Station Seabright, New Jersey
USLSS Station #3, Fourth District
Coast Guard Station #99
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Location:
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At mouth of Shrewsbury River, 1 1/4 miles south of Navesink Light, and 3/4 mile north of drawbridge; 40-22' 50"N x 73-58' 30"W
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Date of
Conveyance
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1878
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Station Built:
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1871
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Fate:
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Turned over to the GSA in 1954
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Remarks:
Seabright station was built in 1871 on a site "about a mile south of Navesink light." When originally built, the station was so close to the water’s edge that it was in danger. The 1878 Annual Report mentions that, during that year, "the dangers which threatened the station was foreseen, as is usual, in season to be provided against, and it was moved to a new and safe site." In the 1880 records was found an entry which reported that the building wanted rebuilding due to "the extreme dilapidation of the roof and walls. The necessity for reconstruction was stated (earlier), but, to accomplish this end, enough could not be spared from the means at the command of the service with more pressing wants until the past fiscal year, when the work was undertaken, and a new and comfortable station is now near completion." Records indicate that it was repaired in 1888, and rebuilt in 1891.
A later position for the station was given as "south one and one-half miles of Navesink Light and north of the drawbridge at Sea Bright three-fourths of a mile." The station was again on the list of inactive stations in 1938. During World War II, a lookout tower was manned at this site. The lookout tower was discontinued in 1946. The site was turned over to GSA in 1954.
Keepers:
Early keepers were Charles West (appointed at the age of 40 on June 1, 1872, he served until he was removed on Mar 19, 1874), Abner H. West (appointed March 19, 1874, the end of his tenure was unrecorded), Alvin B. Mount (appointed June 1, 1899, he served until his retirement with more than 30 years’ service on December 23, 1915), and Edwin S. Patterson (acting after departure of Alvin Mount, he resigned on December 16, 1916). In 1917, the station was one of those discontinued and carried as "auxiliary station to Monmouth Beach, enlisted man in charge." The station was listed just as "discontinued as an active unit" between 1922 and 1924. Then it was listed as active again. The last known officer s in charge before World War II were Chief Petty Officers T. Truex (1927 until reassigned to Sandy Hook in 1930), C. B. Styron (1930 until reassigned to Monmouth Beach station in 1933), and C. C. Perrine (1933 until 1935).
Photographs:
"SEA BRIGHT"; no date/photo number; photographer unknown.
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.