Report for Blackistone Island (Maryland) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th District
Location: Potomac River
Date of Report: 09/09/1867
Latitude:
Longitude:
Premises
Site:
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:
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Enclosed by a board fence.
Wharf or Landing on Premises:
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station:
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: Over Keeper's dwelling - dwelling built 'round and old tower.
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established:
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated:
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:
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea:
Color of Tower:
Color of Tower/ How Produced:
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps:
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass:
Number of Windows and Size of Sash:
Number of Doors:
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks:
Ventilators
Location / Number:
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: There is one ladder.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none provided.


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling the relief.
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus:
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker:
Year Made:
Marks and Number:
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter:
Light Characteristic: Fixed white
Time of Revolution:
Flash Interval:
Duration of Flash:
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels:
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each:
Number of Elements in Central Drum:
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum:
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum:
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:
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description:
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: Lens of 4th order - Franklin lamp.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1, in good condition.
Number of Spare Burners: 2, in good condition.
Candle Power:
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use:
Oil House Description:
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): There is a closet provided for the preservation of utensils, wicks, chimneys and cleaning materials. There is also a closet provided for paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc..
Suitability:
Dwelling
Location:
Coloring:
Construction Materials:
Number of Rooms:
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers:
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses:
Outhouse Coloring:
Paths and Walks:
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available:
Area Cultivated: Keeper cultivates a small "patch".
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: There is a LHE regulation clock in good condition, kept in the sitting room of the dwelling.
Boats
Boat Number: 0
Type:
Length: 5' 6"
Width: 16'
When Built:
Date Harbored at Station:
Sails: False
Suited to Work: Good condition
Condition
Lantern: It was in tolerably good condition.
Illuminating Apparatus: The lens was clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp: It was in good condition in all respects.
Oil: It was clean & had been filtered.
Service Lamp Burner: It was in good condition in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level. Keeper was requested to make himself familiar w/ process of centering the lamp burner.
Plate Glass: It was clean & free from scratches & stains.
Lens Cover: It was on; made of white linen sheeting & is hung up in the lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: There were none.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There was no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There was no rod lamp.
Dwelling: Dwelling begins to wear a dilapidated appearance; and looks as if it would soon require a general repair.
Stairway and Landing: Tolerably clean.
Inside of Tower:
Glazing of Dwelling: It is tolerably good.
Improvements Needed: There is a leak into the lantern room which should be attended to without delay.
Outhouses: They are clean & whitewashed.
Boathouse: There are none
Grounds: They are in tolerably good condition. Grounds appear to receive some care but there is not much of an appearance of neatness.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Lens is never touched improperly.
Lantern and Trap Doors: These doors fit tightly.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none to be senn in the rooms mentioned.
Lucernes or Matches: There were some matches found in the lantern room. Keeper's attention was called to the regulation.
Heater: Keeper understands the use of the heater.
Ventilation: Keeper understands use of the ventilators & how to air the bldg.
Dome: They were painted according to the instructions. The conductor requires repairs.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: It was in tolerable condition; 2 windows for ventilation.
Oil Carriers: In good condition & arranged in order for use.
Number of 100 Gallon Oil Butts: 2
Number of 50 Gallon Oil Butts: None
Number of Small Butts for Waste Oil: None
Number of Dripping Buckets: 4 oil cups
Number of Oil Tanks: 2 holding 200 gallons.
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: 1 made according to directions of LH Board, 1 was not.
Oil Butt Covers: Keeper understands use of covers & air cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There was a dripping cup so hung.
Oil Butt Platform: Oil butts were raised above the floor by a plank.
Empty Oil Butts: There was one empty oil butt cleaned, but it requires repairs before it can receive oil.


Tool Chests and Presses
Cleaning Materials Put Away: They are so put up & packed.
Paints Separate: They are kept separate.
Tool Chest: There is none
Tool Condition:
Tools Free from Rust:
Closets Clean: They are kept properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: They are well arranged & kept in order.
Trimming Scissors Clean: They are clean.
Brushes and Floor Clothes: In good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: It is tolerably good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: He is very much so.
Keeper Interested in Duties: Yes
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He shows capacity & seems to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He seemed to understand & to wish to conform to the instructions, so far as I could see.
Keeper Complaints:
Keeper Family: Keeper has a family but occupies a dwelling in the vicinity as well as the lighthouse dwelling.
Keeper Name: J.L McWilliams
Keeper Age: Aged
Keeper Present or Absent: Keeper was present.
Number of Assistants: There is no assistant allowed.
Assistants Attend to Duty:
Assistants Capability:
Assistants Complaints:
Assistants Family:
Assistant Keeper Names:
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: Keeper attended me through the bldg.


Account and Regulations Books
Account Books
Daily Expenditures Posted: Yes
Quarterly Returns on Hand: Yes
Receipt and Expenditure Accounts Kept: Yes
Shipwreck and Vessels Passed Book: Keeper states that these have never been kept here.
Regulations, Instructions, and Directions
Rules and Regulations Copies: 1
Instructions and Directions Copies: 1
Placard Directions Copies: 1
Notice to Visitors Copies: 1
Summary of Duties:
Index of Instructions:
Guide for Mixed Paints:
Directions for Purifying Water:
Placards Easily Visible: Those the keeper has are so hung up.
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: