Station Wood End, Massachusetts
Coast Guard Station #32
|
Location:
|
1/8 mile east of light; 42-01' 15"N x 70-11' 30"W
|
|
Date of Conveyance
|
1896
|
|
Station Built:
|
1896
|
|
Fate:
|
Turned over to the GSA in 1957
|
Wood End (#32):
The act of May 4, 1882 authorized the establishment of a complete life-saving station at or near Wood End. Wood End station was built on a site "east one-eighth mile of Wood End Light, Cape Cod" in 1896 and manned in 1897. It was somewhat improved in 1910, probably to give it the capability to operate the motorized life-boat. The station was located on the narrow strip of beach at the tip end of Cape Cod. The station was still listed in 1945, but disappears from the October 1948 listing of stations. Subsequently, the property was turned over to the GSA in 1957. Sold to American Legion Post 23 in 1960.
Keepers:
The first keepers were Isaac G. Fisher (reassigned from the Peaked Hill Bars station on September 23, 1896 until his resignation due to ill health on July 10, 1901-he died on September 18), George H. Bickers (June 10, 1901 until his retirement with thirty years service on April 20, 1921), Albert L. Burch (reassigned from the High Head station on May 5, 1921 until reassigned as Assistant to the Superintendent of the Second District in Provincetown, Massachusetts on April 1, 1925), Emanuel F. Gracie (July 21, 1925 until reassigned to the Highland station on July 10, 1931, and Edward B. Andrews (from the Highland station on the same date until assigned to the Office of the Eastern Inspector on December 3, 1935). Chief Petty Officer E. A. Newcomb is next listed. He is followed by newly—commissioned Addison N. Ormsby on December 3, 1935, who remained until reassigned to the Race Point station on March 4, 1939.
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.