Lighthouse Supplies

After the Civil War ca 1866 the Lighthouse Board discovered that there was a necessity for a brilliant depot, a center to receive and test or check all oil, lenses and supplies before transferring the materials into the different district depots. The site opted for ended up being national property on Staten Island, NY at Tompkinsville. When you look at the 1867 are accountable to Congress the Board reported, “Prior towards organization with this depot the reserve material for lighthouse service had been stored in a number of areas, involving the prerequisite for a multiplication of storage space buildings mechanics, workmen, materials of most kinds, apparatus, etc., plus it often took place that articles had been bought for usage in one region whenever there was clearly an excessive amount of the exact same in other districts. To lessen toward minimal the supply of the solution together with consequence cost, it absolutely was obvious there must certanly be one storehouse, one workshop, one oil vault, etc., gathered together at one spot and called a depot, from which all needed materials and device might be released because they might be desired, upon requisitions through the inspectors or engineers associated with several districts, authorized on the job associated with Lighthouse Board. For ease of acquisition and shipment, it was in the same way obvious that this depot should be at or perhaps in the instant area of brand new The City.”

Staten Island 3rd District Depot ca 1905

The Board requested, and ended up being granted $50, 000, to procure appropriate land and construct various buildings. They discovered unused property on Staten Island already in check associated with the government labeled as the “revenue grounds.” The Board further reported, “The depot therefore established quickly proved its effectiveness, also far beyond what was indeed expected… Although it was expected that company associated with the depot would be huge, it has far exceeded the expectations, plus it ended up being demonstrated there neither enough area nor facilities to ensure the most useful useful outcomes or even answer all demands made upon the depot.”

To enhance their particular businesses an appropriation had been built to purchase a strip of land regarding north region of the lot from condition. The service additionally obtained the remaining of income reasons abutting the depot.

The annual report went on to mention, “Among the structures acquired inside recent transfer are two storehouses, which are very old and far to weak for lighthouse storage space purposes. It really is recommended to take them straight down and use the material in building a fresh storehouse, consistent because of the one initially constructed, that function no new appropriation is required.

“To prevent all danger from fire, that ought to never be permitted in the store houses, it is suggested to put on a little building for workplaces the area inspector, engineer, etc…

“Arrangements have been made at this depot for evaluation oils made available from technicians and for trying out lamps, device, etc., utilized in the solution. These arrangements are however limited, but will undoubtedly be extended according to the outcomes obtained.”