Station Hunniwell's Beach, Maine
Coast Guard Station #9
|
Location:
|
On west side mouth of Kennebec River; 43-45' 00"N x 69-49' 55"W
|
|
Date of Conveyance
|
1881
|
|
Station Built:
|
1883
|
|
Fate:
|
Closed on 15 October 1971
|
Remarks:
The act of May 4, 1882 authorized the establishment of a complete life-saving station at or near Hunniwell’s Beach, Maine. Also called the Hunnewell’s Beach Station, this station was built on the "west side mouth Kennebec River" in 1883. The station was repaired and improved in 1889 as well as moved "on account of encroachments of the sea." In 1921, a contract was awarded for repair and remodeling of the station building and repairs and extension of the launchway.
The station was still listed as an active station after the war in 1945. It was closed, however, on October 15, 1971.
Keepers:
The first keeper, John H. Haley, was appointed on October 29, 1883 and resigned January 8, 1891. He was followed by John H. Spinney (January 5, 1891 and died "from disease contracted in line of duty" on November 19, 1909) and Harvey J. Berry (January 7, 1910 until his retirement on March 31, 1926). Next came Chief Petty Officers W. E. Sprague (1927) and E. H. Godfrey (1931). Next listed is Rollo A. Morton, having been reassigned from the Fletchers Neck station on May 11, 1933. Morton retired on August 1, 1936.
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.