Station Straitsmouth, Massachusetts
Formerly-Station Davis Neck & Gap Cove
USLSS Station #2, Second District
Coast Guard Station #22
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Location:
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Near Annisquam Light; 42-40' 03"N x 70-40' 03"W in 1878; 1/2 mile west of Straitsmouth Light, 42-39' 30"N x 70-49' 00"W in 1915.
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Date of Conveyance
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(?)
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Station Built:
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1874; 1899-1900 (see remarks below)
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Fate:
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Turned over to the GSA in 1964
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Davis Neck / Gap Cove / Straitsmouth (#22):
This station was originally established at, and called, Davis Neck in 1874. It may have been abandoned for some time around 1882-83 (the 1883 listing still carried the station as Davis Neck). The act of May 4, 1882 authorized the establishment of a complete life-saving station on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, and in 1889, the station appeared at a new site at Gap Cove and the name ‘changed to Gap Cove. The name Straitsmouth came into use in effective July 1, 1902. Two early site descriptions are "near Annisquam Light" in 1878, and "on Cape Ann, west one-half mile of Straitsmouth light" in 1900. A note in the 1900 Annual Report mentions that the "old station at Davis Neck, Massachusetts, which was not suitable for further use, on account of dilapidation and inadequacy to the present needs of the Service, has been replaced by a new structure."
The station was still listed as active until July 1964. The property was turned over to the GSA.
Keepers:
The first Keeper was Jabez Marchant, Jr., who was appointed at the age of 35, with twenty years experience as a surfman, on October 15, 1874 and who resigned January 4, 1896. Next was Charles A. Bearse, appointed February 3, 1896, and re-appointed as Keeper of the new station on August 31, 1900. Next came Frank E. Aublin, acting until his appointment on November 12, 1915 (his departure was unmarked). Robert F. Pierce was reassigned from Station Orleans on July 6, 1921 and he retired with thirty years service on December 11, 1923. He was replaced by Chief Boatswain’s Mate George A. Joseph on January 1, 1924. CBM Joseph transferred to Station Point Allerton on October 18, 1927 and was replaced by CBMJohn J. Glynn, who came from Station North Scituate, with his effective date-of-command being October 15, 1927. Chief Glynn returned to his previous command on June 20, 1932. He exchanged places with CBM S. H. Cobbett. Chief Glynn returned on July 20, 1934 and remained until July 18, 1935 when he went to Station City Point. He was followed by Everett M. Mills, who was reassigned from Station White Head on July 12, 1935 and went to the Station Brant Point on November 4, 1937.
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.