Report for Delaware Breakwater Range Front Light Station (Delaware) - 1908
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | Thos. J Rout, Jr. Draftsman |
| Location: | On the easterly end of Delaware Breakwater, Delaware southwesterly side of the entrance to and in Delaware Bay |
| Date of Report: | 03/14/1908 |
| Latitude: | 38° 47 ' 50" |
| Longitude: | 75° 06' 01" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Lighthouse is on the E end of the Delaware Breakwater |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Not defined |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | No soil |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 9' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | There is a frame wharf at the light station |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | The wharf adjoins the lighthouse. It is provided with a landing ladder extending down to water |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By railroad to Lewes, Del. thence by private boat to station |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 2 miles to public road. About 3 miles to station |
| Distance to Post Office: | About 3 miles |
| Distance to Village: | About 3 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Launches can be hired in Lewes, Del. Distance about 3 miles |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | The lantern is supported by an iron watchroom which rests upon a conical tower in which the Keeper resides |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1885 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Watchroom and tower are circular |
| Form of Tower: | Watchroom is cylindrical, tower is conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | From top of concrete foundation to ball 49' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 60.5' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Buildings, sand dune & trees |
| Color of Tower: | Foundation white, tower brown, watchroom & lantern black |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Foundation concrete, unpainted, other colors produced by paint |
| Tower Connection: | The lantern is on the tower in which the Keeper resides |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor, for general navigating purposes |
| Building Materials: | Tower is built of iron, brick lined inside |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | Of tower, about 24" inc. brick lining |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | Of tower about 4" |
| Diameter at Base: | 22' at base outside |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 18' outside, dia of watchroom is 10' 10" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron |
| Number of Landings: | None but the floors |
| Size of Glass: | Windows in watchroom 8" x 10"; 4th floor 10 5/8" dia; others 10" x 12" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 17. Sash in watchroom 18" x 35"; 4th floor 19" x 19"; others 24" x 4' 7" |
| Number of Doors: | 10 as floors. 1 iron & 1 wooden door in watchroom. |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Foundation consists of a 24' dia. concrete block set into top of breakwater |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Tower is located on the breakwater |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The tower is in good condition and well painted |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 0.5" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 36 3/4" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | About 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | All about 34 3/4" x 36 3/4" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | Two |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Metal |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Lighthouse has a cast iron shell. At the base of this shell is attached 4 twisted copper wire ropes, which extend down to the water |
| Balustrade: | Both of iron, no balusters |
| Lantern Doors: | Sheet iron double doors in the lower wall of the lantern, they are provided with hinges & handle. These doors are not used but a ladder is, which extends up from the watchroom balcony |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | In the lantern floor is a sheet iron trap door. It is provided with hinges & a handle. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 openings in lower wall of lantern, each covered with brass discs |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 8 brass hooks are tapped into the lantern |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | It has 1 window, a cpboard, a wooden and an iron door to balcony, an iron ladder leading up to lantern & a trap door in floor |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4.5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute, Paris |
| Year Made: | 1891 |
| Marks and Number: | Henry LePaute, Paris 1891 H.L. 334 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white, 2.5 secs., eclipse 2.5 secs., to the N of W & S and E SE 3/8 E. fixed red 2.5 secs., eclipse 2.5 secs throughout remaining sector. |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | 2.5 secs. |
| Duration of Flash: | 2.5 secs |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | 360 degrees |
| 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: | 6 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | By a cylindrical shade, lifted & dropped around the chimney by clockwork |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Cast iron, 4'0" high |
| Service Table: | Cast iron, 39" above floor, fan shaped & attached to the pedestal. It supports the clock |
| Draft Tube Description: | No tube |
| Revolving Machinery: | The occulting machinery consists of a weight actuated clock. |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 32' from watchroom floor to basement floor |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4.5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass case, marked USLH Depot, 3 dist lamp shop, Staten Island, NY |
| Regulated: | By a vertical 2 fan governor, attached to the clockwork |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | By ruby glass |
| Red Sectors Description: | Red sector S of W 1/8 S & ESE 3/8 E |
| Where Color Attached: | To lantern by brass frames |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order Funk Heap lamp with one wick. From base to top of button 14 5/8" |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | One (3 inall) |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None, except that on spare lamp. |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Occulting cord extends down from the clock through lantern & watchroom floors to a pulley on the ceiling, thence to the center col. of the lighthouse |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | In the watchroom, there is a cupboard provided with shelves & used for storage of lamp supplies |
| Oil House Description: | Wooden oil house, 5.5" x 6'3" is located on the wharf. It has a hinged door & is 85' W of the lighthouse. This is empty, the oil being kept in the storehouse on the wharf. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | 1 closet each on the 3rd & 4th floors, they have no shelves & are used for clothes; 1 in the kitchen without shelves & used for clothes. 1 on 1st floor with shelves & used for storing of fog signal, supplies etc. |
| Suitability: | All dry and suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 3rd class Daboll trumpet operated by an oil engine & compressor. If trumpet is disabled, a 700 lb. bell is struck by hand at intervals of 10 secs. |
| Time to Start: | About 15 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | 1st engine: August Meitz Iron Foundry & Mach. works of NY; #2 De La Vergne Mach. Co of NY |
| Year of Manufacture: | Bell, 1850; engine #1 bought 1903; #2 bought 1897 |
| Characteristic: | 2 sec blast followed by 13 sec silence |
| Duplication: | Station is provided with duplicate engine & compressor |
| Timing Device: | Barn wheel, operated by a worm gear |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 7 to 8 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | About 26' |
| Compass Direction: | E |
| Location: | Fog signal is located in the 1st floor of the lighthouse. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | #1 connected by pipes to iron water tank |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Fog signal is located in the 1st floor of the lighthouse. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 700 lbs |
| Metal: | Probably bell |
| Diameter: | 2' 8 3/4" |
| Height: | 22.5" |
| Time: | Bell struck by hand |
| Manufacturer: | T.J. Dyre, Jr. |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | Consists of duplicate oil engine & compressor |
| Kind: | #1 meitz & Weiss; #2 Hornsby Ackroyd oil engines |
| Manufacturer: | #1 August Meitz Iron Foundry; #2 De La Vergne Mach |
| Date Made: | #1 bought 1903; #2 bought 1897 |
| Nominal Size: | #1 2.5' x 4.5'; #2 3' x 5.5' |
| Horsepower: | #1 4 HP; #2 5 HP |
| Compressor: | #1 horizontal 7" x 7"; #2 vert. 7" dia x 6" stroke |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | Both made by Clayton Air Compressor Works |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | #1 on same bed & geared direct to engine; #2 is separate & belt driven |
| Daboll Signal |
| Daboll: | 3rd class |
| Daboll Reed: | Steel |
| Daboll Length: | 8.5" |
| Daboll Breadth: | 2 1/4" |
| Daboll Base Thickness: | 15/32" |
| Daboll Tip Thickness: | 1/4" |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 7' 10" |
| Trumpet Diameter: | Small end 4", large 24" |
| Trumpet Material: | 3/32" brass |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | The lantern is on the tower in which the Keeper resides |
| Coloring: | Brown, black lantern & watchroom, white foundation |
| Construction Materials: | Concrete foundation. Cast iron shell brick lined inside |
| Number of Rooms: | Lighthouse has 5 rooms including watchroom |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 3 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame privy, frame oil house, frame storehouse |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Oil house, brown; storehouse & privy, white with lead colored trimmings |
| Paths and Walks: | None |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | The light is located on the breakwater |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roof of lighthouse & storehouse through downspouts to cisterns & a tank |
| Quality: | Good when properly cared for |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | The downspouts are provided with cut-offs |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern is in foundation of lighthouse - cap about 2700 gals.; Tank is at the storehouse 11' from lighthouse - cap about 1300 gals. |
| Tank Material: | Cistern is made in the concrete foundation; 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: | W of lighthouse is a frame wharf, 26' x 86' in plan. The top is about 20' above mean low water. It is furnished with 2 pairs of boat davits & steps extending down to the water. |
| Distance and Direction: | The wharf adjoins the lighthouse |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The general condition of this station is good & is provided with a telephone which is connected to the Phila. Maritime Exchange & to Lewes, Del. The illuminating apparatus is in excellent order. Keeper also attends to DE Breakwater E end beacon. |