Station Narragansett, Rhode Island
Also referred to as Narragansett Pier
USLSS Station #1, Third District
Coast Guard Station #54
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Location:
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Northern part of the town; 41-25" 59"N x 71-27' 04"W in 1878; 41-25' 45"N x 71-27' 20"W in 1915.
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Date of Conveyance:
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1887
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Station Built:
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1887
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Fate:
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Decommissioned on 15 July 1937
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Remarks:
It is believed that this station was built in 1872. A station "at Naragansett Beach" was provided for by Congress in March, 1871. Two early positions are given: "at Narragansett Pier, Rhode Island" and "northern part of town." It was rebuilt in 1887-1888 and the launching facilities were improved in 1917.
The station was decommissioned on 15 July 1937. At that time the boat complement consisted of a 25-foot Type H motor surfboat No. 1868, a 25-foot Type S motor surfboat No. 4022/CG25526, which transferred to Station Nahant, then Nauset and later to Station Metomking Inlet, Virginia and a Race Point type pulling surfboat No. 4775/CG24323 which was transferred to Station Fletchers Neck and later to Highland, Massachusetts. (Information courtesy of Tim Dring.
Keepers:
The early keepers were Benjamin Macomber (May 10, 1872 until he resigned on August 30, 1880), Albert Church (September 4, 1880 until his death from "disease contracted in line of duty" on November 11, 1913), William Tucker (December 20, 1913 until incapacitated and retired on June 25, 1917), and Arthur L. Lanphere (reassigned from the Fishers Island station on July 10, 1917, he was reassigned to the Maddeket station on September 1, 1925). Next, Chief Petty Officers C. I. Williams appears as being in charge in 1927 (reassigned to the Maddeket station in 1929) and then C. H. Collins (from the Point Judith station in 1929).
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.