Station Sabine Pass, Texas
USLSS Station #1, Eighth District
Coast Guard Station #216
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Location:
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On west side of Sabine Pass, 1 1/4 miles southeast of Sabine, and 5/8 mile south of Sabine Pass Light; 29-42' 27"N x 93-51' 10"W
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Date of Conveyance:
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1879
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Station Built:
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1879
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Fate:
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Turned over to the GSA in 1955
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Remarks:
The beginnings of a shore establishment at Sabine came on March 3, 1853 when Congress made an appropriation of $30,000 "for a first class lighthouse at the mouth of the Sabine River." The light was built and first exhibited in 1857 at its present site on the Louisiana side of the channel.
The structure known as the Old Lifeboat Station was built across from the lighthouse on the Texas side of the pass and was in operation by 1879. The station was reportedly destroyed by fire in 1904 but a new station was built in its place.
During World War II the station suffered two casualties in the line of duty. On 27 March 1943 Beach Patrolman Charles C. Alford, 38, was thrown from his horse while on patrol and died of a skull fracture. On 9 December 1943 SN1 Royal J. Legendre drowned in the line of duty when he fell overboard from the station's patrol craft CG-38815.
The station was abandoned by the Coast Guard in 1954. A new station was established at the former Quarantine Station, about 0.75 miles from Old Sabine.
Keepers:
John Steward was appointed keeper in 24 SEP 1880 and died on 3 NOV 1886.
Hans J. Carlson was appointed keeper on 16 JUL 1887 and resigned on 16 AUG 1887.
Columbus Marty was appointed keeper and resigned on 6 JAN 1888.
John Dillon was appointed keeper on 10 JAN 1888 and resigned on 26 APR 1902.
Charles H. Corbel was appointed keeper on 23 MAY 1902 and resigned on 15 JAN 1906.
James F. Phillips was appointed keeper on 8 JAN 1906 and transferred to Station Galveston on 30 APR 1907.
Charles H. Corbel was appointed keeper on 7 JUN 1907 and transferred to Station San Luis on 14 JUN 1910.
Emile E. Jeko was appointed keeper on 9 JUN 1910 and was still serving in 1915.
CBM (L) Bryan Spencer was listed as the OIC in 1929.
Photographs:
Station Sabine Pass at the turn of the century.
No official caption; photo circa 1900; no photo number; photographer unknown. Provided courtesy of BMC Mark Underhill, USCG.
Small Boat Station Sabine Pass right before World War II.
"Sab[ine]; Taken from Walk."; photo dated 8-7-39; no photo number; photographer unknown.
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.