Station Two Rivers, Wisconsin

Station Two Rivers, Wisconsin
USLSS Station #17, Eleventh District
Coast Guard Station #286

Two Rivers (#286):

The U.S. Life Saving Service came to Two Rivers, Wisconsin in 1880. It was preceded by a volunteer life-saving company that was organized along the lines of a volunteer fire department of that time. H.M. Scove was keeper of the station prior to the arrival of paid, regular personnel. The first keeper of the Life Saving Station was surfman Oliver Pilon, who had distinguished himself as a volunteer in the previous years. Captain Pilon died on April 30, 1892 of pneumonia conducted in the line of duty as a result of a daring rescue in February.

Pilon was succeeded by Joseph Dionne, a native of Two Rivers who had previously served as Keeper of Sturgeon Bay Station. He held the position until December 31, 1902 when he was promoted to the larger Sheboygan station. The most outstanding feat under Dionne’s leadership was the rescue of the entire crew of the steamer W.L. Wetmore on November 12, 1894. Dionne declined the Life Saving Medal that was offered afterwards because he felt he had only done his duty and that all the men of his crew were deserving such an honor.

In 1904 the city desired to make certain harbor improvements which would necessitate the dredging away of practically all of the site occupied by the life-saving station.  In 1908 a new station was built and the old one abandoned. 

Captain George E. Sogge was brought in to succeed Dionne in 1903. He served in Two Rivers until his retirement in 1920. One of the most notable disasters during his tenure occurred on November 23, 1912 when the schooner Rouse Simmons disappeared after having been spotted flying a distress signal. In 1915, when the Coast Guard entered the picture, Sogge received the rank of Warrant Officer and became the first Commander of the Two Rivers Station. Upon his retirement he was succeeded by Fred M. Stahl, who himself served until he retired in the late 1920s.

In 1941 a new station was built. The old station building was moved downtown and served as a VFW hall. During the Second World War, the Two Rivers facility served as a Basic Training Camp. In the 1960s, a Marine and a Boating Safety Office were attached to the station.  The station underwent a $250,000 renovation, which included the enlargement of the boathouse to store the 41’ UTB.  During that time, the personnel were cut from 15 to 11 as an experiment in operations due to budget cuts.

Keepers:

• Hans M. Scove was appointed keeper on 28 SEP 1876 and left in 1880

• Oliver Pilon was appointed keeper on 2 MAR 1880 and he died 30 APR 1892.

• Joseph Dionne was appointed keeper on 3 JUN 1892 and transferred to Station Sheboygan on 4 JAN 1903.

• George E. Sogge was appointed keeper on 24 DEC 1903 and was still serving in 1915.

• Fred M. Stahl served as keeper during the 1920s.

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.