Following Memorial Day service, Monmouth Beach residents got a first look at the newly restored Monmouth Beach Cultural Center, a hub for social activities in town. Photo by Chris Rotolo.
Welcome to Life Lines the monthly newsletter for our members, and also to anyone reading this that has not yet become a member of the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association. For those of you reading and have yet to join, please consider doing so. Your membership will get you access to the station inventory link and our new venture to create a “Surfmans’ Data Base.” If you would like to join please go to https://uslife-savingservice.org/join-donate-support/.
Publications Now Available as Print-on-Demand
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The two books that the USLSSHA produced are now available by print-on-demand at lulu.com. Search for either “They Had to Go Out” or “Rescue: The Stories of the U.S. Life-Saving Service” edited by John Galluzzo. If you have not added these two books to your library here is your chance to do so.
Restoration of the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center
Photo courtesy of the Monmouth Facebook Page
In September 2016, a fire caused by a still burning cigarette mistakenly discarded into the mulch at the front of the property—destroyed the Cultural Center’s front corridor and the items of historical significance within. There was smoke damage throughout the building. Following a 20-month rehabilitation project after a fire tore through the first floor of the facility in September 2016, nearly 200 residents joined local government officials and members of the United States Coast Guard unit stationed at nearby Sandy Hook for a flag ceremony. To read more about this event read the following link: http://tworivertimes.com/monmouth-beach-cultural-center-reopens-after-fire-renovation/
Ocean City U.S. Life Saving Station 30 opens after restoration
Photo Credit: Claire Lowe / Staff Writer, Press of Atlantic City
More than a century after it first opened, U.S. Life Saving Station 30 re-opened Memorial Day after nearly a decade of restoration. The rehabilitation project began in 2010, when a private owner tried to sell the property to a developer and the city intervened after public outcry.
In July, the City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city to go out to bid for the third phase of the project, funded by Hurricane Sandy restoration funds, various matching grants, donations and city money. To learn more about this story, go to this link on The Press of Atlantic City site.
National Guard Repairs Seawall at Wood Island
Photo Credit: Don Gargano
The Maine Army National Guard took on the challenge of Wood Island Station restoration as a training exercise. They have accomplished their mission. The north seawall is in place. The historic shed is built. The rough electrical and plumbing is done.
The project was larger in scope and complexity than anyone expected. Thankfully the National Guard was there. No chance to accomplish these goals without them. All work completed in only 30 days.
There were 60 men and women working hard for 30 straight days, moving 400 tons of concrete poured on the island. In addition, 400 tons of precast concrete blocks brought to the island, 600 tons of rock placed behind the new wall. In total, approximately 1400 tons moved by the 85 foot landing craft. To read more check out the web page at www.woodislandlifesaving.org.
Nags Head, North Carolina Annual Conference Additional Information
The Annual Conference reservation system is now online at the website. Please check out the itinerary (https://uslife-savingservice.org/annual-conference/2018-annual-meeting-itinerary/), there are a number of stations that we will see as a group during the conference. The last count was 9 during the conference dates October 11-13, 2018.
The current USCG station at Oregon Inlet will also be providing our group with a tour of their station as well. The planning committee has contacted federal, state, local non-profits, businesses, and private owners who have all graciously invited our group to stop by for a tour, or just stop and take photos and come by later to shop or have dinner in their businesses.
The Annual Conference of the United States U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association will be held in Nags Head, North Carolina from Thursday, October 11 through Saturday, October 13, 2018. The cost for the full conference is $190 including the annual dinner, and daily rates are $75 for each day plus add $50 if you want to attend the annual dinner. The annual dinner will be held at the Black Pelican Restaurant which is the former 1874 Kitty Hawk Life-Saving Station.
UNITED STATES LIFE-SAVING SERVICE HERITAGE ASSOCIATION
October 2018 Annual Conference Itinerary
Nags Head, North Carolina
Wednesday, October 10
OPTIONAL Pre Conference Trip: Noon to 2 p.m.: Open House at Wash Woods Station—USCG 1917. Meet at Pre-determined place. Sign up has passed for this optional visit.
4 to 6 pm. Board of Directors’ Meeting, Comfort Inn, Nags Head
Thursday, October 11th, 2018
8:30 am: Registration and Presentations at the Comfort Inn, Neptune Room, Nags Head
- James Charlet – “Outer Banks Maritime History and the USLSS”
- Donna Weathers – “A Day in the Life of a Surfman on the Outer Banks”
- Danny Couch – “Overview of the Outer Banks USLSS Families and Shipwrecks”
Noon: Box lunch provided
1:00 pm: Board Bus for afternoon tours
- Tour of Wright Brothers National Memorial with presentation
- Private tour of Kitty Hawk LSS #7 by owner JoAnn Mantz
- Stop at Sanderling Resort to see Caffey’s Inlet LSS #5
- Private tour of Kill Devil Hills LSS #13 by Doug Twiddy of Twiddy and Company
6:00 pm: Return to Hotel. Dinner on your own
Friday, October 12th, 2018
8:15 am: Board Bus at Comfort Inn for the day’s tours
- Bodie Inlet Station, Outside Photos
- USCG Tour of modern Oregon Inlet Station
- Private Tour of Historic Oregon Inlet Station
- Private Tour of Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station with Breeches Buoy Demonstration
Noon: Box lunch provided
- Pea Island Station built in 1931, Outside Photos
- NPS tour Tour Little Kinnakeet Life-Saving Station
- Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Tour
6:00 pm: Return to Hotel. Dinner on your own
Saturday, October 13th, 2018
9:00 am: USLSSHA Annual Business Meeting at Comfort Inn, Neptune Room
10:00 am: Carpool to Manteo for the day’s tours and presentations
- Outer Banks History Center Tour
Noon: Box lunch provided
1:00 pm: “Freedmen, Surfmen, Heroes” Live presentation, North Carolina Aquarium
- James Melvin’s Paintings, Station Pea Island, led by artist, autograph opportunity
- Capt. Richard Etheridge Family Gravesite tour
- Pea Island Station Descendants Storytelling
- Pea Island Cookhouse Museum, Collins Park
5:00 pm: Return to Hotel
6:30 – 9:00pm: Social time, dinner and auction at Black Pelican restaurant in the Kitty Hawk Station 1874
Fifteen rooms are being held for the conference at the Comfort Inn South Oceanfront Hotel, Nags Head, NC. Five rooms are being held for each of the following 3 prices: 2 double beds, ocean side $159.00/night; 2 double beds, sound side $109.00/night; king bed, ocean side $159.00/night. Add tax for all rooms. Reservations must be made by September 10, 2018. Call the front desk, 252-441-6315, and say you are attending the meeting of the US Life-Saving Service Heritage Association. BOOK NOW! More than half of the rooms have already been reserved!!
Register online: www.uslife-savingservice.org
If you have a story to submit for the next Life Lines please contact us through our website.
https://uslife-savingservice.org/contact/
Also consider joining the Life Lines staff. We are now four and more are welcome to join us. If you wanted to have a role or contribute to the organization this is your opportunity to do so.