Station Maddaket, Massachusetts
Coast Guard Station # 47
|
Location:
|
Near southwest end of Nantucket Island, 1 7/8 miles east of entrance to Maddaket Harbor, and 5 1/2 miles southwest of Brant Point Light; 41-16' 05"N x 70-18' 50"W.
|
|
Date of Conveyance:
|
1889
|
|
Station Built:
|
1890
|
|
Fate:
|
Turned over to GSA in 1956
|
Remarks:
See the justification and authorization for this station above under the listing for Coskata. Maddaket station was built in 1890-1891 on a site "on south side of Nantucket Island, six miles west of Nantucket village." When first placed into operation, it was called Great Neck. The name was changed to Maddequet by Treasury Department Circular No. 61 effective July 1, 1902. Maddeket came into use later. Maddaket station was still listed as active in 1945; in 1947 the station was consolidated with Brant Point Light station and the name disappears from the records in April of that year. The property was turned over to the GSA in 1956 and, in 1970, conveyed to the town of Nantucket for a public park.
Keepers:
The first keeper was Thomas F. Sandsbury, who was appointed on February 11, 1891 and died "from disease contracted in line of duty" on February 21, 1903. He was succeeded by George E. Orpm (March 30, 1902 until his death "from disease contracted in line of duty" on October 11, 1904), Edwin B. Tyler (November 10, 1904 until his reassignment to Chatham station on August 23, 1916), Horace G. Norcross (reassigned from Muskeget station on August 23, 1916, he retired on August 28, 1924), and Arthur L. Lanphere (reassigned on September 1, 1925 from the Narragansett Pier station, he went to the Block Island station on August 26, 1928). Next, Chief Petty Officer C. I. Williams arrived from the Narragansett Pier station to take command; he received his commission on October 13, 1930 and died on February 9, 1931. Next, Frederick W. Howes arrived from the Gay Head station on March 15, 1931 and served until his retirement on July 1, 1939.
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.