Report for Harbor of Refuge (Delaware) - 1910
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | A.E. Arledge, Supt. & J.H. Neal, Lampist |
| Location: | Delaware Bay |
| Date of Report: | 04/03/1910 |
| Latitude: | 38° 48' 51" |
| Longitude: | 75° 05' 33" |
| Premises |
| Site: | On navigable water on Harbor of Refuge Breakwater |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 1 3/16 miles |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Small wharf on piles constructed on Stone Breakwater |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By Tender & by launch from Lewes, Del. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 3 miles to Queen Anne RR Pier, Lewes, Del. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3 3/4 miles to Lewes, Del. |
| Distance to Village: | 3 3/4 miles to Lewes, Del. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | May be reached by launch from Lewes, Del. Distance 3 3/4 miles |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Dwelling superstructure on Foundation shell |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One light |
| First Built or Established: | Temporary light in 1901, Permanent in Nov. 1908 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Repaired March & April 1910 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Circular (bldg is a dwelling superstructure on foundation shell) |
| Form of Tower: | Cylindrical foundationl, Hex prismatic superstruct |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 53' 2" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 60' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Low horizon & sky |
| Color of Tower: | Superstructure: white with lead trimmings & green blinds; Foundation Shell: metallic brown. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Painted |
| Tower Connection: | Dwelling superstructure |
| Object of Navigation: | Harbor light |
| Building Materials: | Concrete base, cast-iron foundation shell, framed superstructure with tinned decks |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 5 5/8" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 6.5" |
| Diameter at Base: | 32' 0" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 16' 8.5" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden with handrail |
| Number of Landings: | No landings except floors |
| Size of Glass: | Variable |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 22, variable |
| Number of Doors: | 28 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Conc. base built on stone breakwater |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | On stone breakwater |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical base, polygonal about lantern shell |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 1 3/4" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | 6' 8 1/4" |
| Number of Sides: | 10 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 0" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 27.5" x 36.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Wood, lined with tin |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast-iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron ball |
| Lightning Spindle: | Cast iron with platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | 1/8" x 1.5" copper ribbon attached to cast sill of lantern & leading down walls, across decks along back side of bldg, projecting into water with piece of metal attached to end |
| Balustrade: | Wood balustrade, wood decks covered with tin. |
| Lantern Doors: | Small door opens from lantern onto the balcony with hinges and a catch |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | Hinged door |
| Parapet Diameter: | 7' 0" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | No ventilators. Ventilation through stairwell & ventilator ball |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None required |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Brass hooks are tapped into lantern posts. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Watchroom fitted up as a bedroom, with ceiling light into lantern |
| How is Relief Called: | None (there is an electric call bell attached to clock to call keepers in case lens clock slows or stops |
| Where is Call System Led: | Lantern to dining room. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 hrs. 30 minutes |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Barbier Benard & Turenne |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | USLHE # 418 |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Flashing white every 12 sec. |
| Time of Revolution: | 48 sec. |
| Flash Interval: | About 11 secs |
| Duration of Flash: | About 1 sec. |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 4 |
| Arc of Each: | 90 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 5 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 4 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 2 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Whole lens revolves bringing flas panels successively in perpendicular plane to observer's line of vision. |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Standard 4 column pedestal with clock shelf |
| Service Table: | None, except top of cupboard in lantern |
| Draft Tube Description: | No tube |
| Revolving Machinery: | Standard 4th order clock |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 41' 6" |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 hrs. 30 minutes |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | By glass case |
| Regulated: | Fan regulator |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | By red sector |
| Red Sectors Description: | From 326 degrees 20' to 330 degrees 20' flashes show varying from white to red; from 330 degrees 20' to 341 degrees 00' flashes show full red in color; 341 degrees 00' to 347degrees 00' flashes show varying from red to white. |
| Where Color Attached: | To lantern |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Inc. Oil vapor, 1 mantle |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 std 4th order oil lamps with burners |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 oil vapor burners |
| Candle Power: |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Cord passing down from drum under traveling pulley on floor, thence up over traveling pulley on base of ppedestal, thence down over guide pulley in center of col. down to block at weights. |
| Size of Clock Cord: | |
| Length of Clock Cord: | |
| How Led: | |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 19 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1/2" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 mantel |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | About 13" (34 mm) |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | See other |
| Oil House Description: | Oil room partitioned off in basement of lighthouse with concrete partition |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | Part of circle equivalent to about 8' x 10' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Iron & concrete |
| Oil House Capacity: | 240 - 5 gallon cans |
| Other (Describe): | Kitchen provided with storeroom and pantry shelved. Each room on 2nd floor has a closet shelved. Bedrooms on 3rd floor provided with closets with hooks & shelved. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 1st order siren (in duplicate) |
| Time to Start: | 15 - 30 min according to conditions |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | 3 to 5 min. |
| Manufacturer: | 3rd Dist Depot Secor Eng (Fairhurst Compressor) |
| Year of Manufacture: | 1907 (compressor) |
| Characteristic: | 2 sec blast, 8 sec silent, 2 sec blast, 8 sec silent, 2 sec blast, 38 sec silent |
| Duplication: | Siren & crosby automatic in duplicate. Old bell fog signal at present in commissioin in case siren is disabled |
| Timing Device: | Crosby automatic in duplicate |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 30 to 35 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | 53' 6" |
| Compass Direction: | N |
| Location: | Est. on S end of Harbor of Refuge Breakwater |
| Distance and Direction: | On lighthouse |
| Water Supply: | Tanks in basement for circulating water |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Fog signal machinery in lighthouse basement |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 2000 lbs |
| Metal: | Copper & tin |
| Diameter: | 4' 0" |
| Height: | 2' 10" |
| Time: | About 1.5 hours |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Siren Signal |
| Siren: | Cylindrical siren |
| Siren Diameter: | 6" |
| Siren Built Date: | 1909 |
| Siren Manufacturer: | 3rd district depot |
| Siren Ports: | 20, 1/16" - 2 3/4" |
| Siren Revolutions: | Not known |
| Siren Governor: | No governor, air admitted by crosby automatic |
| Siren Condition: | Good |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | Compressor driven by oil engine |
| Kind: | Secor Oil Eng |
| Manufacturer: | Marine Eng & Mach Co. |
| Date Made: | 1907 |
| Nominal Size: | 7' 6" x 3' 0" x 6' 0" |
| Horsepower: | 18 |
| Compressor: | Fairhurst |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | American Air Comp. Works |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Geared with engine |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | Vertical horn |
| Trumpet Length: | 4' 11" |
| Trumpet Diameter: | 24" |
| Trumpet Material: | Copper |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Dwelling superstructure surmounted by lantern |
| Coloring: | White with lead colored trimmings & green blinds |
| Construction Materials: | Frame structure with tin covered decks erected on cast iron foundation shell |
| Number of Rooms: | 9, including those in basement |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 3 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Old temporary dwelling |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Dull & unpainted |
| Paths and Walks: | |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roofs & decks of dwelling |
| Quality: | Fair |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Downspouts provided with cutoffs & cistern & tank inclosed in foundation concrete |
| Tank Capacity: | 1150 gal iron tank on 3rd floor; 1700 gal iron tank & 1700 gal cistern in foundation |
| Tank Material: | Iron tank embedded in conc. foundation; cistern in conc. foundation |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthy |
| Diseases: | No diseases prevalent |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No local causes for diseases |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Small wharf on piling, constructed on Stone Breakwater |
| Distance and Direction: | About 20' N |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | General character & condition, good as designed. The Secor oil engine is giving much trouble. |