Report for Old Point Comfort (Virginia) - 1867

General
District: 5th
Inspector: J.M. Berrien, Inspector, 5th LH District.
Location:
Date of Report: 09/08/1867
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: Detached tower, and from lantern erected on a pole
Number of Separate Lights: 2
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: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewashed
Tower Connection:
Object of Navigation:
Building Materials:
General Description: Built of stone "random laid" apparently whitewashed & in good condition.
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Stone, in good condition.
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: Clean & in good condition.
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: Wood, in good condition
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 a ladder for outside use.
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: There is none


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted:
How is Relief Called: There is no bell for calling 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 and 6th
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 - with Franklin lamp in tower; Steamers lens with fountain lamp, on pole.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: There were 2 in good condition.
Number of Spare Burners: There were 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. Paints, oils, spirits of turpentine, paint-brushes, etc. are kept by themselves in a corner of the oil room - which is a very large room.
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: There is one near the beach struck by machinery.
Time to Start:
How Long Will Pressure Last:
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: It strikes 8 times per minute.
Duplication:
Timing Device:
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown:
Height Above Water:
Compass Direction:
Location:
Distance and Direction:
Water Supply:
Reached from Lighthouse:
Description of Fog Signal Building:
Pressure And Recording Gauge:
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 garden.
Character of Surroundings:
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps: There is a time piece, kept in the dwelling, not in very good condition.
Condition
Lantern: In good order. Glass properly wiped & clear of webs.
Illuminating Apparatus: In good condition; lens was perfectly clean in all its parts.
Service Lamp: In good condition; glass chimney was free from dust & stains.
Oil: The oil was limpid free from dust or soot etc.
Service Lamp Burner: It was in good order in all respects.
Service Lamp Burner Level: It was found to be level - Keeper told how to center it & directed to make himself familiar with the process.
Plate Glass: Plate glass was clean & free from stains, but broken to some extent by the firing of guns in the vicinity.
Lens Cover: Clean; it was on; is made of cotton, is white & hung up in the lantern room when not in use.
Lantern Curtains: There were no lantern curtains.
Carillon or Alarm Bell: There was no alarm bell.
Rod Lamp: There was no rod lamp.
Dwelling: Neat & in good order. No repairs required so far as seen.
Stairway and Landing: Clean & in good condition.
Inside of Tower: Whitewashed throughout; sweet & clean.
Glazing of Dwelling: In good condition.
Improvements Needed: None are needed.
Outhouses: 1 old outhouse formerly the Keeper's dwelling, clean but falling to decay, not worth repairing.
Boathouse: There are none
Grounds: The grounds are kept in very good condition. They have the appearance of neatness & care.


Equipment Care
Does Keeper Understand the Use and Care of
Lens: Keeper gives assurance that the lens is never touched in that way.
Lantern and Trap Doors: The lantern door & trap door fit tightly.
Watch or Trimming Room: There were none to be seen at the time of making the Inspection.
Lucernes or Matches: There were none to be seen in the rooms mentioned at the time of making the inspection.
Heater: He understands the use of the heater.
Ventilation: The Keeper understands how to ventilate & how to air the bldg. There were no ventilators in the lantern room.
Dome: The dome was painted according to instructions & was in good order. The conductor was in good order & led into the ground.


Oil Room
Oil Room Condition: In good condition, 1 window 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: 1
Number of Dripping Buckets: None; 4 pans
Number of Oil Tanks: 2 - 200 gallons
Oil Butts Made According to Regulation: They are made according to directions of the Lighthouse Board.
Oil Butt Covers: Gutters of the oil butts were filled with refuse oil & covers on. Keeper understands use of the covers & cocks.
Drip Bucket Placement: There were no dripping buckets.
Oil Butt Platform: They were placed upon masonry with plank between.
Empty Oil Butts: There were no empty oil butts.


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: The closets are clean & properly aired.
Service Box In Good Order: Everything is good order & well arranged.
Trimming Scissors Clean: Very clean
Brushes and Floor Clothes: They were in good order & in their proper places.
Lantern Condition: Very good.


Keeper and Assistants
Keeper Appearance: Very much so
Keeper Interested in Duties: He manifested a becoming interest in the duties.
Keeper Capacity for Duties: He showed good capacity & appeared to wish to gain information.
Keeper Understanding of Regulations: He seems to understand them.
Keeper Complaints: He made no complaint.
Keeper Family: Keeper has no family.
Keeper Name: E.F. Krebs
Keeper Age: Elderly
Keeper Present or Absent: He was present
Number of Assistants: There is 1 assistant allowed.
Assistants Attend to Duty: The assistant attends regularly.
Assistants Capability: The assistant is said to be capable.
Assistants Complaints: The assistant made no complaint.
Assistants Family: Assistant lives in the main bldg.
Assistant Keeper Names: Ellen M. Cropper, middle-aged.
Did Principal and Assistant Keepers Accompany the Inspector?: The principal Keeper attended me throughout the lighthouse; the assistant attended me at the dwelling.


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: Yes
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: 1
Index of Instructions: 1
Guide for Mixed Paints: 1
Directions for Purifying Water: 1
Placards Easily Visible:
Books Easily Accessible: Yes
Blank Books and Forms: