Horseneck Point Life Saving Station
The Completed Restoration of the Humane Society Life Saving Station #69
photo by Chip Gillespie
Doors will be open for the 2011 summer season Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays June 4th through Labor Day weekend 12-4 pm.
We do hope you will plan to come by and see this Historic Maritime treasure and Visitor Center. We are located at 241 East Beach Road Westport Ma overlooking East Beach and Gooseberry Island. There will always be someone available to share some of the spaces history and tour you through the exhbits that are on display at the time.
Plan to stop in and see the newest addition to our Visitor Center the Campbell Cutter Model during our 2011 summer Coast Guard Exhibit to be installed for an opening reception on June 18 at 3pm. For more information about the exhibit select the news page on this website.
Currently the WFA has begun the paperwork to embark on a 25 year lease with the state entering the Horseneck Point Life Saving Station into their Historic Curatorship Program. We are thrilled to be working with DCR to provide oppurtunities for the public to be able to visit this maritime treasure. We will be working together to bring programs and events to the location. Below is more about DCR and their Historic Curatorship Program.
The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), an agency of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, oversees 450,000 acres of parks and forests, beaches, bike trails, watersheds, dams, and parkways. The agency’s mission is to protect, promote, and enhance our common wealth of natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To learn more about DCR, our facilities, and our programs, please visit www.mass.gov/dcr.
Within the Commonwealth’s 450,000 acres of State and Urban Parks are a number of unused, historically significant buildings. Over time, these properties have fallen prey to the elements and vandalism. The Historic Curatorship Program was established to preserve these properties through a unique public-private partnership. Through the program, DCR partners with a Curator who agrees to rehabilitate, manage and maintain a historic property in return for a long-term lease. As a result, DCR secures the long-term preservation of threatened historic sites and Curators exchange their hard work and unique skills for the opportunity to live or work in a one-of-a-kind location.
We finalized the restoration project in December of 2009 exhausting all of the grant money and private donations that had been obtained for restoration. We are thrilled to have had such a possitive response from our local community, members and friends making the project a success. We hosted a recognition ceremony upon the completion of the project, to share our gratituted with all who dedicated so much to ensure these buildings be saved from demolition.
Below is an article with photos of the event:
The Horseneck Point Life Saving Station Grand Opening and Recognition Ceremony
The WFA would like to thank all who came out to support and witness the raising of the flag and recognition ceremony of the Horseneck Point Life Saving Station on December 12th 2009. Despite the cold winter temperature there was a full house at the station to recognize all who had been so influential in the success of this 3 year restoration project.
It was a great day all in attendance complimented the WFA board of directors on their job well done. All of our generous sponsors from our own association members and friends to the Westport Community Preservation Committee and the State Department of Conservation and Recreation were pleased to see the results thier contributions brought about and preserved in order to share the maritime history of Westport with our local community and visitors to come in the years ahead.
State Representative Michael Rodrigues was one of the guest speakers who shared with all who were present his support of the project and influence in assuring the passing of a bill through legislation that enables the WFA to engage in a 25 year lease with The Mass state Department of Conservation and Recreation to continue to preserve and manage the historic Life Saving Staiton and the newly renovated visitor's center. He even brought along and presented to WFA president Jack Reynolds a framed copy of the bill to have to display in the visitor's center. The WFA is truly grateful to Representative Rodrigues and Senator Joan Menard for all of their help getting the legislation passed and approved by the DCR.
Renee Dufour the Southeastern District Manager for the Department of Conservation and Recreation another guest speaker that afternoon shared her experience with working with the WFA to see this project to fruition. Renee was our local contact person and wonderful to work with. She shared with the audience the latest developement in the project which is to enter the HPLSS into the Historic Curatorship Program ensuring benfits of collaborating with the DCRin order to run programs and help to support and offset marketing costs and future usage of the Visitor Center and maritime museum.
Warren Messier Chairman for the CPC also spoke on behalf of the project, their involvment and continuous support in securing funds through their generous grants that enabled us to pursue matching DCR grants with the State assuring us the funds necessary to execute a restoration and renovation project of this magnitude. The WFA truly appreciates the continued support of the CPC and recognizes its importance to the preservation of buildings like the historic Station #69 that link us to the history of Westports Past.
Below is a photo of John Galluzo, the Executive Director United States Life Saving Service Heritage Association was also in attendance for our grand opening and came to also be one of our guest speakers. He was pleased to be able to come and speak about the Life Saving Service Heritage Association and the importance of the restoration project. By his side is WFA President Jack Reynolds. The WFA was pleased to have him come back to speak at the dedication ceremony since he was an intrical part of the introduction of this restoration project from the onset at our annual meeting a couple of years back when we first introduced the project idea to our association members. His knowledge of the history of the Life Saving Service was instrumental in communicating to our donators and sponsors the importance of preserving this historic peice of Westport's past.
Below is a photo of some of the guests helping to install the historic surf boat into its new residence for at least the next 25 years. It was a great finale to a wonderful afternoon.
We are also grateful to WFA friend and member Betty Slade who was kind enough to donate her time and talent to video tape the event. The video can be seen on the local access channel. The WFA also owns the video of the event. Copies will be available to the public soon for a modest price. If interested in obtaining a copy please contact us via the email link on the website or via our PO Box 83 Westport Point MA 02791
WFA Horseneck Point Life Saving Station Operations Fund
The WFA has started a Life Saving Stations Operations Fund to help offsett the cost of the utilities that make it possible to provide our online weather station that is now available on our website by navigating to the weather page. As well it will contribute to future maintenance of the building. Most importantly it will allow us to continue to provide exhibits and events that will be free and open to the public. We are truly grateful for the generosity and support of our members and friends to ensure this Westport treasure can be shared with the public.
For contributions of 50.00 or more you will receive a LSS t-shirt and be listed as a sponsor below.
You may mail your contributions to WFA PO Box 83 Westport Point MA 02791 be sure to indicate the size t-shirt you would like and how you wish your name to appear.
SPONSORS LIST
Frederick Eustis
Janet & Henry W. Vaillant
Craig & Diane Babigian
Betty Slade & David Cole
Eileen Wheeler Sheehan
Gordon & Josie Woollam
Tom & Kate Schmitt