Report for Point Hueneme Light Station (California) - 1907

General
District: 12th
Inspector: Charles F. Allen
Location:
Date of Report: 07/02/1907
Latitude: 34° 08' 38"
Longitude: 119° 12' 40"
Premises
Site: Purchase
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 03/29/1874
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site:
Area Inclosed: About 46.14 acres
Character of Soil: Sand & adobe
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: Varies from 300' to 500' each year
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Entire reservation is enclosed by 4-board & cap fence, 4" x 4" posts set 8' apart, 2' in ground. Fence is in good condition. Adj. ground to LH is enclosed by 250' sq. tight board fence, 10' high which is in fair condition.
Wharf or Landing on Premises: Landing is situated 1/2 mile from station at town of Hueneme.
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: Road to landing & county road is fair. Starts at lighthouse & is built of adobe & sand.
Means to Reach Light Station: By boat, wagon, by RR & wagon or by foot
Distance to Nearest Road: Public road, 1/2 mile to RR, 5 miles; steamboat landing 1/2 mile or more.
Distance to Post Office: Little over 1/2 mile
Distance to Village: Little over 1/2 mile
Facilities for Public Conveyance: RR & horse & buggy & steamboat & horse & buggy
Facilities for Private Conveyance: LH road, private & public roads upon which one casn reach towns of Hueneme (where PO is situated) or Oxnard, where RR runs, also landing 1/2 mile from station.
Means Used for Support of Lantern: Medium, high, sq. tower built upon dwelling, originally intended for 2 keepers
Number of Separate Lights: 1
First Built or Established: Est. 1874; 1st operated Dec. 15, 1874
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: Never been rebuilt, thoroughly repaired or renovated in good condition.
Condition at This Date: Generally good - inside needs thorough repainting from top to bottom.
Shape of Tower in Plan: Square
Form of Tower:
Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: 45+'
Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: 52' above mean sea level
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Large valley back of lighthouse upon which many eucalyptus trees are grown for windbreaks. 8-10 miles back foothills & mountains rise gently to an elev. of 4-5,000'
Color of Tower: White, lead color trimmings. Lantern & railing, black.
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Paint
Tower Connection: Built upon dwelling, in front & near center of bldg.
Object of Navigation: Serves by day as landmark for general sea-coast navigation for all vessels passing thru S end of Santa Barbara Channel.
Building Materials: Wood, plastered on inside & surmounted by an iron tower
General Description: Square, wood lath & plaster & iron. Painted lead color - green blinds
Wall Thickness at Base: About 8" over all
Wall Thickness at Parapet: About 8" over all
Diameter at Base: Square, 12' x 12' outside measurement.
Diameter at Parapet: Square, about 17' x 17' over all
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Wood
Number of Landings: 2; after leaving 2nd floor of landing.
Size of Glass: 10" x 12"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 7; 1 - 2' 4" x 2' 10"; 6 - 2' x 2' 4"
Number of Doors: 4; 1 door each for entrance to 1st & 2nd landing, to attic of dwelling; to closet in 2nd landing.
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: Brick 1/2'
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: Sand
Soil Susceptibility: Yes
Miscellaneous Remarks: Additional deed, January 31, 1900. Tower & dwelling need thorough painting on inside. Road leading from station will req. about $100 work upon it next year, when marsh is low enough to get necessary adobe to repair it with.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 4th
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass: 7' 8"
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 10
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars:
Height Glazed: 36"
Number of Plates in Height: 1
Number of Plates Each Side: 1
Thickness of Plates: 5/16"
Size of Plates: 27" x 36.5"
Number of Storm Panes: 2 or 3
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron outside. glass windows, wainscoted inside w/ redwood bead. Ceiling sheet iron & floor 6" t&g
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Cast iron decagon hip roof, smooth surface & surmounted by globe ventilator
Ventilator / Cowl: 1' dia with outlet holes on underside.
Lightning Spindle: About 8" high
Description of Lightning Rod: No lightning conductor.
Balustrade: Outside gallery is 16' sq. & covered with floor of t&g pine covered with copper. Balustrade wood, having 1" galv. pipe top rail; lower portion inclosed with redwood up & down boards having a cap rail.
Lantern Doors: 1/4" boiler iron, closes from outside, when closed, is flush with outside of lantern.
Floor of Lantern: Tongue & groove pine
Watchroom Doors: Trap door operating upward, & made of t&g pine
Parapet Diameter: 7'
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: 2, made of wood
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Screwed into upper frame work


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: 1 chair, 1 table, 1 desk & supported with 1 reg. Howard clock. It also has a closet for keeping cleaning materials & tools.
How is Relief Called: None
Where is Call System Led:
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 4 hours
Intensity in Candles:
Name of Maker: Barbier & Bernard, Paris
Year Made: 1897
Marks and Number: BB/111
Order of Apparatus: 4th
Inside Diameter: 20 3/8"
Light Characteristic: Flashing white
Time of Revolution: Lens revolves once every 1/2 minute
Flash Interval: Time btwn begin of 1 flash & beg of next is 5 sec.
Duration of Flash: About 3/4 of a sec.
Arc of Each Fixed Part: Illuminates entire horizon
Number of Panels: 6
Number of Flash Panels:
Arc of Each: 60 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 3
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 6
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 3
Does Apparatus Revolve?: True
Is There a Revolving Belt?: False
Revolving Panels:
How Flash is Produced: Flashes are produced by lens revolving & moving around the 6 rays of light thrown out by the 6 bulls-eyes.
Number of Vertical Elements Panel:
Fixed Lens Covered:
Pedestal: Cast iron ring for base, having a flat surface top & bottom, a round top of cast iron, central table of brass. Legs made of 1.5" galv. pipe. Clockwork sets below lens upon shelf & is connected by stem running thru top to lens.
Service Table: Is made of wood, & attached to wainscoting by brackets.
Draft Tube Description: Norway sheet iron, conical in shape & flanged at bottom & fastened by 3 screws to top of lens & extends up into ventilator ball. It is about 6" at lower end & 3.5" or 4" at top.
Revolving Machinery: Clock work, run by weight.
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Balls
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: 30'
Clock Weight:
Length of Winding Time: 4 hours
Drive During Rewind:
Machinery Protection: By brass box with glass doors & top.
Regulated: By 3 ball pin & disc frictional governor. Friction pin regulated by thumb screw.
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: Funck-Heap petticoat brass lamp, having 1 burner of arrogand type, 1.5" outside diam.
Type of Illuminant:
Number of Spare Lamps: 1 spare lamp (there are 3 lamps at station)
Number of Spare Burners: 1
Candle Power:


Clock Cord Description
Revolving Cord: Cord
Size of Clock Cord:
Length of Clock Cord:
How Led: Down thru tower & house to 2nd floor of dwelling. Run over double blocks.
Diameter and Length of Clock Drum:


Chariot Balls
Balls Description: Semicircular grooves 2 5/16" dia.
Cage to Separate Balls: False
Number of Balls: 24
Diameter of Balls: 3/8"
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: Closet in watchroom is fitted with shelves & used for cleaning materials, tools & supplies.
Oil House Description: Oil room is plain ceiled room in out bldg, NW of lighthouse.
Oil House Inside Dimension:
Oil House Construction Material:
Oil House Capacity:
Other (Describe): Store room is in rear of same bldg as oil room, it is supplied with shelves & cupboards, also as tool rack & workbench.
Suitability: Dry. Well suited for purpose designed.
Dwelling
Location: Under, & part of lighthouse tower
Coloring: White, lead color trimmings, green blinds.
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: Double dwelling; 4 upstairs & 4 downstairs
Number of Dwellings:
Heating Plant:
Number of Keepers: Keeper occupies entire house
Furnished Quarters:
NOT Furnished Quarters:
Outhouses: 2
Outhouse Coloring: Same as dwelling - white, lead trim
Paths and Walks: Plank platform, about dwelling extends to out houses & on each side. Walks thru gardens at back of dwelling.
Area Inclosed: In immediate vicinity of lighthouse, grounds are enclosed by tight board fence 10' high. Area enclosed is 250' sq.
Area of Garden: 100 x 250'
Area Timber or Shrubbery: None
Cultivation Area Available: None
Area Cultivated: Garden is all
Character of Surroundings: Sand
Stove, Maker:
Stove, Size:
Sink, Maker:
Sink, Size:
Pump, Maker:
Pump, Size:
Lamps:
Water
How Procured: Artesian well, 4" & rain water from roof
Quality: Fair. Rain water is good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Cleanliness, & whiting to preciptate impurities. Tank is also covered with hip roof
Tank Capacity: Tank, 14,000 gal; N side of dwelling.
Tank Material: Redwood
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Artesian well, 165' deep
Well Diameter: 7" originally, 4" pipe near top
Well Lining: Pipe
Pump or Bucket: Gravity pressure
What Power Used:
Distance from Dwelling: About 45'
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Not as healthful as it might be, on account of so much standing water. Surface water is about 18" from top of ground a good portion of year.
Diseases: Rheumatism
Prevalency: No particular season, except it might appear more frequently in Spring & Fall
Local Causes: Considerable dampness during greater portion of the year, also cold NW winds.
Recommended Improvements: Ranchers back of reservation are discussing draining marshes to N, by putting in a permanent drain with tide water emptying into ocean W of lighthouse; it will be necessary to cross reservation on NW end. During wet season that portion covered w/ water.
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse: Landing situated 1/2 mile from station at town of Hueneme. Road to landing & county road is fair. It starts at lighthouse & is built of adobe & sand.
Distance and Direction: 1/2 mile.
Miscellaneous Remarks: Premises are in as good condition as 1 Keeper at so large a station can keep them. Weather conditions, soil & everything taken together make lots of work, much of which is destroyed & lost track of.