Station Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
USLSS Station #4, Fourth District
Coast Guard Station #100
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Location:
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On ocean side of beach, abreast of Shrewsbury River, and 3 1/4 miles south of Navesink Light; 40-20' 30"N x 73-58' 07"W in 1878; About a mile south of Seabright; 40-20' 30"N x 73-58' 38"W in 1915.
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Date of Conveyance:
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1849
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Station Built:
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1857
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Fate:
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Turned over to the GSA in 1964
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Remarks:
Monmouth Beach Life-Saving Station was the second one to be established on the New Jersey coast of the United States. It was not established by the Act of Congress on 14 August 1848 but soon thereafter. The first keeper listed was Edward Waddell, age 40, who was appointed on 5 January 1857. Waddell resigned on 31 October 1875, Charles H. Valentine, age 47, was appointed on 9 November 1875.
The first land site available was a grant dated 10 June 1880, in which land was granted by Edward A. Walton and Daniel Dodd to the United States Treasury Department for use as a Life-Saving Station. On 11 and 12 April 1894, a very severe storm did great damage to the station and caused the beach to wash away till the whole station was in danger of being destroyed. At that time steps were taken to secure more land so the buildings could be moved back from the beach to a more safe position.
On 1 August 1894, a deed was drawn between Edward A. Walton and George L. Baker conveying to the United States an additional two lots for Life-Saving purposes. Records show that Monmouth Beach employed seven surfmen form 1 August 1909 to 31 May 1910. The present complement of this station is ten enlisted men. Monmouth Beach Lifeboat Station presently consists of 1.2 acres which was acquired in 1894.
Keepers & Officers-In-Charge:
Edward Wardell was appointed in 1849 and left service in 1875.
Charles H. Valentine a Gold Life Saving Medal recipient was appointed on NOV 9, 1875 and resigned JAN 10, 1884.
James H. Mulligan was appointed on AUG 22, 1884 and resigned on OCT 16, 1905.
George W. Green was appointed on OCT 13, 1905 and was still serving in 1915.
Photographs:
No caption/date/photo number; photographer unknown. Probably 1930s.
Courtesy of Van Field.
"U.S. COAST GAURD [sic] - MONMOUTH BEACH [illegible] - 1930 [?]"; no photo number; photographer unknown. Probably early 1930s.
Courtesy of Van Field.
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.