bottom, 12" top |
| Size of Plates: | |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Wood |
| Lantern Doors: | Wood, rabbeted, fitted with strap hinges & lock. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Wood, with rim lock |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Step ladder |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed into top of iron frame |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Service table, & closet with shelves |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 350 |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 5th |
| Inside Diameter: | |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Shows red from 187 degrees to 199 degrees, & red from 316 degrees to 345 degrees. Balance shows white |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| 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: | |
| 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 sectors |
| Red Sectors Description: | 2, 187 degrees to 199 degrees, & 316 degrees to 345 degrees. |
| Where Color Attached: | Lantern |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Secured inside of storm panes of lantern |
| Lamp Description: | 5th order |
| Type of Illuminant: | Kerosene |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 3 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 3 |
| Candle Power: | 35 CP |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | One |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 5th order (26 mm) |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Closet in watchroom, fitted with shelves & hooks |
| Oil House Description: | |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Under roof, near eaves, small doors opening from side of wainscoting |
| Suitability: | Dry |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Stevens |
| Time to Start: | |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 1 stroke every 10 sec. |
| Duplication: | None |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Lighthouse on 10' shoal at entrance to Choptank River. |
| Distance and Direction: | Directly on shoal |
| Water Supply: | Rain water supply by gravity to cisterns |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | On lighthouse |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | No fog signal building |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 750 lbs |
| Metal: | Bronze |
| Diameter: | 36" |
| Height: | 26" |
| Time: | 2 hours |
| Manufacturer: | Meneely, NY 1858 |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Under tower (screwpile structure) |
| Coloring: | White on brown piles |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 4 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 Keeper, 1 Asst. Keeper |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | None |
| Outhouse Coloring: | |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Marine site |
| Stove, Maker: | New Baltimore |
| Stove, Size: | # 700 |
| Sink, Maker: | No name. |
| Sink, Size: | 16" x 30" |
| Pump, Maker: | No pump |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Roof, by gravity to cypress tanks |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Roof is first washed off before allowing water to enter tanks. |
| Tank Capacity: | 3 - 200 gal each, 1st floor |
| Tank Material: | 2 wood, 1 iron |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Excellent |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | None, submarine site |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 350 |
| Type: | Motor |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 16 |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 403 |
| Type: | Skiff |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 16 |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Lathrop |
| Horsepower: | 3 |
| Engine Maker: | No. 22085 - No date |
| Spare Coil: | None |
| Magnet: | Bosch, no number |
| Battery: | 4 - No. 6 dry cells. |
| Propeller Diameter: | 16" |
| Propeller Pitch: |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | Hung in davits |