BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION LIGHTHOUSE INFORMATION FORM MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 PHOTOGRAPH KEY Leslie L. Fox, MHC, July 1981 1. Tower from north SKETCH MAP TAUNTON RIVER Braga Fau River hight r house RECORDEDBY: ORGANIZATION: DATE: L. Fox/N. Salzman MHC August 1981 NUMBER- 5 HISTORIC NAME: Borden Flats Liaht Station Fall River TOWN: LOCATION: Taunton River COUNTY: Bristol CODE: 005 10th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT:_ LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Bristol County Southern District Registry of Deeds VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: The nomination is confined to the light and its man-made foundation LAT./LONG.: 41° 41'15'N/71' 10'29"W UTM COORDINATE: 19/318/300/4619/100 USGS QUADRANGLE: Prov.RI.,Mass., Conn. SCALE: 1:250,000 ACREAGE: OWNER (S) : 8.8 acres (underwater ledge) U.S. Coast Guard, First District 408 Atlantic Ave.
Bosten, MA 02110 STATUS: Active/Unmanned (operated by U.S. Coast Guard, Group Bristol, RI) LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #5 page 1 Borden Flats Light Station, Fal1 River SITE DESCRIPTION: The Borden Flats Light Station, a caisson constructed lighthouse, was built on a reef at the mouth of the Taunton River, which also comprises part of Fall River. The name "Borden Flats" was derived from the Borden Family, who owned extensive textile mills along the edge of the river and were one of Fall River's wealthiest families. The Braga Bridge, Rt. 195, passes almost directly above the lighthouse, and just beyond this bridge is Battleship Cove, a large tourist attraction in the city. Large stone and wooden piers are located on both sides of the river on either side of the ligh thouse.
The lighthouse is not easily visible to anyone other than mar iners because the bridge passes overhead and there are no shore roads (view is blocked by warehouses and mills). LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSEIIS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #5 page 2 MAJOR ELEMENTS DESCRIPTION: The single tower (1881) is located at this site and occupies 650 square feet. Exter ior: The cast iron cylindrical caisson, or shell, was sunk and firmly secured with cement on the reef at midpoint in the river. fact, about 15' of cement comprises the foundation of the structure, most of which is below the water line. Because of the dangerous reef surrounding the tower, approach can only be made from one side (the north). From a wide, cement platform that encircles the entire tower, an iron ladder leads up to the "porch". The "porch" is open, with a roof covering 1/3 of the tower.
one end, there is a Targe storage closet and at the other end is the door leading inside the tower. The roof of the "porch" is constructed of steel supported by 24 concrete beams, some of which have been recently repaired. Ist window: One window (blocked by a sheet of plywood) is situated directly opposite the ladder that Teads to the "porch." Its interior measurements are 24" X 46", and it has a 38" panel with a 4" bracket that is 5 1/2" deep. The pediment is 43 1/2" wide and 23" up to the peak. The molding juts out 3 1/2" and it is 4"high. Door: A wooden door opens onto a steel door which in turn opens into the entranceway, and yet another door (which is paneled). This last door opens into the first floor of the tower. It measures Arch: 72" high X 35" wide. The doorway is iron and 11" deep. Inside the tower, there are two recessed arches with shelves, and the recessed window.
(All in all, three similar arches.) Each st floor of on and t1u de shetves, an arch is 52" high and the two with 15" deep. The third arch, above the window, is 17 1/4" deep and are set in 8" from the wooden frame of the window. 1st Floor: The steel ceiling of the first floor is made of twelve panels fitted together to form a circular shape as in other lighthouse ceilings. An iron shaft, originally used to house the large clockwork, runs from the center of this floor up through the other floors to the lens room. Stairs: A circular steel staircase begins on the far side of the first floor and is 38 1/2"wide, taking up about 1/4 of the entire Ba sement: A small door under the staircase opens onto a seven step curved ladder down to a half basement. Each riser on the ladder measures 12". The basement is 7 1/2" high and was probably used to house the fuel tank and for water storage.
The exteror wall is 8' thicker here than on the first floor. Stairs: From the first floor, there are nine steel steps 32" wide, "9 deep on the near end and 14 1/2" deep on the far end, which is against the wall. The steps lead up to the first landing (2nd floor). Another nine steps lead to the second landing, or the third floor. The latter landing has no wooden floor like the first and second floor. Instead, its steel segmented construction is exposed. The upper two floors were probably the keeper's quarters. Another window is located on the third floor. LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #5 page 3 Lamp Room: a fourth set of nine stairs leads to the lamp room, which is very similar to the lamp rooms in the Cape Cod lighthouses. That is, a false porthole is found immediately at the top of the stairs, just before entering the room. It has a wooden frame.
TWo standard portholes are then located inside the lamp room, whose walls are covered with vertical wooden sheathing. A stove pipe, an original item, was found in one corner. Lens Room: A seven step curved iron ladder leads to the lens room, through an iron trap door. The lens room is ten-sided, with none of the window panesblacked out. All are visible to navigators. panes (which are not original) were installed quite recently. hey are made of lexan, but fit the standard 11gh thouse lens room vindow - 26 1/2" X 36 (interior measurements) and 28 1/2" X 38 2/8" X 1/4" thick (exterior measurements). Walls: The walls of the lens room are covered with the same vertical wooden sheathing as the lamp room. Vents: Five air vents are located in the walls around the room; four have been permanently covered.
Balcony: A wooden half door opens onto a steel half door, and then onto the balcony, which is 50" deep. It has an iron railing and balusters that are 41"high. A large brass bell, 100 years old, blocks the balcony on the Fall River side. It is fullv automated, as is the lens inside. Roof: The metal roof has a metal lining as well, made up of a series of triangular segments. The tower is grounded by a strap running dow the side of the lighthouse and then into the river bottom. LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETIS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY: 1180 - The site was purchased by the U.S. Government. 1881 - The present lighthouse was constructed at a cost of $24,000. 1957 - The tower was electrified. 1963 - The station was fully automated and unmanned. 1977 - The light was modernized with a plastic lens.
1981 - The exterior was repainted, interior sections were rewired, and parts of the tower were stripped for reconstruction. Its brass bell 1s still in operation (100 years old)- 1983 - Fog signal changed to an electronic horn. Lighthouse #5 page 4 LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #5 page 5 LEVEL OF SIGNIFICANCE The Borden Flats Light Station possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, and workmanship as well as important associations with the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts. Constructed in 1881, it is one of the earliest and best mainta ined caisson type light stations in the state, preserving many of its original features and Italianate design elements intact. Additionally, it remains an active aid, necessary for navigators to avoid the reef on their approach to an active port.
The Station meets criteria A and C of the National Register of Historic Places on the state level. It also meets survey criteria lb, ld, le. LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Battle- Ship cove Fall River ueryumim Rt. 195 Braga Briage Taunton River Providence Borden Flats Light Station 1.Tower NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS use only recelved MAY date entered 4 1987 Page 374 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name State Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR MASSACHUSETTS Tpute 25. Nomination/Type of Review Date/Signature 18'21. Hospital Point Light Station Waie% e ndi ig keoper AuemeByu ap8: Attest 22. Graves Light Station Bt stf Keeper delmes Byers 9/552 Attest 23.
Annisquam Harbor Light Station Inteced 1n ta Wetol. prnd Iogel:ss ke fikeeper AllruByun 6/570; Attest The Beacon 24. Jatered National Regieter Keeper DelmusByaw6/1t8; Attest lacered in tie Bird Island Light Mational Begistei.) keeper HelmeBpu seti; 26. Borden Flats Light Station Eatored ia Natiosai Jegtstee Attest Jik eeper AlluraBzur 6/6078, 27. Boston Light Station Ietorad Ln Ls2oned Rogiasor 28. Brant Point Light Station Mattoncd 29. Butler Flats Light Station intored in Matlonel eeper Attest Hetstafakéeper Attest Theeper Attest AelrenByu 61578.
Aebrßyu 9/28/67 AeloresByen 6/15/8, 30 Cape Poge (Pogue) Light Butored 1x National Roglster Keeper Aelvaßzen 9/28/6; Attest 8100 1528 WASO Form - 177 ('R" June 1984) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Borden Flats Light Station (Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR) Bristol County MASSACHUSETTS resubmission nomination by person or local government owner objection appeal Substantive Review: L sample Reviewer's comments: LJrequest Working No.. 228182 Fed. Reg. Date: 2288 Date Due: _ 6/18/81 Action: _ACCEPT 6-/5-5/ Intered in the -RETURN. Nationa1 Boelster - REJECT. Federal Agency: USCG LJappeal -NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer. Discipline Date see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3.
Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? 7. Description yes - no Condition -excellent good fair deteriorated ruins J unexposed Check one - unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one - original site J moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Builder/Architect summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance - justification of exception other 9.
Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _state local State Historic Preservation Officer signature title date 13. Other Maps -Photographs JOther Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to Signed_ - Date Phone: GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet AUG 1981 LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION BORDEN FLATS LIGHT FALL RIVER #5 PHOTO #I OFI Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000282