YEAR BUILT: 1877

BUILT AT: Brooklyn (NY)

BUILDER: J.D. Leary
(Approp. 1876 Jul 31, "lightship with steam fog signal for an outside station")

APPROPRIATION: $50,000

CONTRACT PRICE: $40,796

SISTER VESSELS: None

DESIGN: Wood- white oak & locust; copper & galv. iron fastened; 2 masts with daymarks on both; small stack ahead of mainmast; 2 aux. steam boilers & steam pump

LENGTH: 1217" (loa); BEAM: 26'6"; DRAFT: l0'6"; TONNAGE: 410 gross

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

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns, each with 8 oil lamps

FOG SIGNAL: "Siren operated by hot-air engine"; hand operated bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 42
-Underwent extensive repairs 1887 Sep 18-Apr 4 1888; 1891 May 19-Jun 31:
1898: Nov 23-Jan 3 1899; 1900 Aug 28-Oct 1
-Other repairs and refits 1886 Dec-Mar 1887; 1895 Oct 1-Nov 2 and May 3ãJun 1;
1901: Sep 2-Oct 7; 1904 Nov 6-29
-1877: Reported "largest & strongest lightship in possession of the government"
-1878: Hot-air driven fog signal reported "wholly unsuitable'
-1880: Mushroom replaced with 3 "ordinary" anchors placed N, B, & SW of position
-1882: 12" whistle and steam fog signal machinery replaced hot air system
-1895: Hornsby-Ackroyd oil engine and compressor replaced steam fog signal
-1910: Equipped with submarine bell signal; fog signal changed to 10" air whistle
-1919: Equipped with radio; discontinued 1923
-1926: Masts removed & replaced with steel lattice light structure amidships;
equipped with acetyene lens lantern; light changed from fixed to flashing


ASSIGNMENTS: LV42
1877-1892: Pollock Rip (MA)
1892-1913: Great Round Shoal (MA)
1913-1932: Hen and Chickens (MA)
(1883 Position moved 3/4 mi NW )
(1886 "If Northeast Slue Channel continues to change. ..may be necessary to put the ship on range with Sankaty Head Light and abandon the Slue Channel ")

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 42
-1877: Dec 1, placed on Pollock Rip (MA)
-1880: Dec 26, parted chain and adrift
-1881: In collision once during year; colliding vessel sank near station
-1882: Broke adrift once during year
-1884: In collision twice during the year
-1885: In collision twice during the year
-1886: Dec 26, broke adrift in gale; taken to New Bedford for repair; returned
to station Mar 1887
-1887: Apr 2, broke adrift in gale and blown 60 miles to sea, returned to station
under sail Apr 15
-1887: In collision twice during the year
-1888: Nov 26, broke adrift; returned to station by chartered tug Dec 29
-1889: In collision Mar 28 and Mar 31
-1891: Oct 4, broke adrift; picked up by AZALEA and towed to Hyannis Oct 15;
repositioned on station Oct 16
-1892: Mar 1, parted chain; anchored SW of Great Point; replaced on station Mar 6
-1892: Fog signal operated 1146 hours during year, consuming 59 tons of coal


More notes: LV 42
-1892: Nov 1, placed on Great Round Shoal; with LV 47 being simultaneously
transferred to Pollock Rip
-1893/94: Remained on station continuously during both years
-1895: Jul 1, fog signal discontinued due to boiler failure, bell used until
vessel brought in for repairs Oct 1
-1896:Dec 16, broke adrift and assisted back to station by Azalea
-1900:Jun 15, fire damage due to explosion of vaporizer lamp used to start
kerosene fog signal engines
-1900: Aug 28-Oct 21, relieved for extensive rearrangement of interior spaces
-1901: Sep 2-Oct 7, relieved for repairs to fog signal machinery
-1903: Remained on station during entire year
-1904: Nov 6-29, relieved for repairs at New Bedford
-1913: Placed on Hen and Chickens station

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1931; AGE: 54

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold 1932; burned at Apple Island, Boston Harbor as part
of July 4 celebration in 1940

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 42

1883-1890: James Jorgensen, Asst Keeper
1891-1893: James Jorgensen, Keeper
1893-?: Joseph Allen Jr, Master
?-1914: Joshua Richardson, Master
?-1914: John J Gary, Mate
1914-1919: John J Cary, Master
1914-1918: E F Kelley, Mate
1918: Daniel H Nickerson, Mate
1918-1919: William R Chase, Mate
1919-1921: Arthur F Wade, Mate
1919-1922: Josiah P Hatch, Master
1921-1927: John Kinney, Mate
1927: Edgar F Eldrege Mate
1927-1931: Frank P Bellevue, Mate

Back to Great Round Shoal Lightship Station History

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Revised: 10/23/06.