Station Long Beach, New York
Also referred to as Long Beach, west end
USLSS Station #3, Third District
Coast Guard Station #90
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Location:
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On the north side of Atlantic Beach, 3/4 mile northeast of breakwater and 13-1/2 miles east northeast of Romer Shoal Light; 40-35' 03" N x 73-39' 09"W in 1878; 40-35' 10"N x 73-40' 45"W in 1915.
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Date of Conveyance
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1849
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Station Built:
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1849
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Fate:
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Original station destroyed by fire on 9 December 1917; the rebuilt station was closed in 1939.
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Remarks:
This station was first built in 1849; the early position given was "near west end of Long Beach." In fact, the 1882 listing carries the station as being called "Long Beach, west end" and it position as "near Lucy’s Inlet." Later this was "abreast of Lawrence, near west end of Long Beach." The original site was apparently abandoned; in 1888 a new site was acquired and the station was rebuilt in 1890. On 9 December 1917 a fire destroyed this building. In 1921, a contract was awarded to construct a new station building and accessories on a new site.
Captain Charles G. Jacobi recently wrote regarding the station's various locations listed in this "official" history:
The first station's early position, listed as "near the west end of Long Beach" seems to be contradicted by some early maps. Also, the 1882 name of the station "Long Beach west end" and "near Lucy's Inlet" seems to be contradictory, as Luce's Inlet (not Lucy's as your website states) was in the east of Long Beach. I'm wondering if that might actually refer to the Point Lookout Station, which on your website is mentioned as being called Long Beach East and would have been open in this year. "Until changed by Treasury Department Circular No. 41, effective June 1, 1883, this station is called "Long Beach east end station" and its position is "two miles west of Jones Inlet." Subsequent to 1883, it is called Point Lookout and the position is two miles west of New Inlet. That position would be almost right on top of where Luce's Inlet once cut thru. The later location of the Long Beach station "abreast of Lawrence, near west end of Long Beach" is supported by maps which show a station in that general location. I have a number of old map scans on a website I run which clearly show various positions of the "old" and "new" Life Saving Stations in Long Beach. Starting with the 6th map on this page [www.homestead.com/lbny/LongBeachMaps] you can see where the mapmakers placed the stations over the years.
Thanks to Captain Jacobi for this information.
Keepers:
The first keeper was Oliver S. Denton who was appointed in 1856; it is not known when he left. Next was Charles Wright, who had experience as a surfman and a wrecker, and who was appointed at the age of 40 on July 2, 1869; he was removed on January 5, 1875. Next was Henry F. Johnson (appointed January 5, 1875, and serving until April 17, 1886), Richard Van Wicklen (May 19, 1886 until his dismissal May 3, 1906), B. Frank Langdon (November 30, 1906 until his retirement with thirty years’ service November 25, 1916), Israel Van Nostrand (reassigned from the Gilgo station April 4, 1917 until his retirement with thirty years’ service on October 5, 1921), George Frederick Morin (reassigned from the Lone Point station on October 24, 1921 and served until his reassignment to the Rockaway Point station on January 24, 1923) and William B. Tooker (reassigned from Zachs Inlet station January 24, 1923 until his reassignment to the Fire Island station April 14, 1924). William Tooker was back from Fire Island on January 4, 1925 and served until his reassignment to the Blue Point station September 6, 1927. Then followed Chief Boatswains Mate G. M. Schellenger (until his reassignment to the Office of the Southern Inspector on December 13, 1935-he was commissioned as a warrant officer October 11, 1930). The last assigned commanding officer was Hubert B. Tuttle, who was reassigned from the Squan Beach station on December 2, 1935 and served until his reassignment to the Quogue station on February 11, 1939.
The station was still in commission at the outbreak of World War II, but no keepers after Tuttle are identified.
Crew:
Edward Austin, Surfman: 1 December 1897 - 30 September 1912
Melvin Austin, Oarsman: 20 January 1913 - 31 August 1917
Photographs:
"Coast Guard Station No. 90, Long Beach, N.Y.; built in 1889 (R.J.L.); destroyed by fire, Dec. 9th, 1917, (R.J.L.)."; photo dated 24 September 1917; no photo number; photographer unknown.
"Sta. 90 (Long Beach) Sept. 27, 1921, 'New Site' north front of station building."; 1921; Photo No. 90/9; photographer unknown.
[This photo shows the station when it was located near present-day New York Avenue and Reynold’s channel before the station was decommissioned and the building moved by barge to East Rockaway Inlet.]
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.