Ocean City Life-Saving Station (New Jersey)
United States historic place / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Ocean City Life-Saving Station (also known as U.S. Life Saving Station 30 and U.S. Coast Guard Station No. 126) is the only life-saving station of its design in New Jersey still in existence. Designed by architect James Lake Parkinson in a Carpenter Gothic style, the building is one of 25 stations built of the 1882 life-saving type. It is also one of six still in existence in the country. Construction on the facility began in September 1885 and was completed in the following year. There were two earlier stations in the northern end of Ocean City before this facility was constructed, and there were two stations farther south on the island.
Ocean City Life-Saving Station | |
Location | 801 4th Street, Ocean City, New Jersey |
---|---|
Coordinates | 39°16′55″N 74°33′56″W |
Area | 0.29 acres (0.12 ha) |
Built | 1886 |
Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
NRHP reference No. | 13000385[1] |
NJRHP No. | 1594[2] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | June 14, 2013 |
Designated NJRHP | April 8, 2013 |
At 4th Street and Atlantic Avenue, the life-saving station was originally near the beach, but sand gradually accumulated, such that it is currently about 1⁄4 mi (400 m) from the coast. In December 1936, the facility was shut down in favor of the larger Great Egg Coast Guard Station, across Great Egg Harbor Inlet. The United States Coast Guard continued to own the property, utilizing it during World War II to store equipment and personnel who patrolled the beach for German submarines and spies. In October 1945, the Coast Guard sold the life-saving station, and for 54 years the building served as a private residence. From 1999 to 2010, a developer sought to demolish the building in favor of constructing three duplexes. After legal battles and intervention from local historic groups, Ocean City purchased the property in May 2010. After a $1.5 million renovation, the life-saving station reopened on December 31, 2017, and six months later reopened as the Ocean City Life-Saving Museum.