YEAR BUILT: 1864

BUILT AT: Williamsburg, LI. (NY)

APPROPRIATION: $150, 000

CONTRACT PRICE: ?

BUILDER: Thomas Stack

SISTER VESSELS: None

DESIGN: Wood - white oak, white & yellow pine; fastened with galvanized iron & locust treenails; 2 masts; daymarks on both

LENGTH: 80'6" (lbp) BEAM: 21'6" DRAFT: 9'0" TONNAGE: 171 gross (shows 104 after 1914)

PROPULSION: Sail -schooner rig; fore and main carried on spencer masts

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Single lantern on main, 8 oil lamps w/reflectors

FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated 10001b bell, two hand operated fog horns

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 5

Upon opening bids, appropriation found sufficient to build 3 vessels-
Additional contracts awarded -1 earmarked for Frying Pan, others unspecified-
1872: Rebuilt, frame and planking found to be "very rotten"-
1882: Recoppered at waterline due to ice damage-
1883: Rebuilt and salted-
1911: Fog signal changed from bell to 8" air whistle-
1919: Equipped with radio; discontinued 1922-
1920: Illuminant changed from oil to acetylene-
1923: Fog signal changed to 10" air whistle-
1925: Sails and associated spars apparently removed; listed as "no means of
propulsion" 1925-1930

STATION ASSIGNMENTS:LV5

1866-1867: Hen and Chickens (MA)
1867-1915: Cross Rip (MA)
1916: Relief (MA) ( awaiting assignment)
1916- 1923: Stonehorse Shoal (MA)
1923-1924: Handkerchief Shoal (MA)
1925-1930: Relief(MA)

(Prior to 1867 when No.5 was assigned, official records identify this vessel as 'Hen and Chickens"
(Items in various Notices to Mariners indicate that LV 5 may have been used as a Relief vessel during the period she was assigned to Cross Rip)

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 5-

1867 Oct 14: placed on Hen and Chickens (MA)-
1883: Reported 20,000 vessels passing Cross Rip station during the year-
"Passing" vessels collided with the lightship in 1874, 1885(2),1888, 1890,
1893(2),1895(2),1897,1899(2),1900,1901(2),1902(2),1903(2),1904 and i906. Many
involved extensive damage to lightship-
Parted chain and went adrift 1877,1885,1889-
Carried off station by ice 1875,1888,1904-
1912 Mar 24: in collision with steamer MILLINOCKET-
1915 Oct/Nov: withdrawn from Cross Rip, assigned Relief temporarily-
1916 Jun/Jul: assigned to new Stonehorse station, fixed white light/air whistle-
1923/24: Assigned to Handkerchief station-
1925-1930: Assigned Relief duty; seldom used during the period

More notes:

RETIRED PROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1930

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold 1930

AGE: 65

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 5

1890-1891: James Jorgensen, Keeper
1893-1894: Judah Berry Jr. , Master
1894: David E Ray, Master
1893-1894: Gustav Shringer, Mate
1894-1895: Alexander F Snow, Master
1895-?: Gustav Shringer, Master
1894-?: James G Remsen, Mate
?-1915: R E B Phillips, Master
?-1915: C C Nickerson, Mate
1916-1919: Abram E Bearse, Master
1916-1918: Zamera C McDonald, Mate
1918-1922: Zamera C McDonald, Master
1919-?: J Geer, Mate
1922-1924: William Kelley, Master

Back to Cross Rip Lightship Station History.

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Revised: 10/23/06.