Station Blue Point, New York
USLSS Station #22, Third District
Coast Guard Station #80
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Location:
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On beach abreast of Great South Bay, 9 1/2 miles east northeast of Fire Island Light; 40-40' 40"N x 73-01' 20"W
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Date of Conveyance
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1855
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Station Built:
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1856
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Fate:
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Abandoned in 1946
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Remarks:
The exact date of construction of this station, located "four and one-half miles south of Patchogue," is not known, but Charles R. Smith was appointed keeper in 1856. He was followed by Daniel A. Nevens, who was appointed at the age of 53 on July 2, 1869, and served until his death on August 7, 1875, and Charles W. Wicks, who was appointed on September 23, 1875, and served until he was removed on November 27, 1877. Then followed Jacob B. Thurber (November 20, 1877 until his resignation effective January 11, 1886), Frank Rorke (July 5, 1887 until his retirement with thirty years’ of service on May 31, 1919) and Nicholas F. White (acting keeper until 1920, never appointed). By this time, the position of the station was given as "abreast of and south four and one-half miles of Patchogue."
The position of keeper was vacant (enlisted man in charge?) until Eugene T. Osborne was assigned on October 16, 1924; on September 8, 1925 he was reassigned as District Superintendent of the Sixth District in Lewes, Delaware. Again the position was vacant until William B. Tooker was reassigned from the Long Beach station on September 6, 1927 where he served until September 22, 1928 when he retired. Then a succession of chief petty officers were place in charge of the station: W. N. Loper (1930), N. F. White (1931), J. L. Gray (1933), and W. B. Buettner (1936), who served until the station appeared on the list of inactive stations in 1937.
In 1912, the station was rebuilt "to replace a structure that was old and unsuited to present—day needs." The station disappears from the records entering World War II; the site was abandoned in 1946. A contract to rebuild the station was let in 1912 "to replace structures no longer suited to the needs of the service."
Gold life-saving medals were conferred upon Surfmen Frank B. Raynor and Albert Latham for their heroic conduct in saving life from the wreck of the schooner Benjamin C. Cromwell on February 22, 1904. The Cromwell stranded in foggy weather. When sighted, seas were breaking over here and the crew was in the rigging. The life-saving crews from three nearby station assembled and several attempts were made to get a line to the ship, but she was surrounded by so much debris that the hawser could not be hauled on board. Efforts to launch a surfboat were fruitless, as it was repeatedly thrown back on the shore. At this point, the masts of the Cromwell went over the side and the life-saving crews spread along the beach to render assistance to anyone washing toward the shore. These two surfmen spotted a survivor floating and apparently unconscious, battled their way through surf and wreckage, and pulled him ashore.
Click here for information on the 22 February 1904 rescue for which two Blue Point Station surfmen, Albert Latham and Frank D. Raynor, were awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal.
Keepers:
Charles R. Smith was appointed keeper in 1856 and left on an unknown date.
Daniel A. Nevens was appointed keeper on was appointed keeper on 2 JUL 1869 and left in 1875.
Charles W. Weeks (Wicks) was appointed keeper on 23 SEP 1875 and left in 1877.
Jacob B. Thurber was appointed keeper on 20 NOV 1877 and resigned on 11 JAN 1886.
George Jones was appointed keeper on 1 MAR 1886 and resigned 22 JUN 1887.
Frank Rorke was appointed keeper on 5 JUL 1887 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.