Report for Piney Point, revised (Maryland) - 1909
| General |
| District: | 5th |
| Inspector: | Major W.E. Craighill, Lighthouse Engineer |
| Location: | On point of same name, NE'ly side of Potomac River, about 12 miles NW'ly from Point Lookout |
| Date of Report: | 05/26/1909 |
| Latitude: | 38° 08' 07" |
| Longitude: | 76° 31' 48" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Purchase |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 12/26/1835 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 2 acres, 2 rods, & 10.5 perches |
| Area Inclosed: | 13,416 sq. ft. |
| Character of Soil: | Sandy |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | 75 yards |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | Fence |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Wood foot wharf |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | Sandy; 1/4 mile |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | Boat or county road from Washington, DC |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | 1 mile to county road; 1/4 mile to boat landing. |
| Distance to Post Office: | 4 miles Piney PT. P.O. MD. |
| Distance to Village: | 18 miles |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | By steamboat |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | Wagon, 1/4 mile |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Tower |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1836 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | August, 1909 |
| Condition at This Date: | Good |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | Round |
| Form of Tower: | Conical |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | 36' |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 34' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Woods |
| Color of Tower: | White |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | Whitewash |
| Tower Connection: | Detached |
| Object of Navigation: | General purposes |
| Building Materials: | Brick |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | 3' |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | 18" |
| Diameter at Base: | 11' 4" |
| Diameter at Parapet: | 7' |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | 1 |
| Size of Glass: | 7" x 9" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 3; sash, 21 3/4" x 24.5" |
| Number of Doors: | 1 |
| 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: | 5th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | 84" |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | 9, 2 blanks toward house |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 35" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | 3/8" |
| Size of Plates: | 36" x 26.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | 7 - 2 blanks toward house |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | 2 plates |
| What Bearings: | Not known |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Iron |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Copper |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | Copper; to base of lantern, led down side of tower to water. |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Iron; fitted with hinges to barrel of lantern |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cement |
| Watchroom Doors: | Iron; fitted to frame in floor with hinges opening into lantern. |
| Parapet Diameter: | 6' 9.5" |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | Lower part of lantern |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Screwed |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | None |
| How is Relief Called: | Alarm bell from lens |
| Where is Call System Led: | To dwelling |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | |
| Name of Maker: | LePaute |
| Year Made: | Not known |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 14.5" |
| Light Characteristic: | Fixed white |
| Time of Revolution: | |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 3 open about 135 degrees |
| Number of Flash Panels: | |
| 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: | Inverted sheet iron funnel with center opening leading into ventilator ball. |
| 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: | Westinghouse sodium vapor lamp transformer 6000 Lvmcr Sodium vapor. 4th order electric light |
| Type of Illuminant: | |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | Aladdin 1 spare sodium |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | 1 1/4" |
| Diameter of Mantel: | |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | 1, in lower part of tower fitted with shelves for general purposes. |
| Oil House Description: | SE from tower 40' |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 6' x 8' |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Concrete |
| Oil House Capacity: | 275 gal on side oil house |
| Other (Describe): | None |
| Suitability: |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Bell & Martin machine |
| Time to Start: | 5 minutes |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | |
| Manufacturer: | E.J. Codd Co., Baltimore, MD. |
| Year of Manufacture: | Not known |
| Characteristic: | A single blow every 20 sec. |
| Duplication: | 1 tank 3' dia x 8' high |
| Timing Device: | Gamewell motor 1/6 HP RSA frame 1437-100-220V |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 9-10 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | About 15' W |
| Distance and Direction: | About 15' W |
| Water Supply: | |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Wood walk |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Square wooden frame structure |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Bell Signal |
| Weight: | 1200 lbs |
| Metal: | Bell metal |
| Diameter: | 36" |
| Height: | 26" |
| Time: | 45 minutes |
| Manufacturer: | Gamewell Fire & Alarm Co., NY |
| Weights for Operation: |
| Compressed Air |
| Compressed Air Machinery: | Quincy |
| Kind: | 2AG-7 |
| Manufacturer: | J Register & son |
| Date Made: | |
| Nominal Size: | |
| Horsepower: | |
| Compressor: | |
| Compressor Manufacturer: | |
| Compressor Bed and Gear: | Belt driven with lever - same base |
| Daboll Signal |
| Daboll: | |
| Daboll Reed: | Copper |
| Daboll Length: | 18" |
| Daboll Breadth: | |
| Daboll Base Thickness: | |
| Daboll Tip Thickness: |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | 12' |
| Trumpet Diameter: | |
| Trumpet Material: | Copper points SW |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | 43' 8" NE from tower |
| Coloring: | White |
| Construction Materials: | Brick |
| Number of Rooms: | 9 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | Am. Red Co No 1 Ideal Redford boiler 1W7-8BW |
| Number of Keepers: | 1 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 5 |
| Outhouse Coloring: | White |
| Paths and Walks: | Wood & cement |
| Area Inclosed: | 13, 416 sq. ft; with panel fence |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | None |
| Cultivation Area Available: | None |
| Area Cultivated: | None |
| Character of Surroundings: | Sandy & marshy |
| Stove, Maker: | |
| Stove, Size: | |
| Sink, Maker: | |
| Sink, Size: | |
| Pump, Maker: | Delco Products co. |
| Pump, Size: | 1/6 HP G-1-0 1750 |
| Lamps: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Rain |
| Quality: | Good |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No |
| Purity Precaution: | By cleaning tanks twice each year |
| Tank Capacity: | 20,000 gal.; in cellar |
| Tank Material: | Bricks & cement |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | Artesian well |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | Pump in cellar |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | Malarial |
| Prevalency: | Spring & fall |
| Local Causes: | Marshes |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | Floods etc., have eroded beach considerably - Keeper has plenty of stones & could make groins if he could hire 2 men - should be done. Pump works as spigot opens from artesian well - suggest pressure tank & control valves in cellar. |