Report for Christiana Light Station (Delaware) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | H. Bamber, Assistant Engineer & others |
| Location: | Located on the westerly side of the Delaware River & on the northerly side of the mouth of the Christiana River |
| Date of Report: | 12/20/1907 |
| Latitude: | 39° 43' 18" |
| Longitude: | 73° 31' 15" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 09/05/1834 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 4 85/100 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | About 4 85/100 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Loam |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 100' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Fences, & banks protected by rip-rap |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | There is a boat landing on the inner end of the je |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | There is a boardwalk to landing, about 150' dist. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By railroad to Wilmington, Del. thence by private team to light station |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 1/8 mile over marsh to a public road, thence 2 miles to Wilmington railroad station |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 2.5 miles by road to Wilmington Post Office |
| Distance to Village: | About 2 miles by road to Wilmington |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | There are livery stables in Wilmington |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern is on dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1835 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | The interior of lighthouse was refinished & new veranda built, 1902 |
| Condition at This Date: | Fair |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Lantern tower is octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Prismatic |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | About 47.5" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 44' 0" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Buildings, trees |
| Color of Tower: | White with lead colored trimmings, green shutters, black lantern, slate colored roof |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern tower is on dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Channel light, for local navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Brick with slate roof |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 17" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 9" |
| Diameter at Base: | 8' 6" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | Inside 7' 0" outside 8' 6" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | None except watchroom floor |
| Size of Glass: | About 2' 1/8" x 14 7/8" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 1 double sash window, about 2'4 3/4" x 2' 11" |
| Number of Doors: | 17 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Brick, depth not known |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Loam |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The site was originally a salt marsh. It has a levee along each river front & has been filled in with drudged mud to a height of about 2' above mean high water. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | From floor to glass, octagonal; above this polygon |
| Diameter to Glass: | 6' 4.5" & 6' 9" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 12 |
| Type of Bars: | Diagonal |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | About 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: | Isosolestrapezoid approx. dim: lower base 2' 4 7/8"; upper base 11 15/16" side 3' 1 1/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None, 1 extra lantern pane on hand |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Metal & wood; parapet is wood covered with shingle |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | On pinnacle of lantern; has a small conical platinum tipped point. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 3/4" copper pipe attached to the sill of the iron lantern frame leads down the rear side of the lantern tower & the lighthouse to the cornice of the rear veranda, where it joins a copper wire cable which leads down the veranda & under floor to std ground |
| Balustrade: | Iron railing (no balusters) deck wood, covered with tin, no grillage |
| Lantern Doors: | Doors to balcony are of wood. Outside door is fitted with a hook & small rijng & staples; inner door is fitted with a small iron ring & staple & iron button. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Probably wood, covered with copper |
| Watchroom Doors: | This is a wooden trap door hung on iron hinges and fitted with an iron lifting ring |
| Parapet Diameter: | About 6' 1.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 ventilators in lower wall of lantern, covered with inside rectangular registers 8.5" x 10.5" |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 9 brass hooks screwed into lintel of lantern |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Octagonal with an inscriberd diameter of about 7'0". It is fitted with a cupboard for lamps, etc. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | Henry LePaute a Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 1/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees, except that lens door in central drum of lens is so constructed that it will not quite close, & leaves an unfilled space about 1" (6 degrees) wide. |
| 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 in 3 panels, 1 in door panel |
| 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, diameter of base is 12 1/6"; top 12 3/8" Height 3' 1.5" |
| Service Table: | Plate iron, with a wrought iron frame attached to lens 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: | None |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | One (3 in all) |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | No closets, except a cupboard in watchroom & used for lamps, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | A frame oil house, 7' 6" x 7' 6" is located about 35' NE of lighthouse. It has no shelves |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | There is a closet in each of the 2 large 2nd floor bedrooms, fitted with hooks & shelves & used for clothes. A pantry opens from the kitchen. The cellar, originally used for storage purposes, has been partially filled with earth. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Lantern is on dwelling |
| Coloring: | White, with lead colored trimmings, green shutters, blue slate roof & black lantern |
| Construction Materials: | Brick with slate roof |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 besides halls, pantry & 2 low attic rooms |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | One |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame oil house, brick privy, frame barn & frame tank house |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Privy is of red brick, unpainted. Barn is whitewashed. Tank house is white w/ lead color trim |
| Paths and Walks: | A boardwalk extends from the lighthouse to the boat landing. A brick walk extends from the rear entrance of the lighthouse to the oil & tank house |
| Area Inclosed: | About 4 85/100 acres - by fences, and banks protected by rip rap |
| Area of Garden: | About 2 acres |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | There are 10 willow trees on the grounds, no other trees or shrubs |
| Cultivation Area Available: | About 3 acres |
| Area Cultivated: | About 3 acres |
| Character of Surroundings: | Low meadow, soil is loam |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roof of lighthouse by means of downspouts to tank & cistern |
| Quality: | Good when properly cared for |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Downspouts have been provided with cut-offs. |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern under lighthouse - cap about 1900 gal. Tank in tank house about 12' from lighthouse, cap 1200 gals. |
| Tank Material: | Cistern is brick, tank is wood |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | None |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | There is a boat landing on inner end of jetty. For desc., see "Christiana North Jetty Light" |
| Distance and Direction: | The boat landing is about 150' SE of lighthouse & connected thereto by a boardwalk |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The general character of the premises, etc. is fair & the general condition is good. A cement cover on the earth filling in the cellar of the lighthouse & a well would be desirable improvements. The barn should be rebuilt. |