CHRONOLOGY OF THE HORSENECK POINT LIFESAVING STATION

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CHRONOLOGY OF THE HORSENECK POINT LIFESAVING STATION

Developed by the Westport Fisherman’s Association, Westport, MA

1785 Massachusetts Humane Society formed in Boston by a group of citizens concerned about loss of life due to shipwrecks and drownings. With the age of sail, marginal charts and aids to navigation, ship groundings were common.

1787 First hut of refuge erected in Scituate on beach for shipwreck survivors.

1848 The U. S. Lifesaving Service is founded and starts erecting small lifesaving

stations along the coasts of the United States.

1871 Humane Society by now has a large network of lifesaving stations and huts

of refuge along the coast of Massachusetts.

1871 U.S. Lifesaving Service is re-organized and begins erecting large, manned life

saving stations in different parts of the country. The two organizations co-exist

for many years.

1876 Frederick Burden “Burt” Head settles in Westport on East Beach and builds his

Rooming house for duck hunters.

1887 “Sand-Catcher” timber and stone jetty built at west end of Horseneck Beach at

harbor entrance. Repaired and extended 1891, and again in 1923 and 1924.

Westport Map

1888 The Westport Lifesaving Station is erected in Westport Point (harbor entrance) and George Manchester, former Captain of the whaler Kate Cory, is appointed first keeper at the age of 64. The station houses one lifeboat named “Westport”, built by George Lawley and Son of Boston.

1888 On August 25^th, Sarah Turner rescues survivors of the wrecked yacht Bobaway

off Westport Harbor and is awarded a gold lifesaving medal in 1889 (event not

confirmed, due to loss of records, as of December 28, 2009).

1894 The bridge from Westport Point over to Horseneck Beach is completed.

1894 The 32’ by 16’ lifesaving station is moved in to its current location at Horse Neck

Point. Frederick Burdon “Burt” Head is appointed the second keeper of the

station.

1905 George Manchester, the first keeper, dies. In the winter of 1905, there is a major

marine disaster off Horseneck Beach, no records to date.

1908 HSM inspector notes that the boat is a poor model, too heavy, but in good

condition. He also notes that the station was moved in January 1894 to its

present location, saying the original location was “ a very poor place for a

boat.” He further notes that the station was painted in 1899, new posts installed

in August of 1908, along with two new lanterns and a “penalty sign”.

1911 Burt Head attends the Humane Society Annual Keepers Meeting in Marblehead

and has his picture taken with all the other keepers.

1913 HSM Annual Report for 1913-1914 shows the station no longer in operation.

1915 The U. S. Lifesaving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service are combined to

form the U. S. Coast Guard. As the Coast Guard focuses more on the coast, the

Humane Society gradually shifts its lifesaving mission inland to lakes and rivers.

1920’s The Horseneck Point Station appears in post cards as a restaurant

with the addition of dormers and a wrap-around porch. This is Ali Aberdeen’s

Ali’s Restaurant.

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1922 Causeway out to Gooseberry Island built by Mass. DPW, upgraded in 1943.

1938 Burt Head drowns in the 1938 hurricane which devastates East Beach with the

exception of lifesaving station building and a handful of houses at Horseneck

Point. The “sand-catcher” jetty is knocked over by the storm. Parts of it are still visible today at low tide.

1940 The triangular building at the corner of East Beach Road and West Beach Road

is built, functioning, among others things as a neighborhood bar, clam shack, ice

cream parlor, and more recently as The Edge, an environmental center for

visitors. Various additions over the years have connected the triangular building

and the lifesaving saving station, the complex serving up until recently as a

summer cottage.

1952 John and Gertrude Vessella buy Ali’s restaurant and continue under that name.

1954 Hurricane Carol carries away garage outbuilding with Mr. Vessella’s car inside.

1966 The Vassellas put the restaurant up for sale, and the restaurant use ends.

1992 The lifesaving station building goes up for auction.

1993 Mary Schmidt takes title on the building and begins renovations.

1998 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts assumes ownership of the building

and surrounding property.

2007 The Westport Fishermen’s Association signs a five-year lease on the building for

the purpose of restoring the Lifesaving Station.

2008 First Phase of Renovation begins.

2009 Renovations of Lifesaving Station and Visitors’ Center completed with museum

opening ceremony on December 12, 2009. 25-year lease as enacted by the state

legislature is signed by Governor Deval Patrick.

Horseneck Point-Final Rendering

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