Report for Bird Island (Massachusetts) - 1928
| General |
| District: | 2nd |
| Inspector: | J. G. Ramsey, Draftsman |
| Location: | On Bird Island, E side of entrance to Sippican Harbor |
| Date of Report: | 06/19/1928 |
| Latitude: | 41° 40' 10" |
| Longitude: | 70° 43' 04" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 05/05/1819 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | About 2 3/4 acre |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 96' |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Boatslip with piers on each side. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Boat - 2.5 miles Marion, Mass. |
| 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: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1819 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1889 |
| 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: | 37' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewashed |
| Tower Connection: | Connected by short covered way |
| Object of Navigation: | Guide to Wareham Sippican Harbors & W'ly entrance to Cape Cod Canal. |
| Building Materials: | Cobble stones, brick floor |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Granite with wood stair-rail |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 8" x 10" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3; 2 - 23.5" x 27.5"; 1 - 19" x 23" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 double each 3' x 6' 10" opening |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 7' 8" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | 7/8" |
| Height Glazed: | 2' 11.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | Standard 4th order helical |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Yes, with copper conductor leading down into ground. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Yes |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron hinged |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Steel trap door hinged |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Spring roll curtains |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None |
| How is Relief Called: | Thermostat bell |
| Where is Call System Led: | To keeper's bedroom |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 2900 |
| Name of Maker: | Henry LePaute |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| 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: | 5 fixed |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 3 fixed |
| 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: | Iron |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | Cone only |
| 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: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 35 mm Type A |
| Type of Illuminant: | Kerosene |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 2 |
| Candle Power: | About 600 cp |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 mantel |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1 with shelves for spare lamps, chimneys, etc. |
| Oil House Description: | Stone 250' NW 1/2 W from light tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 8'4" x 10' 4" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Cobble stone |
| Oil House Capacity: | About 400 5-gal cans |
| Other (Describe): | None |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Fog bell operated by machinery |
| Time to Start: | Instantly |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 2 storkes 12 sec silent |
| Duplication: | Necessary vital parts |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Guide to upper parts of Buzzards Bay & W entrance to Cape Cod Canal |
| Distance and Direction: | About 300' 210 degrees |
| Water Supply: | None |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By path |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Pyramidal wooden structure 35' tall |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1,037 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell |
| Diameter: | 36" |
| Height: | 27" |
| Time: | 4 hours |
| Manufacturer: | McShane Bell Foundry 1902 |
| Weights for Operation: | 1,000 lbs |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | NW'ly side of tower |
| Coloring: | White - lead color trimmings |
| Construction Materials: | Wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 6 |
| Number of Dwellings: | 1 |
| Heating Plant: | Direct hot water |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | Keeper |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Fuel & boathouse |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White lead trim |
| Paths and Walks: | Paths & plank walks to boathouse |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Area of Garden: | |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | 1/2 acre |
| Area Cultivated: | 1/8 acre |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy & small beach stones |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | Not known |
| Sink, Size: | 22 x 48 |
| Pump, Maker: | Douglas |
| Pump, Size: | #2 |
| Lamps: | 1 brass table, 1 brass hand lamp from Gen. Depot |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain water |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | Cisterns cleaned frequently |
| Tank Capacity: | 2; 1 in dwelling cellar, 1 outside in ground; Total capacity 2500 gal. |
| Tank Material: | Bricks cement plastered |
| 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: | No |
| Recommended Improvements: | No |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing at boathouse with ways leading to low water - no road. |
| Distance and Direction: | 260' NE from tower |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Station needs a seawall on SW'ly side to protect same from sea. Light characteristic changed from fixed & flashing to fixed 6/17/1928. |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 113 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' |
| When Built: | 1914 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1916 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 111 |
| Type: | Dory |
| Length: | 4' 6" |
| Width: | 13' |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 11/3/1927 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | Boathouse |