Report for Mahon River Light Station (Delaware) - 1907
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | A.E. Ruffhead, Chief Clerk, & H. Bamber, Asst. Eng |
| Location: | On the westerly side of Mahon River, Del, westerly side of Delaware Bay |
| Date of Report: | 07/25/1907 |
| Latitude: | 39° 11' 06" |
| Longitude: | 75° 24' 04" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 02/03/1898 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 7 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | Salt marsh |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 130' to ordinary highwater mark. High tides overflow marsh on which lighthouse stands |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wharf |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Wharf is about 180' NE of lighthouse & is connected thereto by an elevated boardwalk. |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By RR to Dover, Del. & thence by team to light station. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | About 1600' by station road to public road, thence about 8 miles to RR station at Dover. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 3 miles to Little Creek, Del. station is on RFD Route #3. |
| Distance to Village: | 3 miles to Little Creek |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | None |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | There are livery stables in Dover, none at Little Creek |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern on roof of frame dwelling forming a lighthouse |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1831 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1903 |
| Condition at This Date: | Excellent |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | No tower |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 44' 6" |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 38' 0" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky & distant trees |
| Color of Tower: | White, with lead colored trimmings, green shutters, lantern black |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern is on frame dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay, harbor & local navigating purposes. |
| Building Materials: | Lighthouse is frame, lantern is of iron. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | About 7" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | About 7" |
| Diameter at Base: | No tower |
| Diameter at Parapet: | No tower |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wood |
| Number of Landings: | One |
| Size of Glass: | No tower |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | No tower |
| Number of Doors: | 27 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Building supported on cast iron columns which rest on wood pile |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Salt marsh |
| Soil Susceptibility: | By marsh grass |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | No tower, site good, no obstructions. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 0" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 8 |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11 3/8" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 10 1/4" x 3' 0" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 4 sides 180 degrees |
| What Bearings: | S 5/8 W & N 5/8 E |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron & brass |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Platinum point is soldered to brass spindle & 1/8" x 1.5" copper ribbon, having 10 sq. in. contact with the iron of lantern; runs down the right side of left chimney, through 1st floor, thence to top of nearest iron foundation col. with 10 sq. in contact. |
| Balustrade: | Balustrade of wood, deck of wood, covered with tin |
| Lantern Doors: | Wooden door, hung on bronze butts & provided with Yale & Towne lock. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Wood |
| Watchroom Doors: | No watchroom; stairway leads from 2nd floor up to lantern. Landing on this stairway is provided with a wooden door, hung on bronze butts & provided with a Yale & Towne lock. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 7 1/4" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 3, in lower wall of lantern, covered with inside brass registers. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | 7 brass hooks, tapped into lantern frame. 5 used. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | There is no watchroom, but at head of stairs in rear of lantern, there is a small closet fitted with shelves & used for lamps, etc. |
| How is Relief Called: | |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry Le Paute, Paris |
| Year Made: | Not marked |
| Marks and Number: | Henry Le Paute, A' Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 1' 7.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white, with fixed red sector between SSW 7/16 W & SSW 15/16 W; another between W 1/2 S & W 3/4 N; & 3rd between N 1/2 W & N 5/8 E |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4, one is metal reflector |
| 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: | Cast iron, 3' 1.5" above floor, diameter of base 13"; of top about 16.5" |
| Service Table: | 1 wooden stand |
| Draft Tube Description: | No damper tube, ventilator over lens |
| 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: | Ruby Glass |
| Red Sectors Description: | Fixed red sector between SSW 7/16 W & SSW 15/16 W; another between W 1/2 S & W 3/4 N; & 3rd between N 1/2 W & N 5/8 E |
| Where Color Attached: | Mounted on inside of lantern |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 4th order, 1 round wick |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | One |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | No tower; but in the rear compartment of the lantern, there is a small closet fitted with shelves & used for lamps, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Galvanized iron oil house, 10' x 10', is situated about 64' 6" N of lighthouse.It has a concrete floor & shelves 7/8" x 9 3/4" on the S side. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | Storeroom 1st floor, fitted with a work bench, used for storage & workshop, 3 closets with shelves 1st floor; 4 closets with shelves 2nd floor, used for storage & clothes presses; 1 closet with shelves lantern floor used for lamp supplies. 1 coal bin barn |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable for purposes designed. |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Lantern is on dwelling, forming a lighthouse |
| Coloring: | White with lead colored trimmings, green shutters, lantern black. |
| Construction Materials: | Frame, pile foundation |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Frame barn, galvanized iron oil house, frame privy |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White with lead colored trimmings, red roof |
| Paths and Walks: | Elevated boardwalks, connect lighthouse, out buildings & wharf |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Salt marsh |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Bored well |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Bored well, deoth 342' |
| Well Diameter: | 3" |
| Well Lining: | Lined to depth of 220' with iron casing |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: | 7' |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | None of record in 3 years service of present keeper |
| Prevalency: | No |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Wharf is frame, with pile foundation. Deck is 14.2' x 40.2' & 9' 6" above mean low water. It is provided with a ladder, 18" wide, which extends down to the water. |
| Distance and Direction: | Wharf is about 180' NE of lighthouse & is connected thereto by an elevated board walk, which is 228' long |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Station is in good condition & well kept. Outside will need painting soon. Clean & orderly. |