Station Mecox, New York
Formerly Bridgehampton
USLSS Station #12, Third District
Coast Guard Station #70
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Location:
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On ocean side of Long Island, between Stag Pond and Mecox Bay, 8 3/4 miles east northeast of Shinnecock Light; 40-54' 10"N x 72-18' 00"W
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Date of Conveyance:
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1876
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Station Built:
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1849
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Fate:
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Abandoned in 1950
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Remarks:
This station was built in 1849 "two miles south of the village of Bridgehampton;" until June 1, 1883, it was referred to as the Bridgehampton station in the records. The the 1878 Annual Report, this station is described as having been rebuilt and ready for reception of the crew on December 8, 1877. In 1880, a nearby site was acquired for a relief boathouse and, shortly thereafter, a board of survey recommended that the old station building be moved to the new site as well. The station was placed in a discontinued status in 1924, but was back as an active station in 1925; by this time its position was "between Stag Pond and Mecox Bay, south two miles of Bridgehampton." By 1934, the station was again discontinued as an active unit and it remained so until World War II. Nevertheless, in 1937, the officer in charge is shown as Chief R. C. Miller.
Keepers:
The first known keeper was John W. Hedges, who was appointed in 1853 and remained for an unknown period of time. Next came Samuel J. Hildreth who seems to have served only during an unknown period in 1872. Then followed Baldwin Cook (age 39, he served from February 1, 1873 through March 3, 1886), John N. Hedges (March 27, 1886 until March 25, 1915 when he was retired because he was more than 64 years old), and Edward Arnold (acting until his appointment October 15, 1915 until his relief by retirement because of incapacity December 15, 1921).
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 Unpublished manuscript, compiled circa 1977, CG Historian’s Office collection.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.