Station Gilgo, New York

Station Gilgo, New York

First referred to as Oak Island, west end

USLSS Station #27, Third District
Coast Guard Station #85

Remarks:

At station was built at Gilgo ("west end of Oak Island") in 1853, although the date is uncertain. In 1882, this station was referred to as the "Oak Island, west end station" and the name change appeared the next year (effective June 1, 1883). It was extensively repaired and improved in 1888.  After 1917, the station disappears completely from the records; it was one of nine discontinued at the outbreak of World War I.

Keeper:

The first two keepers were James Zachariah (appointed in 1853) and Ebenezer Chichester (appointed 1856); the terms of office of neither of these is known. Prior Weeks was appointed at the age of 58 (with experience as a surfman, sailor, etc.) on July 3, 1869, and served until his resignation effective December 1, 1877 ("or when suitable replacement can be found"). Then came Frank E. Wicks (November 20, 1877 until October 14, 1885), William e. Austin (November 2, 1885 until his death "from disease contracted in line of duty" on January 30, 1909), Israel Van Nostrand (appointed March 6, 1909 until his reassignment to the Long Beach station on April 4, 1917). 

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  Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.