Report for Old Point Comfort Light Station (Virginia) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 5th |
| Inspector: | John Murdoch, Assistant Light-House Engineer. |
| Location: | Old Point Comfort, VA, on the N'ly side of the entrance to Hampton Roads, on the beach in front of Fort Monroe. |
| Date of Report: | 10/28/1909 |
| Latitude: | 37° 00' 06" |
| Longitude: | 76° 15' 24" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Conveyed by General Assembly of the State of Virginia to the United States. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 07/30/1803 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 2 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | 2 acres |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy. |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 200 feet. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Iron & board fences. |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Steamboat & railroad. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1/4 mile to RR station, Post office & steamboat landing at Fortress Monroe. VA. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 1/4 mile |
| Distance to Village: | 1 mile. |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | Railroad & steamboat. |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Carriage or boat. |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1802 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | January, 1909. |
| Condition at This Date: | Good. |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Octagonal |
| Form of Tower: | Pyramidal. |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 56 feet. |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 53' 6" |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Woods. |
| Color of Tower: | White. |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | By whitewash. |
| Tower Connection: | Detached. |
| Object of Navigation: | General purposes of navigation. |
| Building Materials: | Stone. |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' 6" |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 1' 0" |
| Diameter at Base: | 16' 0" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 9' 3" |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Stone. |
| Number of Landings: | 2 |
| Size of Glass: | 12" x 13" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 windows, 8 lights in each sash. Sash, 5' 0" x 2' 7". |
| Number of Doors: | 2 |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | Not known. |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | Sandy. |
| Soil Susceptibility: | Yes. |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| 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: | 41" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 1 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | 1 |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 41" x 28.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | None. |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None. |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Copper & bronze |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper. |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper. |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass. |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper, attached to base of lantern, led to side of tower, to ground. |
| Balustrade: | Iron. |
| Lantern Doors: | Fitted with hinges to frame of lantern. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Iron. |
| Watchroom Doors: | None. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 5' 6" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower portion of lantern. |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None. |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed to frame of lantern. |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | Henry Lapaute, a' Paris |
| Year Made: | Unknown. |
| Marks and Number: | None. |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed red. |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 3 |
| 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: | Iron. |
| Service Table: | Iron. |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| 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: | By red chimney. |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | Improved, 1 wick. |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 2 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | None. |
| Candle Power: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None. |
| Oil House Description: | 60 feet east of tower. |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' x 8' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Iron & brick. |
| Oil House Capacity: | 60 5 gal. cans. |
| Other (Describe): | 2 closets & 1 storeroom on 1st floor. |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Custer bell machine. |
| Time to Start: | 1/2 minute. |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | Custer Co., Boston, Mass. |
| Year of Manufacture: | Unknown. |
| Characteristic: | A single blow every 10 seconds. |
| Duplication: | None. |
| Timing Device: | |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | |
| Distance and Direction: | 80 feet SE true. |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | By boardwalk. |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | 12' x 12' pyramidal iron tower, resting on 4 concrete piers. |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1200 lbs. |
| Metal: | Brass |
| Diameter: | 38" |
| Height: | 30" |
| Time: | 3 hours. |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | West, 20 feet. |
| Coloring: | White & cream with lead color trimmings & green blinds. |
| Construction Materials: | Wood & brick. |
| Number of Rooms: | 8 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 keeper. |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | Stable & storehouse combined. |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White & cream color. |
| Paths and Walks: | Brick. |
| Area Inclosed: | 2 acres, with iron fence on front; wood fence in the rear. |
| Area of Garden: | 40' x 60' |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None. |
| Area Cultivated: | None. |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy. |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | |
| Pump, Size: | |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | General supply from Quartermasters Department. |
| Quality: | Good. |
| Quantity: | Ample. |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable. |
| Purity Precaution: | Cistern not in use. |
| Tank Capacity: | |
| Tank Material: | |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Generally good. |
| Diseases: | Malarial |
| Prevalency: | Spring & fall. |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |