Station Ocean City, New Jersey
Formerly Great Egg
USLSS Station #29, Fourth District
Coast Guard Station #126
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Location:
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On lagoon, at north end of Ocean City, N.J., 3/4 mile southwest by west of Great Egg Inlet; 39-17' 00"N x 74-34' 00"W
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Date of Conveyance:
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1877
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Station Built:
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1878
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Fate:
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Original station abandoned in 1945.
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Great Egg / Ocean City:
Great Egg station was built in Longport in 1849. Another station was built in 1896, probably to replace the older structure. Eventually, a new station was built in 1939 but the building was auctioned away in 1942. The present station was built in 1925. The inside of the station, the repair shop, and the boat mooring area were completely renovated in 1978. Facilities include (as of 1983) one 44-foot MLB, one 41-foot UTB, and one 21-foot high speed outboard UTL. The station is manned by one Senior Chief and twenty-eight enlisted men. The station received the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for its participation in a myriad of SAR, Law Enforcement, and Operational Readiness activities for the period 21 January 1983 to 12 May 1983.
On 7 September 1989, two Coast Guardsmen from Great Egg Station rescued a 52-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy who had been trapped beneath a capsized boat off Ocean City beach. Both Guardsmen, Petty Officer Scott Koosher and Seaman Steve Hoagland, received the Cost Guard Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal, respectively.
Keepers:
Joseph Somers was appointed in 1853. It is unknown when he left the service.
Richard L. Sommers was appointed in 1856. It is unknown when he left the service.
Richard B. Stiles was appointed on JAN 17, 1862. He left the service in 1872.
Thomas Stiles was appointed on DEC 1, 1872. He left the service in 1876.
J. E, Willets was appointed on JAN 25, 1877. He resigned on SEP 14, 1893 due to physical reasons.
John M. Corson was appointed on OCT 28, 1893. He resigned due to physical reasons on SEP 8, 1911.
George M. Blackman was appointed on SEP 9, 1911 and was still serving in 1915.
Photographs:
"GREAT EGG"; no date/photo number; photographer unknown. Probably 1930s.
The MLB underneath the shed is the 36-foot Type H motor lifeboat No. 1918, build in 1922 and later retrofitted with a forward survivors cabin.
Photo courtesy of Van Field; information on the surfboat was provided by Tim Dring.
No caption/date/photo number; photographer unknown. Probably 1930s.
Courtesy of Van Field.
No caption/date/photo number; photographer unknown. Probably 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.