Station Southampton, New York
USLSS Station # 13, Third District
Coast Guard Station #71
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Location:
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At south end of Town Pond, 5 1/4 miles east northeast of Shinnecock Light; 40-52' 40"N x 72-22' 30"W in 1915
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Date of Conveyance
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1877
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Station Built:
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1849
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Fate:
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Abandoned in 1946
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Station Type:
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1849-Type
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Keepers:
Philetus Pierson was appointed in 1853. It is unknown when he left service.
George Herrick was appointed in 1856. It is unknown when he left service.
Charles White was appointed on JUL 1, 1869 and left the service in 1878.
Nelson Burnett was appointed on August 21, 1878 and left service in 1915.
Hervey J. Topping (acting) was appointed 1915 and was still serving in 1915.
Remarks:
Southampton (#71) This station was one of the early ones built in 1849 on a site "three-quarters of a mile south of the village." This station is mentioned as having been rebuilt and ready for reception of the crew on December 19, 1877. The exact position was changed in 1901 when a new and more desirable site was acquired; the old site was abandoned and reverted to the original grantor. (1901 Annual Report: "the Southampton Station has been moved to a location better adapted to the purposes of the Service.") Much later, the site was described as "at south end of Town Pond, south three-quarters mile of Southhampton."
The first two known keepers were Philetus Pierson (appointed 1853) and George Herrick (appointed 1856); the period of service of neither is known. Charles White was appointed at the age of 48 (best of the surfmen) on July 1, 1869, and served until some time in 1878. He was followed by Nelson Burnett (appointed August 21, 1878 until March 25, 1915 when he was retired for being over 64 years of age and having more than thirty years’ service), Hervey J. Topping (acting but never appointed as keeper during 1915) and William S. Bennett (appointed July 1, 1916 until his death May 6, 1936).
The station was listed as "discontinued as an active unit" in 1922, but was back in an operational status in 1924. In 1937 the station appeared on the discontinued list. The site was abandoned in 1946.
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.