Station Galveston, Texas
Coast Guard Station #217
Station Galveston, Texas
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Location:
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On northeast end of Galveston Island, at Fort Point, 3/8 mile southeast by east of quarantine station; on Pelican Spit, west side of channel entrance; 29-19' 30"N x 94-46' 50"W
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Date of Conveyance
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1878
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Station Built:
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Unknown
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Fate:
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Turned over to the GSA in 1954; new Galveston Station is still in operation.
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Remarks:
The Coast Guard began it's service to the Galveston Bay area in the year 1878, when the United States Government acquired a lot upon which was erected a lifeboat station on Pelican Island. Joseph W. Simmons was appointed the first Lifesaving Station #217 keeper on 24 November 1888.
The station was destroyed by the Hurricane of 1900. The new station was torn down and rebuilt in 1909. The station was once again destroyed in the great hurricane of 1915. Then station was relocated to the old immigration station on Pelican Island. Attached to the station were two 32-foot picket boats used for anti-smuggling patrols, a lifeboat, a surfboat, a power dory, and a 46-foot launch. The station remained on Pelican island until it was moved to it's current location at Fort Point in 1938.
After being attached to Group Galveston for over 26 years, Station Galveston became an independent unit with a command of its own in 1994.
Keepers:
Joseph W. Simmons was appointed keeper on 24 NOV 1888 and resigned on 5 AUG 1889.
William H. Ballow was appointed keeper on 8 NOV 1889 and declined the appointment.
Joseph W. Simmons was appointed keeper on 30 DEC 1889 and resigned on 1 SEP 1891.
John F. Ahm was appointed keeper on 11 SEP 1891 and transferred to Station Velasco on 18 JUL 1893.
Edward Haines was appointed keeper on 19 JUL 1893 and was discharged on 14 SEP 1901.
John F. Ahm was appointed keeper on 9 NOV 1901 and was discharged on 6 APR 1907.
James F. Phillips was appointed keeper on 19 APR 1907 and left in 1914.
George W. McKensie was appointed keeper in 1914 and left in 1915.
Borger Holst was appointed keeper in 1915.
Photographs:
Coast Guard Station Galveston.
Original caption reads: "GALVESTON."; photo dated 16 March 1939; Photo No. 7; photographer unknown.
Sources:
Station History File, CG Historian’s Office
Dennis L. Noble & Michael S. Raynes. “Register of the Stations and Keepers of the U.S. Life-Saving Service.” Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.
Ralph Shanks, Wick York & Lisa Woo Shanks. The U.S. Life-Saving Service: Heroes, Rescues and Architecture of the Early Coast Guard. Petaluma, CA: Costaño Books, 1996.
U.S. Treasury Department: Coast Guard. Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers and Cadets and Ships and Stations of the United States Coast Guard, July 1, 1941. Washington, DC: USGPO, 1941.