Report for Matagorda (Texas) - 1927
| General |
| District: | 8th |
| Inspector: | Superintendent |
| Location: | On Matagorda Island, W side of Pass Carallo entrance to Matagorda Bay |
| Date of Report: | 09/23/1927 |
| Latitude: | 28° 20' 15" |
| Longitude: | 96° 25' 27" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Cession of jurisdiction by State of Texas |
| Date of Reservation: | 03/19/1869 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 10 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 1 acre |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | About 1 mile |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Wooden picket fence |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Yes, 483' long |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat - Port O'Connor, TX - 9 miles. |
| 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: | Conical iron tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1852 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | Rebuilt 1873; repaired last in 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: | 85' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | Black |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Paint |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | Seacoast |
| Building Materials: | Iron (Cast iron flanged plates) |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Iron - spiral |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 11 3/4 x 12 3/4" - single panes |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 5- single panes |
| Number of Doors: | 1 - 3.5' x 6' 11" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Tower is in good condition & site satisfactory |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 2nd or 3rd |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 11' |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 6' 1/2" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 2 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | 5/16" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 1 3/4" x 3' 3/8" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | No - iron tower |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron, opens out |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Trap door in floor. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 8 in parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | Wood |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Bolted to soffit |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Open with iron ladder to lantern |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | 4 or 5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | 120,000 |
| Name of Maker: | L. Sautter, & Cie |
| Year Made: | |
| Marks and Number: | L. Sautter et Cie Constructeurs A Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 3' 3 3/8" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 2 minutes |
| Flash Interval: | 2 sec |
| Duration of Flash: | 18 sec |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 6 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 6 |
| Arc of Each: | 60 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 9 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 11, flash |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 4, flash |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Steel, with clockwork inside |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Balls |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | None - in open tower |
| Clock Weight: | 121 lbs |
| Length of Winding Time: | 4 or 5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | Yes |
| Machinery Protection: | Glass enclosed clock case forming part of pedestal |
| Regulated: | Governor |
| Lens Protection: | Linen |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | IOV 55 mm |
| Type of Illuminant: | Kerosene |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: | 1500 |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Glav. clock cord |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 1/4" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | About 100' |
| How Led: | Over sheaves to alongside tower wall. |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: | 10" |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | Semi-circular |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | True |
| Number of Balls: | 36 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 mantle |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 55 mm |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None |
| Oil House Description: | 50' from tower to dwellings |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 4' 8" x 7' 10" x 7' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick |
| Oil House Capacity: | |
| Other (Describe): | |
| Suitability: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 1 E'ly & 1 SE'ly |
| Coloring: | White, green blinds |
| Construction Materials: | Wood - shingle roofs |
| Number of Rooms: | Keeper - 8; Asst - 4 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 2 |
| Heating Plant: | Kerosene stoves |
| Number of Keepers: | Keeper & asst |
| Furnished Quarters: | Both |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Barn, 30' 7" x 30' 5" |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Brick walks |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy |
| Stove, Maker: | Perfection Kerosene |
| Stove, Size: | 3 burners |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain from roofs |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable to injury |
| Purity Precaution: | Strainers |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern at barn - 31' cir. 9' staves 4800 gal; 1 at each dwelling - 32' cir., 11' staves, 6400 gal each |
| Tank Material: | Cypress |
| 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: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Boathouse at end of wharf, 30' 5" x 15' 4" founded on 6 - 12" x 12" piles, encased in cast iron pipe, wharf 483' long, 6' wide & 5' 3" above high tides. Walk across marsh 616' long, 2 planks wide, on 4" x 4" posts - bent 8' long |
| Distance and Direction: | About 1 mile WNW'ly |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat Number: | 58 |
| Type: | Launch |
| Length: | 11.5' |
| Width: | 22' |
| When Built: | 1901/overhauled 1921/new engine 1926 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1921 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | 1 cyl, 2 cyle, 6.5" bore, 6.5" stroke |
| Horsepower: | 8 |
| Engine Maker: | Lathrop |
| Spare Coil: | |
| Magnet: | |
| Battery: | |
| Propeller Diameter: | 21' |
| Propeller Pitch: | 26" |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | In boathouse or at anchor |