Station Jerry's Point, New Hampshire

Station Jerry's Point, New Hampshire

Coast Guard Station #12
Later-Station Portsmouth Harbor

Jerry’s Point / Portsmouth Harbor (#12):

The first station in this locale was called the Jerry’s Point station, and it was established "on Wood Island, Portsmouth Harbor."  The 1879 Annual Report mentions that the citizens of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine had submitted a petition "asking for the establishment of a station on Gerrish’s Island, a dangerous locality at the eastern entrance of Portsmouth Harbor.  There have been numerous severe disasters in this vicinity, and due examination has made apparent the duty of recommending a station here."  A station "at or near the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire" was authorized by the act of May 4, 1882.  It was completed, equipped and placed into operation in 1888.  Then, in 1908:

"The station commenced last year on Wood Island, Maine, near the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, New Hampshire, to replace the Jerrys Point station, which stood on the New Hampshire side of the harbor, has been completed and is now in operation under the name of the Wood Island station." The Work Relief and Public Works Appropriation Act of 1938 provided $50,825 to erect a new station dwelling, equipment building and flag tower, $38,000 for new station boats and equipment, and $42,750 for a new boathouse and launchway."

An article in the 1907 Annual Report: 

"In 1887 a station was built at Jerrys Point, at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, new Hampshire, upon a Government reservation under the control of the War Department.  After the site had been occupied by the Service for more than a quarter of a century, by courtesy of that Department, it was last year required for military purposes, and a site was therefore selected on Wood Island, Maine, on the opposite side of the harbor, permission to occupy the same having been given by the Light House Establishment.  A new station is now in process of construction on this site.  In the meantime, station operations have been conducted from rented buildings."

The crew of the station was awarded a gold medal for actions during the rescue of four of the crew of the schooner Oliver Dyer, wrecked on the rocks near the station, on November 26, 1888.  They were: Keeper Silas H. Harding and Surfmen G. W. Randell, E. S. Hall, Ernest Robbinson, S. F. Wells, John Smith, and W. A. Amazeen. 

The station is still in operation.  

Keepers:

The first keeper was Silas H. Harding; he was appointed December 20, 1887 and was appointed District Superintendent on August 8, 1896. He was followed by Alpheus A. Mayo (November 6, 1896 until his death "from disease contracted in line of duty" on June 17, 1903), Ephraim S. Hall (July 28, 1903 until his retirement with thirty years service on May 31, 1919), Charles A. Hand (reassigned from the Damiscove Island station on September 1, 1919, transferred to the Merrimac River station on February 27, 1925), Fred E. Small (from the Great Wass Island station on October 19, 1927, he retired on October 26, 1928), Jasper B. Myers (reassigned from the position of Assistant to the First District Supervisor on September 9, 1929 and reassigned to the Cahoons Hollow station on March 3, 1931), Charles A. Hand (from the Merrimac River station on May 1, 1931, he retired on January 1, 1932), Albert F. Jones (from the Plum Island station on January 12, 1932 he was reassigned to the Office of the First District on January 7, 1935), and Ashley H. Calder (reassigned from the Isle of Shoals station on December 4, 1935 and remaining until the eve of World War II).

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.