Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light - Case Study Example

Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light Introduction History is defined as the study of man’s past activities in a chronological order. By understanding the chronology behind the study of past events or activities, artifacts are considered to be the best focal points of history in real life. There various artistic work across the globe that have remained significant in the normal learning activities in schools. The interest, therefore, is to find out more about these artistic works and try to establish facts behind their design, development and existence in the present time. Every country in the world has an outstanding or a unique feature that has been preserved to be part of their present day historical aspect. With this kind of knowledge in mind, the study of artifacts, therefore, becomes very significant in life. In the United States, there are various memorable artistic works that have formed part of global history. In New York City, there is a lighthouse was constructed many years ago; this paper, therefore, provides a research on the Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light and various aspects that makes it outstanding in the history of artifacts in the present day studies. Description and Historical background of Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light The United States of America is one country that is technologically advanced. There are several aspects that they consider in the design and constructions of their devices and instruments. Similarly, in their water vessels such aspects are applicable and are usually named after the key figures behind their constructions. Therefore, in the past centuries when their war ships were being designed each had a light signal point constructed in them. Such signal towers were majorly meant for communications during navigations. This also assisted in the radar watching of such vessels as a sign of security and protection from enemies. This section of the paper, is however, concerned with the construction and historical background of the Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light that was strategically stationed along the harbors of New York City. Its role in the navy and overall navigation activities is also highlighted. Ambrose Channel Rear Range Lightis a historical artifact in Staten Island. It serves as the rear or behind range light companion to the West Bank Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is aninety-foot tower whichis located on Staten Island’s Richmond Hill. It is at a point that is approximated to be 145 feet above sea level and estimated five miles on the northwest of West Bank Lighthouse. In June 1906, the establishment of Staten Island Lighthouse was authorized by Congress and the raising of West Bank Lighthouse. The construction cost was estimated not to exceed $100,000. $50,000 was allocated for the project that month, and by July 1908, West Bank Lighthouse had been raised for $9,197.96. The purchasing of land and performing preliminary work amounted to $9,253.16. This project and its constructions were carried out on Staten Island. An additional $50,000 was appointed by the Congress in March 1909, and a contract for erecting the Staten Island Lighthouse was awarded to architecture later that year.The main contractor was the New Jersey Foundry and Machine Company. As evidenced by the year inscribed in the base of the tower, most of the lighthouse was completed in 1909. By July 1910, the lighthouse only lacked its lantern and iron staircase though all its constructions had been completed. After the completion of the construction, there were provisions for its security. This prompted the construction a keeper’s dwelling place within the compound of the lighthouse tower. Specifications and Plans for the nearby keepers dwelling were drawn up in 1910, and by July 1911, 25% of the residence constructions were finished. The lightswere finally put into operation by April 15, 1912, when all work at the station had been completed except for laying the sidewalks, grading, and installing a lightning rod at the top of the tower. This additional construction work was put on hold until 1915, and the total cost of the station came up to $73,972.64. On the day the lights ware to go into service, a local newspaper carried the following announcement: “Tonight, for the first time a great white ray of 300,000 candlepower will bore a hole through the gloom seaward from the new 100-foot tower on the hill at Richmond, Staten Island.” The stately, architecturally pleasing tower looks like something that one would expect to see constructed on an isolated, low-lying coast rather than atopof a hill in the New York’s harbor. When Staten Island Lighthouse started working in 1912, the New York Times wrote that it was “destined to take its place among famous beacons of the world, such as Eddy-stone Lighthouse, on the Eddy-stone Rocks, about fourteen miles from Plymouth, England.” Key features of the Lighthouse by 1912 When architectures are designing a particular piece of work, there are several elements that they have to put into consideration. With a reflection of the Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light, there are several aspects that were considered during the drawing of the plan. These aspects aimed at meeting the desires of the people of America who were to use the tower. The relevance of the tower or the construction must also conform to those aspects that are desired by the identified users of a structure. In this regard, there are three key aspects that were deeply analyzed and included in the drawing and construction of Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light. Below are some of the major aspects that were considered in the construction of the structure. Purpose Staten Island Light Station, in New York, with West Bank as the front light, forms a range for guiding vessels through the outer arm or extension of Ambrose Channel, which is the entrance to New York Harbor, and this went into commission on April 15, 1912. In the history of the lighthouse, there are several functions that are associated with the construction and operation of the lighthouse tower. Its major purposes are to be used as signals for navigations, security purposes and a center of attraction to many people since it is a historical site that lives in the shores of New York harbor. The design and structure of the tower, is suitable for naval operations in the U.S this gives them chance to have a clear view and operations of the navy security department in the country. Similarly, this makes their work easier in the sense that there is capability of directing ships through light signals that are installed on the tower. Besides security, it also provides a source of economic income since it is a historical site that is used as a center of attraction to many people across the globe. Site Every building requires a place where it would be strategically place. In the construction of Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light, the location was a key aspect that had to be considered. The main objective of this was to match the purpose of the tower. In order to achieve such goals, a site had to be identified along the coast lines of the New York City. This aimed at fully exercising the needs for navy operations and ship navigations in the state. Similarly, it aimed at setting a historical site in the place. The site had to provide favorable conditions for erecting of the tower.The Ambrose Channel Rear Range Lighttower of the Lighthouse is located on high land at Richmond, Staten Island, in New York. It is 145 feet above mean high water, and the reservation contains approximately 0.9 of an acre. Structure In order to come up with a structure, there must be a well-drawn plan on a paper that will be interpreted on the actual ground. Another aspect of the Lighthouse that has remained outstanding is the structure of the tower and its surrounding. It consists of an octagonal brick tower, rusticated stone-base and stone trimmings resting upon a concrete foundation that extends 7 feet below grade line, and surmounted with a brick watch room and a first-order, vertical-bar, cast-iron lantern, whose focal plane is 86 feet above grade line. The tower is pyramidal in shape, and encloses a cylindrical brick stair well, which is connected with the outer pyramidal walls by radial and horizontal bonding walls up to about the height of the fifth floor, where the two portions of the tower unite to form one structure. The interior design of the stair well up to and watch-room floor is sufficed with seven cast-iron floors and six flights of stairs. Similarly, the watch-room floor is on a level with the main gallery outside, the latter being supported by ornamental cast-iron brackets. A hollow cast-iron newel post extends from the first to the seventh floor. Illuminating apparatus Another key aspect of the Lighthouse that is given consideration in this paper is the illuminating apparatus in the tower. This composed of a second-order range lens of one panel, which is made up of7 reflecting prisms and 6 refracting reinforced by a mirror of 9 totally reflecting prisms, and giving a fixed white light that lies in range with West Bank. The light is furnished by a 55-millimeter, double-tank, incandescent oil vapor lamp.The intensity of the light beam is rated at 300,000 candlepower, while the focal plane of the light is 231 feet above mean high water, and the light is visible 21 nautical miles in clear weather. This shows the capability of the lighthouse to illuminate across several distances along the shores of New Yolk. The mineral oil is stored in tanks in an isolated vault at the foot of the tower and raised to the watch room by a suitable pump. Quarters Every historical site requires a safeguard that will offer security throughout. In the tower of lighthouse, there are some other structures and extensions that offer residential places for people who will take care and offer security to the lighthouse. These places are referred to as quarters. They also had their own designs and constructions with an aim of offering accommodation purposes to keeper. Below is a description of the quarters and how they were to be constructed. Within the compound of the tower, there are several structures that are designated to accommodate various people. Majority of the residence in this place are meant to provide security to the tower and its environs. This section of the paper focuses on the major quarters that are found within the surrounding of the structure or the construction and their intended purposes. Within the tower is a brick double dwelling that provides quarters for two keepers; the two sides are similar and complete in themselves. In the cellars of the tower are bins designated for coal and vegetables. The first floor has an entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, and kitchen, with pantry; the second floor has three bedrooms, closets, and bathroom; and the attic, unfinished, is lighted by dormer windows. Vitrified brick, with trimmings of stone to conform to those in tower, are used for the exterior of the dwelling. Both thesouth and north sides are designed with porches and the roofs are constructed of terra-cotta tile on roof boards and nailed to wooden rafters. Brief summary of activities after construction In 1992, after several Coast Guard budget cuts, Joe Espositoenquired from the Coast Guard about the chances of being the caretaker of the light and its compound. The offer was analyzed and accepted, and Esopsito, a local resident,master electrician, lighthouse enthusiast, historian, mason and carpenter worked on everything within the station, from providing explanations of the station’s history to visitorscutting the grass, and, maintaining the lightson twenty-four hours a day. In 2001, after nine years at the unpaid volunteer position, Esposito who was sixty-two-year-old was forced to resign due to medical problems. The Coast Guard group who accepted Esposito’s deal earlier recognized his servicesin a ceremony on April 18, 2001.Duringthis time,Esposito was awarded a citation for his meritorious service on the tower.The Certificate of Merit that was awarded to Espositostated that “hard work on this proud remnant of Staten Island and Coast Guard history is sincerely appreciated...” and that Esposito had “upheld the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.”This shows that the tower was a great hope and expectation of the people of the United States of America at large. In the security sector, it also had a symbolic meaning of strength and capability to oversee various aspects that may be of danger to their naval systems. It intended to make the work of sailors easier through indicating signals from far off miles. In the management of the tower, there were a team of people who offered to maintain and clear daily cleaning of the environment around the tower. This team was headed by Esposito who took his time and efforts to ensure that every step of management is attended to and the pillar remains spectacular and clean throughout. Living by history and as a monument, the tower still looks as clean as it was before. Despite these efforts by Esposito, he faced a huge resignation pressure due to his health condition even though his influence and impact is still felt in the maintenance and protection of the premise. From Esposito’s hard and dedicated work and other volunteers, the tower or the lighthouse is still in good condition, both inside and out. Esposito remarked that;“Every time I stepped in it, I was going back in time to 1912.”Mentioning about his retirement from the lighthouse, he also hinted to the New York Times,“I’m gonna miss her. She’s the only one like it in the world.” As a hobby, he builds extremely detailed scale replicas and information about the lighthouses. He spent three months while building a three-foot tall, seven-inch model of Staten Island Lighthouse. This statue he donated to the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island. Despite the fact that Staten Island Lighthouse never actuallyattained the predicted heights by the New York Times, it was still declared a Historic Landmark by the city of New York in 1968. Today, only the top of the lighthouse remains visible above the surrounding houses and accompanying foliage from the New York Harbor. The automated light on the tower continues as an active aid to navigation for the ships entering Ambrose Channel, and a second light has also been mounted on the tower to serve as the rear range light for the Swash Channel. The keeper’s dwelling is currently treated as a private residence. Even though the management and administration activities that were carried out in the tower went successful, there were little hiccups that came across the strong volunteer team. The ill health conditions forced some of the key figures in the wellbeing of the structure or the tower to step down unwillingly. This affected the administration and management of the tower. Similarly, transformation of other parts of the structure to private wings also affected the intended purpose of the tower. These are some of the major problems that came across the entire team that took part in safeguarding the premise. In conclusion, Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light is considered as a piece of art work that was specially designed to serve particular purposes in the New York Harbor. The main aim of the construction of the structure therefore was to achieve the operation management of the navy security council of the United State of America. Besides this, it also serves as a sign of historical site with unique features that remain significant in the learning and development of various architectural components. Therefore, the tower is a sign of historical site in the United States of America. Also, America as a country majorly relies on developments and advancements of their premises. They often ensure that their historical sites are well maintained and their intended purposes achieved. Therefore, Ambrose Channel Rear Range Light makes of the America’s greatest treasure in history and also has influence on the global history of artifacts. This is significant to learners and other people who are much concerned with the archaeological works globally. Work cited Ambrose, Stephen E, and Sam Abell. Lewis & Clark: Voyage of Discovery. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2002. Print. De, Wire E. Lighthouses of the Mid-Atlantic Coast: Your Guide to the Lighthouses of New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2002. Print. Notices of Mariners. Washington, 1897. Print. Professional Memoirs, Corps of Engineers, United States Army and Engineer Department at Large. Washington: Engineer School, 1909. Print. Reports of the Department of Commerce. Report of the Secretary of Commerce and Reports of Bureaus. Washington: Govt. Print. Off, 1913. Print. The National Geographic Magazine. Washington, D.C: National Geographic Society, 1888. Print. The World Almanac and Book of Facts. New York: Newspaper Enterprise Association [etc., 1800. Print. Read More