Whitehead Lifesaving Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Whitehead Lifesaving Station
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 Location in Maine
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| Location | Whitehead Island, St. George, Maine |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architect | Chandler, Francis W.; Mendelheff, Victor |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Stick/eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 88001839 |
| Added to NRHP | October 12, 1988 |
The Whitehead Lifesaving Station was a special place on Whitehead Island in St. George, Maine. It was like a rescue center for ships and sailors in trouble. This station was built in 1874 by the United States Life-Saving Service. This service was a group that helped save people from shipwrecks. The building is one of the oldest and best-kept stations from that time in Maine and New Hampshire. It was used for rescues until the 1940s. Today, it is owned by a private group. In 1988, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Contents
What Was the Whitehead Lifesaving Station?
The Whitehead Lifesaving Station was a very important place. Its main job was to help ships and people who were in danger at sea. This could be during storms or if a ship had an accident. The brave people who worked there were called "surfmen." They were ready to launch rescue boats at any time.
Where Is Whitehead Island?
Whitehead Island is a small island, about 90 acres big. It is located off the coast of St. George, Maine. This area is near the entrance to Penobscot Bay. Besides the lifesaving station, the island also has the Whitehead Light. This is a lighthouse that helps guide ships safely.
What Did the Station Look Like?
The lifesaving station is found near the southwest part of the island. It has two main buildings. The first building was built in 1874. It is close to the water. This building is made of wood and has two stories. It has pretty designs called Italianate features.
The second building is a house built in 1922. It is set further back from the water. This house is also two stories tall and has a sloped roof.
Training Area for Rescues
Between these two buildings, there was a small open area. This was like a training ground for the station's crew. They would practice their rescue skills there. Part of this area had a special "wreck pole." This pole was set up to look like the mast of a ship. The crew would practice rescuing people from this pretend shipwreck.
Who Designed the Buildings?
The original building from 1874 was likely designed by Francis Chandler. He worked for the United States Department of the Treasury. The house built in 1922 was probably designed by Victor Mendelhoff. He was a main architect for the United States Life-Saving Service.
When Did the Station Close?
The United States Life-Saving Service later joined with the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard decided to close the Whitehead Lifesaving Station around 1944. After that, it was sold to private owners.
Today, most of Whitehead Island is privately owned. There is a special agreement to protect much of the island's nature. The buildings of the old station are sometimes rented out. A group called Pine Island Camp uses them for trips to the island.
