Station Jones Beach, New York
Also known as Jones Beach, east end
USLSS Station #28, Third District
Coast Guard Station #86
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Location:
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"On east end of Jones Beach, 6 3/8 miles west of Fire Island Light."
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Date of Conveyance:
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Station Built:
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1871
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Fate:
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Decommissioned in 1949? Station Short Beach was rebuilt and renamed as Station Jones Beach in 1990. It is located at West End Boat Basin, Jones Beach State Park in Freeport, New York.
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Remarks:
Station Jones Beach was established in 1871. In late 1877 a hurricane knocked the station off its foundation and nearly swept it into the sea. The 1878 Annual Report described the event:
"soon after the opening of the active season, the station at Jones’ Beach, and its occupants, barely escaped destruction. As soon as the storm began its havoc the keeper perceived the danger and immediately took the only course possible. He hurriedly removed the boats and apparatus to a place of safety, and with an old sail and his oars, having built a hut in a neighboring beach hill, by burrowing under its lee, he abandoned the house and quartered his crew in the improvised station. The house was soon after torn from its foundation and tumbled into the surf. With great exertion the keeper and crew succeeded in anchoring it with a line taken through the upper windows and thus prevented its being carried away altogether. The storm having abated, the many tons of sand which had been driven into the house were shoveled out and the building was, as soon as possible, re-established upon a new site. In doing this, great care was taken to render the underpinning strong and secure. The erection of the station and necessary repairs had just been completed, and the building re-occupied by the crew, when another and more violent tempest and surf came on. The property had not all been returned into the house, and so suddenly did the sea gather proportions, that the crew, who were at dinner, had barely time to save such of the equipment as were there, and abandon the station, before it was lifted bodily from its foundation and borne half a mile away. The foundation itself, which consisted of heavy cedar posts, eight feet in length, braced and bolted together in the most thorough manner, and buried in the ground, was wrenched up and landed by the sea at least a mile distant from its placed, and singularly enough to almost the very spot which was afterwards found, in view of the changed outline of the coast, to be the most desirable site for the relocation of the station."
In 1882, the station was referred to as "Jones’ Beach, east end," which was also one of its earliest names. By 1925, the position was described as "on Jones Beach, two miles west from east end." The station was extensively repaired and improved in 1888. In 1931, it was proposed to move and rebuild this station. The station was badly damaged in the hurricane which swept the Atlantic coast in September of 1938.
Station Short Beach was rebuilt and renamed as Station Jones Beach in 1990. It is located at West End Boat Basin, Jones Beach State Park in Freeport, New York.
The first known keeper was Augustus C. Wicks, appointed at the age of 37 on December 9, 1872; he had experience as a wrecker and fisherman. Early keepers included George S. Weyant (appointed from acting status January 15, 1916 until his reassignment to the Eatons Neck station November 2, 1922), Joseph E. Jacobs (reassigned from Tiana station May 1, 1924 until his reassignment to Bellport station May 28, 1925) and James S. Baker (reassigned from Bellport station May 27, 1925, he returned to Bellport April 11, 1926). Then two chief petty officers were assigned: E. R. Burch (1928) and G. G. Goddard (1930). In 1931, the position of keeper or officer in charge was vacant and remained so until Chief Petty Officer C. 0. Gray was assigned in 1934. Then Chief Warrant Officer H. R. Daniels, newly commissioned, was assigned December 2, 1935 and remained until June 8, 1937 when he was reassigned to the Bellport station. After that, the position remained vacant even though the station remained on the active list through World War II and disappeared from the listing of stations in April 1949.
Keepers:
Augustus C. Wicks: appointed December 9, 1872
Stephen Austin: served as keeper circa 1900 - 1913.
George S. Weyant: appointed from acting status January 15, 1916 until his reassignment to the Eatons Neck station November 2, 1922.
Joseph E. Jacobs: reassigned from Tiana station May 1, 1924 until his reassignment to Bellport station May 28, 1925.
James S. Baker: reassigned from Bellport station May 27, 1925, he returned to Bellport April 11, 1926.
E. R. Burch: assigned in 1928.
G. G. Goddard: assigned in 1930.
1931-1934: OIC position was vacant.
Chief Petty Officer C. O. Gray: assigned in 1934.
Chief Warrant Officer H. R. Daniels: December 2, 1935 and remained until June 8, 1937.
Photographs:
"Sta. 86 (Jones Beach), Sept. 24, 1921, west end and south (ocean) side of sta. building; out building & barn at left."; 1921; Photo No. 86/1; photographer unknown.
"Sta. 86 (Jones Beach), Sept. 24, 1921, east front sta. building.; out building & barn at left; no shown on view."; 1921; Photo No. 86/2; photographer unknown.
"Jones Beach L B Sta, 1941."; photo dated 1941, filed 3 July 1945; no photo number; photo by USCG Intelligence Photo Lab, New York."
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.