Coast Guard Station Menemsha

U. S. Coast Guard Station Menemsha
Part of 1st Coast Guard District, Sector Southeastern New England
Menemsha, Massachusetts
Coordinates	41°21′00″N 70°45′51″W
Type	Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat Station, Heavy Weather Station.
Site information
Owner	United States Coast Guard
Open to the public	No
Site history
In use	1952-Present
Garrison information
Current commander	Senior Chief (BM) Justin Longval, USCG
Occupants	25

United States Coast Guard Station Menemsha is a United States Coast Guard station located in Menemsha, Massachusetts, within the town of Chilmark. Primarily a Search and Rescue unit, other activities include Law Enforcement in commercial fisheries and recreational boating safety. The unit is classified as a Heavy Weather Station, capable of operating in up to 20 foot seas and 50 knots wind.

The United States Life-Saving Service (a forerunner to the Coast Guard) established a station at Gay Head in 1895. In 1952, the Coast Guard station located at Cuttyhunk was moved by barge to Menemsha, replacing the Gay Head station. The station was not renamed Menemsha, however, until 1974.[1]

In July 2010, a fire destroyed the boat house as well as damaged other buildings and the dock at the station.[2]

In April 2015 a new boathouse was opened on the footprint of the one destroyed in July 2010. [3]

See also

• List of military installations in Massachusetts

References

1. Sigelman, Nelson (July 15, 2010). "A brief history of Coast Guard Station Menemsha". Martha's Vineyard Times. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
2. "Rampaging fire wounds Menemsha badly : The Martha's Vineyard Times". Archived from the original on 2012-04-06. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
3. "Coast Guard cuts ribbon on new Menemsha boathouse". 10 April 2015.

External links

• Lovewell, Mark Allen (January 7, 2005). "Strengthening Station Menemsha Amid Tragedies in Island Waters". Vineyard Gazette Online. Archived from the original on January 24, 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2010.