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Welcome to the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society |
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In 1876 our government reacted to disastrous events of the past. The winter of 1870-71 brought several fatal disasters on the Great lakes. 214 people lost their lives that winter and brought about an outrage from the public who could only stand by on the shore and watch helplessly as shipwrecks happened. In 1874 one year before the Life Saving Station was built, the wind was blowing a gale out of the Northeast, when Lucien Clemons and his two brothers, A. J. and Hubbard, saw the schooner Consuelo in distress. It was loaded with stone blocks from the quarry and the load shifted and caused the vessel to suddenly capsize. The Captain, cook and three crewmen immediately perished, but the two remaining clung to the mast and rigging. The Clemons brothers took the only available boat, a 12-foot flat-bottomed skiff out into the lake. They left their weeping wives and children, who were among fifty people who watched the heroic rescue from the shore. They rowed the skiff for nearly an hour before they reached the men. After removing the survivors from the rigging, their addition to the small skiff became a huge burden on the effort to control the boat. After fighting the waves for a period of time they were finally assisted by a steam-tug from Kelley’s Island. For the Clemons brother’s efforts, they were awarded the very first Life Saving Medals by the Life Saving Service. Lucien Clemons received the Gold Lifesaving Medal, which is currently at the Inland Seas Maritime Museum in Vermillion, Ohio. His brothers each received the Silver Lifesaving Medal. A full size replica of the Gold Medal is on display in the Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society Museum. The U.S. Life Saving Station in Marblehead was inaugurated in 1876 with Lucien Clemons as keeper and a crew of six oarsmen. It was built with architecture similar to other stations on the Great Lakes. The original location was where the present U.S. Coast Guard Station is now. It housed a rescue boat and equipment and also provided housing for the crew, who were required to live there during the shipping season. The Life Saving Station had a tower where a lookout person was posted to scan the horizon for boats in distress.
The Marblehead Lighthouse Historical Society has architectural plans to construct a building similar to the first U.S. Life Saving Station, although it will not have an area for housing a crew. Estimates for this building are approximately $350,000. The building fund drive is now underway with a substantial amount of money needed. Construction bids have not yet been sought for this Life Saving Station Museum/Education Center. This building will be located around the point approximately 250-foot from the Lighthouse. The purpose of the museum is to preserve the Life Saving History from 1876 to 1915, to honor the brave men and their heroic rescues. The plans for the new building are to house the 26-foot rescue boat of 1920’s vintage, that the MLHS owns, plus other boats it hopes to acquire. Many items of early lifesaving equipment, such as patrol lanterns and cork life jackets, will be displayed with pictures of Life Saving Station crewmembers. The building will also have an area where programs for both children and adults can be given.
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