Coast Guard Station Manomet Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coast Guard Station Manomet Point |
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| Part of 2nd District | |
| Plymouth, Massachusetts | |
The station, circa 1909
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| Coordinates | 41°55′34.31″N 70°32′24.76″W / 41.9261972°N 70.5402111°W |
| Type | Coast Guard Station |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1874 |
| In use | 1874–1947 |
| Demolished | 1955 |
The United States Coast Guard Station Manomet Point was a special place where brave people helped save lives at sea. It started as a station for the United States Life-Saving Service. Later, it became a station for the United States Coast Guard. This important station was located on Manomet Point in Manomet, Massachusetts.
A Look Back: Manomet Point Station History
The original station, known as USLSS Station No. 5, was built in 1874. It was created by the United States Life-Saving Service. This service was a group of heroes who rescued people from shipwrecks.
The station was located about five miles south of Gurnet Light. It was also near where the old Mayflower Hotel used to be. Records from that time say it was on the west side of Cape Cod Bay. It was about seven miles southeast of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
The station officially opened on October 15, 1874. Stephen Holmes was its first leader, called a keeper. He was 37 years old and already had 20 years of experience. He was a skilled surfman, meaning he was good at handling boats in rough waves.
In 1901, the old station building was replaced. The original one was getting old and falling apart. A brand new building opened on April 1, 1901.
A big change happened in 1915. The Life-Saving Service joined with another group called the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. Together, they formed the U.S. Coast Guard. After this, the station was called USCG Station No. 31. In 1919, a small building for boats and equipment was added. It was built at the bottom of the hill, closer to the beach.
This station stopped being used in 1947. It was given to the government in 1955 and then taken apart. The boathouse part of the station was moved. A man named Carl Asker attached it to his house on State Road. You can still see this part of the building today.
The SS Robert E. Lee Rescue Mission
A very sad event happened in 1928. Three brave Guardsmen from Station No. 31 lost their lives. They were Boatswain's Mate William Cashman and Surfmen Edward Stark and Frank Griswold. They were helping a large passenger ship called the SS Robert E. Lee.
The ship was traveling from Boston to New York. It had 273 passengers and crew members on board. On Saturday, March 9, 1928, a big storm hit. Around 8 p.m., the ship got stuck on dangerous rocks. These rocks were called Mary Ann Rocks, southeast of Manomet Point.
The Guardsmen tried many times to reach the ship. They used a surf boat powered by oars. But the huge waves kept pushing them back. The captain of the Robert E. Lee had made sure the ship was stuck safely. So, the people on board were not in immediate danger.
The Guardsmen finally reached the ship on March 10. They helped with the rescue efforts. But on their way back to the station, their surf boat flipped over. This happened because of a very large wave. Three of the brave Guardsmen drowned.
Many people were watching from the shore. They saw the boat flip over and cried out. Some young men quickly got small rowboats. They rushed out to help the Guardsmen. These rescuers later received special awards. They were given Carnegie Hero Fund Carnegie Medals for their bravery.
Edward Stark died on the way to a hospital in Boston. William Cashman died on the beach, even after doctors tried to save him. Frank Griswold's body was found about two miles away. The other five Guardsmen were treated at hospitals and recovered.
A special memorial was placed at Manomet Point in May 1928. It was put there by the people of Plymouth. It has a plaque and a stone monument. It honors the three heroes who died.
The memorial reads:
In memory of Boatswain's Mate William H. Cashman, Surfman Frank W. Griswold, Surfman Edward P. Stark, who of Station No. 31 United States Coast Guard lost their lives in the performance of their duty, March 10, 1928, when the Steamship Robert E. Lee stranded on the Mary Ann Rocks Southeast of this station.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
In 2010, people in the community started working. They wanted the government and military to officially recognize these three Coast Guardsmen as heroes. They also wanted to make the memorial site better.
