Station Menemsha: a brief history
The United States Coast Guard traces its history back to August 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of 10 vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws and to prevent smuggling. The fleet was known variously through the 19th and early 20th centuries as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service.
A separate agency, the Life Saving Service, was created in 1878, to improve a largely volunteer network of rescue stations that assisted mariners in distress along the very busy coastlines.
In 1897, the crew of the new Gay Head Life Saving Service Station prepared for a practice drill with the so-called Cooper's Landing lifeboat. Captain Nehemiah Hayman stands at the stern. The other members are Benjamin Attaquin, Francis Manning, Everett A. Poole, Linus Jeffers, Lindley W. Mayhew and Samuel Anthony.
Photo courtesy Martha's Vineyard Museum
The U.S. Life Saving Service built a station and boathouse, which later became Coast Guard Station Gay Head, in 1895. The station building was near Gay Head Light and the boathouse on the shore west of Dogfish Bar. The first keeper was Nehemiah C. Hayman who was appointed October 4, 1895, according to a Coast Guard history of the station.
Keepers had to be "able bodied, of good character and habits, able to read and write and be under 45 years of age and a master at handling boats, especially in rough weather," according to the history.
In 1915, an act of Congress merged the Revenue Cutter Service with the Life Saving Service, creating a single maritime service, the Coast Guard, dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the transfer of the Lighthouse Service to the Coast Guard in 1939.
In 1952, the Coast Guard moved the Cuttyhunk station building to Menemsha by barge. Commissioning of the new station took place on March 12, 1954. In January, 1974, the Coast Guard officially changed the name of the station to reflect its actual location.
Captain Nehemiah Hayman (far left) and six of the crewmembers that served as surfmen during the Life Station's first year of service. From left to right: Benjamin Attaquin, Lindley W. Mayhew, Everett A. Poole, Samuel Anthony, Linus Jeffers and Francis Manning.
Photo courtesy of Station Menemsha
Captain Nehemiah Hayman and his six crewmembers along with Rex the mascot stand in front of the station house. Photo courtesy of Station Menemsha.
Life Saving Service Station Gay Head overlooked treacherous waters off the west end of Martha's Vineyard.
A photo taken in February, 1974 of Horace Devine, the last surviving surfman from the old Gay Head Station and a member of the Wampanoag Tribe, as he signed a receipt for the old station sign that was put in a museum honoring the Tribe for its contributions to the Life Saving Service. Photo courtesy of Station Menemsha
Summer 1952 a towboat enters Menemsha Creek pulling a barge carrying a Coast Guard building from Cuttyhunk destined to become the new Menemsha station.
Photo by Robert Kinnecom
Photo by Robert Kinnecom
Photo by Robert Kinnecom
Station Menemsha as it appears today.
Photo by Ralph Stewart
In a Christmas card photo taken November 24, 2008 the USCG Station Menemsha crew included, from left, BMCS Steve Barr, FSC "Mac" McGougan, BM1 Rob Bitinas, BM3 Rahjeh Wilson, FN Shannon Heinzelman, BM2 Daniel Phillips, SN Derek Perendy, BM2 Patrick Bryant, BM2 Bill Robertson, MK2 Greg Lockwood, MK3 Andy Chace, BM3 Dan Carrillo, MK3 Matt Lawson, MK3 Chris Guice, BM3 Matt Chaknis, SA Sarah Cobillas, SN Jarrett Dube, BM3 Dustin Shaw, MK1 Scott Maccafferri, SK3 Craig Kalucki, and station dog Bridger. New personnel not pictured include SN Diaz Anthony, BM3 Russell Welsh, and FN Kaycee Teramae. Photo courtesy of Station Menemsha
Old newspaper clippings provide some harrowing tales. Courtesy Wayne Iacono
Old newspaper clippings provide some harrowing tales. Courtesy Wayne Iacono
Old newspaper clippings provide some harrowing tales. Courtesy Wayne Iacono
