Station Kenosha, Wisconsin
USLSS Station #13, Eleventh District
Coast Guard Station #282
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Location:
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On Washington Island, abreast of Kenosha Harbor, on the east side of the inner basin, 7/16 mile west by north of Kenosha Light;
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Date of Conveyance:
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1878
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Station Built:
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1879
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Fate:
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Still in operation
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Remarks:
The first life-saving station in Kenosha was built in 1879. Kenosha is situated at Lake Michigan. The first keeper of the station was Benjamin G. Cameron who was appointed on 25 October 1879. On 30 May 1907, Kenosha Life Saving Station received the first motor-driven life-saving boat on Lake Michigan. A new station was built in 1934 to replace the outdated original buildings from 1879.
The records indicate that this station responded to 2,307 calls for assistance from 1879 to 30 June 1935. The most important marine disaster within the scope of operations occurred 29 October 1929, when the steamer Wisconsin sank 10 miles southeast of Kenosha Harbor. 28 persons were rescued by members of this crew, in addition, 32 persons were rescued by other craft, and all were given first aid at this station. Approximately 780 persons were rescued from drowning by this station from 1879 to 1935.
Keepers:
Benjamin G. Cameron (awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal) was appointed keeper on 25 October 1879 and was discharged on 4 March 1908.
Frank Fountain was appointed keeper on 10 February 1908 and was still serving in 1915.
Boatswain (L) William J. McGaw was OIC in 1929.
Boatswain (L) Daniel Magnussen was appointed officer in charge on 22 June 1933.
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.