Photos by mattlabs : on the map, in Google Earth (KML)

mattlabs's conversations

mattlabs said:

In 1854 Congress appropriated $8,000 for a lighthouse but only $1,600 of this was spent, mostly in surveys. In 1869 $90,000 was appropriated "for a lighthouse at or near Race Point, Fisher’s Island, Long Island Sound." After preliminary surveys costing $652,857, an additional appropriation of $10,000 was made in 1870, after the Board had estimated that $200,000 would be required to build the lighthouse. In 1871 $150,000 more was provided by Congress.

Construction of the riprap foundation began in April 1871. In all 10,000 tons of granite were used in the foundation. "The proposals for the construction of the foundation and pier of this structure were so excessive in rates" the Board reported in 1872, "and so much above the amount of the appropriation on hand ($95,539.66 had been expended out of $261,000 appropriated to June 10, 1872) that no more than the landing and the enrockment of the foundation, and two courses of the pier, could be contracted for."

In 1873 Congress appropriated a further $75,000 and the lighthouse was completed at an additional expenditure of $175,048.09 between 1873 and 1878. The total cost of the lighthouse was $278,716.33.

The ledge on which the lighthouse is built is under water and three-fourths mile from Race Point Reef. It has one large and several smaller spurs of rock rising above the general surface. The least depth at mean low water on the principal spur or Race Rock proper, is 3 feet (1 m). The greatest depth at mean low water, within the circle of 69 feet (21 m), is 13 feet (4 m).

The ledge was, with the help of divers, made approximately level with small broken stone and riprap. Upon this was placed a circular-stepped mass of concrete, 9 feet (3 m) thick, built in 4 concentric layers. The lower layer is 69 feet (21 m) in diameter and 3 feet (1 m) thick. To form the layers of concrete, cylindrical bands of half inch iron, of the height and diameter required for the respective layers, were used. The upper surface of the concrete, 8 inches above mean low water, carries a conical pier, 30 feet (9 m) high, 57 feet (17 m) in diameter at the base, and crowned by a projecting coping 55 feet (17 m) in diameter. The pier is made of heavy masonry backed with concrete, in which cisterns and cellars are located.

The pier is surmounted by a granite dwelling one story and a half high. From the center of its front the granite light tower ascends. A landing-pier, 53 feet (16 m) long and 25 feet (8 m) wide, built of heavy masonry, gives access to the lighthouse. The whole structure is surrounded and protected by riprap. The tower, which is square at the base and octagonal at the top, carries a fourth-order alternating flash white and red electric light of 90,000 candlepower, being 67 feet (20 m) above sea level and 45 feet (14 m) above land, and visible 14 nautical miles (26 km) at sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaceRockLight


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sue04 said:

VOTED for this nice scarf :)


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Mario Escherle said:

Very good picture!!!

v o t e d

Greetings from Germany, Mario


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mattlabs said:

and see this at night, animated http://www.flickr.com/photos/handmadeonpeconicbay/3661926555/


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mattlabs said:

A detail from the same negative but with Van Dyke Brown chemistry http://supermarkethq.com/product/fire-island-light-van-dyke-brown-print-3


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mattlabs said:

The Robbins Reef Light Station is a lighthouse located off Bayonne, New Jersey along the west side of Main Channel, Upper New York Bay. The tower and integral keepers quarters were built in 1883. It replaced an octagonal granite tower built in 1839. The U.S. Coast Guard owns and operates the light station. Also called Kate's Light for Kate Walker who "manned" the station alone from the death of her husband Jacob in 1886 until 1919. She rowed her children to Staten Island for school.

http://virtualglobetrotting.com/map/54861/


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mattlabs said:

This one of a kind print is a hand torn Cyanotype, This and others like it can be seen at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6236370


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mattlabs said:

This one of a kind print is a hand torn Cyanotype, This and others like it can be seen at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6190715


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mattlabs said:

This one of a kind print is a hand torn Cyanotype, others like it can be seen at http://mattlabs.etsy.com


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