Station Sandy Hook, New Jersey
USLSS Station #1, Fourth District
Coast Guard Station #97
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Location:
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Near north end of Sandy Hook, abreast of Sandy Hook Bay, and 3/4 mile northwest of Sandy Hook Light; 40-27' 42"N x 73-59' 34"W in 1878; 40-27' 51"N x 74-00' 27"W in 1915
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Date of Conveyance:
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1848
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Station Built:
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1848
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Fate:
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Still in operation
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Remarks:
This is one of most famous life-saving stations and one of the original ones built in 1848 at a site "on bay side, one-half mile south of point of Hook." The site was changed several times through the years due to a change in land or at the request of the War Department, which owned the land. For example, the 1882 position is given as "east of main light." The station was rebuilt in 1891. Mention was made in the 1905 Annual Report that the station was improved during that year. Then in 1915, money was provided to move the buildings to a new site again. Title was unclear until it was formalized in May, 1936; the land was formally transferred to the Coast Guard on October 25, 1950. Despite changes in sites, it remained in commission until the present.
The first keeper, Aaron Brower, was appointed in 1856. Another of the firsts was Charles Patterson, appointed at the age of 41 on July 1, 1869, he served until he was removed on May 10, 1876. A record entry hints that he may have been the lighthouse keeper. John C. Patterson was appointed at the age of 41 on May 10, 1876, and served until his reassignment to Shark River station November 15, 1883. Trevonian H. Patterson followed him and served until January 1, 1908 when he resigned to enter the Revenue Cutter Service. Then came Chester A. Lippincott (January 13, 1908 until promoted to District Superintendent of the Fourth District on July 22, 1915), and Loren Tilton (acting until his appointment January 22, 1916 and served until his appointment as Assistant to the Fourth District Superintendent on February 1, 1925). Next came Elwood Butler (September 30, 1925 until his reassignment to the Avalon station on July 5, 1929). Between 1929 and 1933, the station was commanded by Chief Boatswains Mate E. Hulse. On August 1, 1933, George F. Morin was reassigned from the Cold Springs station and assumed command.
The Work Relief and Public Works Appropriation Act of 1938 provided funds for new station boats and equipment as well as for a boathouse, launchway, and bulkheading.
Keeper John C. Patterson was awarded a gold life-saving medal and surfmen John Redmond, John H. Pearce, John H. Smith, David Kittell, Henry A. Bennett and Edward Brand were awarded silver life-saving medals for their action in the rescue of the crew from the yacht Foam during a heavy onshore gale on July 27, 1885.
Throughout 1978, Coast Guard Group Sandy Hook responded to 2,275 assistant calls during 1978, saving 41 people, and assisting 4,645 other persons. The property saved was valued at over 27 million dollars. Three lives were lost from the 37-foot pilot boat Interport in a winter storm on 21 January 1978.
Photographs:
"SANDY - HOOK"; no date/photo number; photographer unknown.
Courtesy of Van Field.
"SANDY HOOK BOAT HOUSE"; no date/photo number; photographer unknown.
Courtesy of Van Field.
"U.S. COAST GUARD SANDY HOOK N.J.
STATION #97 - 1930"; no photo number; photographer unknown.
Courtesy of Van Field.
"US COAST GUARD SAND HOOK LBSTA APRIL 1962"; no photo number; photo by Herb Glick [;] Bklyn, NY".
Courtesy of Bruce S. Yetter.
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.