Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Old Shipping Days in Oswego by J. Leo Finn, 1972 This book furnished with the cooperation of The Oswego County Board of Supervisors -155- COAST GUARD STATIONS The first Life Saving Station at Oswego was a temporary one at the extreme end of the West Harbor. This location was found to be unfavorable and the Station was moved to the foot of West Fourth Street. It had a surf-boat and was made up of volunteers with the exception of a keep- er who was paid a limited sum by the Government. Captain Williams was the first keeper. In 1876 a new Station was built in Grampus Bay near the end of the east pier. John Blackburn, father of ex-Fire Chief Blackburn was named as the Stations first keeper and head of the Stations first paid crew of six men. These men received the same pay as men of the Revenue Cutter Service and their duties and pay did not begin until the opening of navigation, and ceased with its close. It was a frame structure, 24 by 48 feet, with a lookout tower. Boathouses were added after- ward. The first life-saving boats were whale boats, with air chambers in each end, each 27 feet long and 6 1/2 feet in beam, propelled with oars. The temporary Stations had been provided with two metal life boats. On December 18, 1876, the Treasury Department shipped another life saving boat to Oswego, which presented somewhat of a problem to city authorities to get the boat down to the Station, as it weighed 21,000 pounds or 10 tons, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -156- COAST GUARD STATIONS but Street Commissioner Wilcox solved the problem by unloading the boat from the flat car hitching four horses to a bridle, and dragging the boat over the snow to its destination. An iron shoe on the keel made the gliding easier and the boat was delivered to the Station without damage. The same year, new Stations were constructed and manned at Salmon River and Big Sandy, the former later to be known as the Selkirk Station and the latter to retain its original designation. The Station built at Oswego in 1876 was in danger of falling into the Lake after the breakwater broke and thus was removed on December 14, 1878, to a location at the foot of Fort Ontario near pier 6. With the retirement of Blackburn, E. E. Chaplin was named Captain in 1879 and remained in charge until 1892 when Captain Fred Anderson of the crew of Big Sandy took charge. One of his early crews consisted of Frank Hennessey; Eli Wood; Lloyd Obner; Mylie Donahue; Charlie Leonard; Merv Moss; Joseph Goodroe and Nerford Rockfellow. A new Station was built upon the same location in 1915. This site remained the location of the Station until 1943. The crew in 1915 consisted of Captain Ander- son; Mate George E. Henderson; A. V. Rockfellow; M. F. Moss; A. D. LaRock; E. J. Wilcox; Fred Dishaw; George H. Otis and E. B. DeRosier. For years, after the Oswego Life-Saving Station had been fully equipped, exhibitions of the crew in cap- sizing and righting the big life boat were a feature of every celebration. But the crew year after year, in the --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -157- COAST GUARD STATIONS days of sailing ships on the lake, had plenty of service, and performed many deeds contributing to the preservation of life and property. Each member of the crew of necessity was an expert seaman and oarsman, for on occasion, boats were hauled along highways to convenient beaches and launched through the surf, not always the easiest of under- takings, and calling for skill and good seamanship always. During World War Two, the personnel outgrew the 1915 Station and in 1943 it was necessary for the crew to move into temporary barracks set up at the foot of West Third Street. These barracks remained the home of the Coast Guard until a new and modern Station was built in 1850-52 near this site between Second and Third Streets. The contract for the main building was let to William E. Bouley Co. September 8, 1949 for $112,000. The Station was to be 88' x 52', two stories high. The material was to be brick, concrete, cement blocks and glazed tile units. Work was started in 1950. The contract for the basin north of the main building was let to the Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. The cost was to run between $150,000 and $200,000. The basin was to be 6' on the west end, 8' in the middle and 10' or more on the north side buoy dock. Contract in- cluded ramps, catwalks and other conveniences. Contract was let in 1950 and work was completed on this phase in the summer of 1951. A contract was let for the third phase of the Station to Peter Raby Contracting Co. in 1952 for a com- bination boathouse, garage and utility building joined to the main building on the east at a cost of $102,395. ===========================================================================