Station South Haven, Michigan
Coast Guard Station #272
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Location:
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South side entrance to Black River, 3/8 mile east of Pierhead Front Light; Lake Michigan
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Date of Conveyance
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1884
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Station Built:
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1886
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Fate:
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Still in operation
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Remarks:
The land for Coast Guard Station South Haven was acquired in 1872. The dwelling of the station was erected that same year. A Life Saving Station was built in 1887. The property is located in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan. Station moved to the south side of the harbor entrance in 1905. The dwelling was occupied until March 1972. In 1973 the station was deactivated and converted into an Auxiliary augmented outfit with no regular personnel assigned.
Keepers:
Barney A. Cross was appointed keeper on 17 NOV 1886 resigned on 21 DEC 1887.
John H. McKenzie was appointed keeper on 10 JAN 1888 and resigned on 28 MAR 1893.
Lew Matthews was appointed keeper on 14 APR 1893 and died on 3 FEB 1903.
Peter Jensen was appointed keeper on 18 FEB 1903 and transferred to Station Evanston on 9 MAR 1905.
Frank E. Johnson was appointed keeper on 18 JAN 1905 and was still serving in 1915.
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.