The Chicamacomico Historical Association (CHA) held a 150^th anniversary celebration October 12 and 13, 2024 to honor the history and the faithful service of the men who served at the very first US Lifesaving Station.

Festivities were held in Rodanthe at the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station. Saturday highlighted “The Way it Was Done Back Then,” opening with a flag raising with Piper Ryan Leigh and Bonnie Pugh Somers, descendent of the 1874 Station Keeper Benjamin Pugh.

Christian Thompson led a porch talk on the restorations he is completing at the original 1874 station, followed by a lecture from Kevin Duffus entitled “Unheralded Heroes: The Cape Fear Life-Savers of 1893.”

A large crowd attended that afternoon’s beach apparatus recue drill. This exercise reenacts the drill that US Lifesaving Servicemen performed weekly to prepare to rescue those in peril.

Dressed in period-appropriate uniforms and using the same type of equipment used 150 years ago, about a dozen men demonstrated how they would practice securing a line to the mast of a distressed boat to bring sailors and passengers to safety.

The official anniversary ceremony began at 2:30 p.m. on the lawn between the two historical stations. Patriotic music was performed by members of the CHSSCS band. Retired Coast Guard Commander Carl Smith gave a welcome, followed by the Presentation of Colors by members of Camden High School’s USCG Junior ROTC program. Caitlyn Gray sang the National Anthem, and Revered Pam Stoffel from Fair Haven United Methodist Church gave the invocation, thanking God for the men who served in the US Lifesaving Service and the men and women who served or currently serve in the US Coast Guard, “who are willing to sacrifice it all to save those they know, and those they do not know. There’s no greater love, and no greater sacrifice.”

Jackie Wenberg, a descendent of several early life savers and a former board member and vice president of CHA shared stories and memories from the lifesaving station, including early restoration efforts.

NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources education curator Ben Wunderly said the Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station “is an extremely significant part of our nation’s history.”

“We realize the importance of keeping this site available for the public to education them about our past, tell them stories of the heroic rescues, and provide them the opportunity to see what life and work was like for those early life savers.”

Master Chief Christopher Hinote, ancient keeper of the Coast Guard, talked about the difference in boats during the early days of the life station versus modern day Coast Guard boats. “What the men did back then compared to what we do now – it’s pretty amazing what they had to go through. They used to purposely roll the boat. We try not to do that anymore.”

Many stories were shared of decorated rescues and the brave men who, as keynote speaker USCG District 5 Commander John “Jay” Vann said, “put their lives on the line so that others may live.”

In his address, Vann noted the beautiful warm autumn day. “These are the conditions that lifesavers rarely get to work in,” he said.

He shared several historic rescue stories, and also noted with pride and optimism the continuing efforts of the men and women of the Coast Guard who continue the lifesaving legacy that began 150 years ago.

“They should be proud of their part in the history we celebrate today,” Vann said.

On Sunday and Monday, events focused on “The Way It’s Done Today.” Festivities began with a breakfast at the Community Building. The grounds and museum were open for self-guided tours.

The celebration expanded throughout the Outer Banks with “Choose Your History” tours at other historical sites: Little Kinnakeet Lifesaving Station, Hatteras Lighthouse, Native American Museum, Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Lost Colony Museum, Bodie Island Lighthouse, Kitty Hawk Lifesaving Station (The Black Pelican Restaurant), Jockey’s Ridge State Park, Wright Brothers Memorial, Freedom Trail in Manteo, Richard Etheridge Grave, History Center at Festival Park, and Pea Island Cookhouse Museum.

The CHA put together the weekend celebration for one simple reason: “This is American history,” executive director John Griffin said.

“That 1874 station was like the beginning of the federal lifesaving stations, that merged … and eventually became the Coast Guard. It was a beginning.”

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