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Saving a
Lifesaving Station. EverythingWestport.com Wednesday,
December 23, 2009 View the dedication photo album now 92 photos | Dial-up speed |
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Left: State
Representative Michael Rodrigues presents to WFA President Jack Reynolds a plaque-mounted
copy of the signed act granting a 25-year lease to the WFA. The
Westport Fishermen’s Association showcased the Lifesaving Station’s
renovations in an open house on Saturday, November 29, 2008. Scores of people
took an interest in the restoration project. Lifesaving Station No. 69 once
so responsible for rescuing shipwrecked lives is now itself being saved. “We
have made good progress, but there is still much to be done,” Chip Gillespie
said. “This is a special part of Westport’s seafaring history,” said Howard
Gifford, member. Read the story with pictures now! However, the lesser-known story of how this
historic building was originally shielded from the wrecking ball is somewhat
more fascinating than the process of its resurrection. It is devastating to
think how precariously close we come to permanently losing this important
link in Westport’s maritime history. Mary
Schmidt, long-time Westport resident and more recently of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, took title at auction on the dilapidated buildings in 1993 and
began renovations to convert the hodgepodge complex
into a residence with an additional apartment upstairs in what is now known
to be the original life saving station. Schmidt bought the rundown property including
an additional cottage and bar/restaurant (formerly called Andy’s) to clean up
the area as she “lived just three doors down.”
Left: renovations completed in time for ceremonial
opening of the Lifesaving Station Museum. Right: property before renovations
on May 1, 2007.
The retired Horseneck Point Lifesaving Station with an
added wrap-around porch can be seen in the center, circa 1920s. Mary Schmidt’s money
pit. Schmidt
moved into the corner complex and started work on the properties, focusing first
on the bar/restaurant building, which she named The Beachcomber, and her
quarters. But
trouble soon began. “I
ran the bar the first year,” Schmidt recalls. “But then I learned how
expensive it would be to bring the buildings up to code, and found out the
septic system had failed, requiring a new upgrade to accommodate all three
properties. When the water system was not accepted by the Department of
Environmental Management (now known as the Department of Conservation and
Recreation), well that was the last straw.” “I
had invested tens of thousands of dollars into the upkeep and renovation of
those buildings,” Schmidt said, “and now I was out of money.” “I
was talking to the Horseneck Beach supervisor at the time about selling the
property, and he got excited about a possible state acquisition as it would
grant the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) access to Buzzards Bay
east of Gooseberry Island.” But
the state had no appetite at that time, and even less money, for buying
beachfront recreational property. But she submitted her proposal nonetheless.
Later,
under then Governor Paul Cellucci, a politically-procured bond issue came
through for acquiring recreational property and Schmidt’s land and buildings,
being first on the list, were accepted. The DEM took ownership of the property in
1998.
From the left: (1) Renee Dufour, DCR South East
District Manager; (2) Warren Messier, Westport Community Preservation
Committee Chairman; (3) John Galluzzo, United States National Life saving
Service Heritage Association with WFA President Jack Reynolds; and (4)
Jennifer Gelinas, WFA Project Coordinator. Schmidt ignites the
cause. When
Schmidt bought the beachfront property she became aware that the corner
building complex may have been a life saving station. She had been told by a
few neighbors that they thought she had bought a lifesaving station, but town
officials were only able to tell her that the building “was down there
somewhere.” She had Westport Shorelines write an article seeking information,
but got no response. Eventually,
she took matters into her own hands and went to Boston to check with The
Humane Society (no association with animal welfare organizations), and
contacted a few people knowledgeable about lifesaving stations, inquiring
about where they thought the building may have been located. Schmidt did a
lot of research. She even found an 1895 map of Westport that clearly marked
the location of the lifesaving station. Click here to find out more
about the history of The Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Visit the Humane
Society’s historical archive now. Eventually
her efforts paid off, and she obtained an historic designation from the Westport
Historical Commission. A plaque for her building followed. Schmidt
had inquired of the state about obtaining grant money to assist in the
restoration of the historic building. Her inability to produce a photograph
or picture of the original lifesaving station stopped that effort cold in its
tracks. Meanwhile
Schmidt turned the peaked corner building into an environmental center called
The Edge, in which 16 environmental groups participated, one of which was the
Westport Fishermen’s Association. During her rehabilitation of the corner
complex, it became clear where the original lifesaving station was sited. “The
Department of Conservation and Recreation (formerly the DEM) did not operate or maintain buildings
on their land,” Schmidt said. “In that spirit, when they purchased my
property they tore down the cottage because of an asbestos-related issue, and
tore down the bar/restaurant building. The site of the lifesaving station
could have just as easily been torn down, but the DCR was cautious about the
historic nature of the building. They were open to leasing it to a
non-profit.” “In my casual conversations with the Westport
Fishermen’s Association they seemed to take an interest in leasing the
lifesaving station.” Schmidt donated
$1000 of her own money to enable the fishermen’s group to repair the shingled
roof. Money was raised
and grants were found to enable the restoration project to move towards
completion. WESTPORT — The
check is definitely not in the mail, but the Westport Fishermen's Association
(WFA) and the Westport Community Preservation Committee are holding a signed
IOU from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) promising
to "match" the $20,000 in CPA funds appropriated this year for the
Horseneck Beach Lifesaving Station No. 69 restoration project. Providing an update
on the restoration work to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC)
Thursday night, Jack Reynolds of the WFA handed over a copy of a letter from
a DCR grants coordinator, pledging "matching funds" if the WFA
submits the proper paperwork to the agency.
More. The restoration of Westport’s historic Lifesaving
Station at Horseneck Point got a major boost
today when the Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation
awarded it $60,000 in matching funds as part of its partnership grant
program. The building is located on property owned by the DCR and leased to
the Westport Fishermen's Association. More. With the help of State Representative
Michael Rodrigues and State Senator Joan Menard, the WFA was able to sign a five-year lease on the
building for the purpose of restoring the Lifesaving Station. Lifesaving Station
moved in 1894
Originally
the station was one of many such stations constructed along the rugged
Massachusetts coast by The Massachusetts Humane Society which was concerned
about the needless deaths resulting from shipwrecks and drowning, and wanted
to find ways to save lives. The Massachusetts Humane Society, organized 1786,
was the model for the Life-Saving Service begun on August 14, 1848, and
funded first by Congress in 1871. The Horseneck Point Lifesaving Station No.
69 became a link in the coastal chain of stations of the U.S. Life-Saving
Service. In 1915 the U.S. Life-Saving Service merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the United
States Coast Guard. Click here to read more about the U.S Life-Saving
Service. In 1894, the station was moved
to its present location between East and West Beach near the present day
Gooseberry causeway. This new location has mistakenly been called Horseneck
Point, but in fact Horseneck Point was where the first Lifesaving Station was
located (Ref. U.S. Geological Survey Map 1939 – 1940, revised in 1951). The new location provided two launch sites (either
side of Gooseberry Island) and closer access to the treacherous Hens and
Chicks and other deadly reefs and rocks that claimed so many vessels off
Westport’s coastline.
Lifesaving
boats, or surfboats as they were called, faced many dangers while attempting
rescues in heavy, choppy surf, with high winds and freezing spray. Many surfmen
volunteers were lost attempting nighttime rescues in winter gales; after all,
yesterday’s sailing vessels experienced very few difficulties in clear skies
and calm seas! Check
out this video on the danger surfboats face in rescuing lives! “There
have been no documented rescues from Lifesaving Station No. 69,” said Chip
Gillespie, “but we’re still searching the archives. Many records were lost in
a big fire at The Humane Society’s headquarters.” The Humane Society’s
records are now stored in the Massachusetts Historical Society’s archives. Click here to review a brief
chronology of the Lifesaving Station.
PDF State and local dignitaries
praise WFA efforts at museum opening. Massachusetts
State Representative, Mike Rodrigues, Massachusetts Department of
Conservation and Recreation South East District Manager, Renee Dufuor,
Community Preservation Committee Chairman, Warren Messier and John Galluzzo,
the Executive Director for the United States Life
Saving Service Heritage Association all spoke on behalf of the project. “Their
collaboration with the WFA association and their efforts to help restore this
piece of local history is what made it possible for the WFA to make the
project happen,” Jennifer Gelinas, WFA Project Manager said. State
Representative, Mike Rodrigues was on hand to present a mounted parchment
copy of the legislation signed by the Governor. State legislation was
required to grant the WFA a 25-year lease, with possible extensions of
10-years, to maintain and support the buildings. “The DCR doesn’t grant
long-term leases,” Rodrigues said. “The passage of this act was required, and
passage was a major effort by all involved including State Senator Joan
Menard, myself, the DCR, and the cooperation and diligence of the WFA in
securing funds for the restoration.” Michael
Rodrigues, D-Westport, filed House Bill 4351 on November 18, 2009 with
Governor Deval Patrick signing it at 6:22 p.m. on November 23. Click here to read the bill. PDF “The
WFA is truly grateful for their generous support,” WFA President Jack
Reynolds said. Chip
Gillespie, a local Westport architect and WFA volunteer who spent much time
researching and promoting the restoration of the Horseneck Point Lifesaving
Station as well as providing his architectural skills, was presented with a stunning
inlaid table handmade by WFA member Tom Perkins.
From the left: (1) Chip Gillespie holding up his table
handmade by WFA member Tom Perkins; (2) Howie Gifford (center) sharing a
quiet moment with David Cole; (3) the lifesaving station’s first
‘keeper’ George L. Manchester; and (4) it was shoulder to shoulder, standing
room only during the ceremonial dedication. “We
would like to recognize and give special thanks for the dedication, passion
and tireless efforts of Architect Chip Gillespie, and the LSS Project
Chairman and Board Director Howard Gifford for all they have contributed to
see this project to completion,” Jennifer Gelinas said. The
WFA arranged to have a couple of boy scouts from Troop 63 help them raise the
American flag for the first time in celebration of the completion of the
restoration. After the flag was raised to signify the public opening of the
Station and Visitor Center, the board of directors installed the historic
boat on its beautifully built wagon (handmade by WFA member Howie Gifford)
into the station where it will stay for future visitors to come and see.
From left to right: (1) scouts from Troop 63 assisted
in raising the American flag, signifying the opening of the station and
museum; (2) WFA board members formally install the surfboat into the station;
(3) documents, such as the this 1906 Humane Society Payment Ledger are on
display in the museum; and (4) professional exhibits display many artifacts
and memorabilia from The Humane Society’s lifesaving stations’ past. The
Lifesaving Station’s museum is richly decorated with historical memorabilia and
artifacts depicting lifesaving scenes, period pictures and related documents,
and copies of historical records taken The Humane Society’s archives now maintained
by the Massachusetts Historical Society. The surfboat is currently on long-term loan from Mystic Seaport
in Connecticut. “They finally agreed to let us have this boat for the long
term, provided Cuttyhunk didn’t want it back,” Gillespie said. “Originally,
the surfboat belonged to the Cuttyhunk Life Saving Station and Humane
Society. With the completion of the boathouse restoration done, we’ll move
the boat in there today.” Lifesaving Station’s lantern returns home.
Mr. James Panos of Westport donated to the
Westport Historical Society the hanging brass oil lantern (once converted to
electric but now restored) that was given to him by Henry Brown of Rhode
Island, an avid collector of antiques. Brown found two lanterns in a Maine
barn. In a chance meeting with Panos at a conservation group get-together,
the two struck up a conversation and the rest is history. Brown authenticated
that it was indeed an original lantern that hung in Life Saving Station No.
69. The lantern is now on loan to the Life
Saving Station Museum by the Westport Historical Society. Weather
station, including WIFI webcams, brings hi-tech to No. 69!
The
association also plans to have webcams mounted on the station’s adjoining
telephone pole to provide a streaming, online view on their website of
weather conditions over Gooseberry Island. According
to the Association they also have weather warning flags to fly from the flag pole.
“We have all the weather flags, in fact we recently flew gale flags for three
straight days,” Mr. Reynolds said. “We have the double squares for a
hurricane too; hope we don’t have to use them.”
Left: Mary Schmidt and
contractor Shawn Brisson at the dedication. Right: Shawn Brisson and his
helper Kevin of Custom Building and Remodeling are finishing up the
ornamental cupola that now perches on top of the newly-restored Lifesaving
Station No. 69. View the dedication photo album now 92 photos | Dial-up speed |
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Winslow Homer print titled ‘The Wreck’ painted in 1880
depicts the launch of a surf boat in a life saving operation while a crowd
looks on. This framed print hangs in the Lifesaving Station Museum, courtesy
of Chip Gillespie. - - - - - End - - -
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