YEAR BUILT: 1891

BUILT AT: South Boston (MA)

BUILDER: Harrison & Loring

APPROPRIATION: $60,000
(Approp. originally for Bush Bluff lightship)

CONTRACT PRICE: $57,900

SISTER VESSELS: LV 47,48,50

DESIGN: Composite framed with steel angle; Georgia pine planking sheathed with white oak; fastened w/steel rivets and galv. iron bolts; 2 masts with daymarks; stack ahead of mainmast 2 aux. boilers 6'6"dia x 7':3"lg; steam pumps & windlass

LENGTH: 120'l0"(loa); BEAM: 269"; DRAFT: 140"; TONNAGE: 470 displ

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

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns, each with 8 oil lamps

FOG SIGNAL: 12" steam chime whistle; hand operated 1000 lb bell

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 49
-1893: Jun 7-Jul 5, hauled, bottom repaired; topsides and deck recaulked
-1895: Oct, steam receivers on both boilers replaced on station
-1896: Oct 13-Nov 11, repairs for storm damage
-1898: Apr 29-May 5, storm damage repairs
-1899: Apr 15-Jul 1, major overhaul and refit at Baltimore
-1901: Aug 6-Sep 4, refastened and machinery repaired at Baltimore
-1903: Jul 22-Sep 6, routine repairs at Baltimore
-1905: May 1-Jul 15, repaired
-1910: Equipped with submarine bell signal
-1918: Illuminant changed from oil to acetylene; fog signal changed to air siren
-1919: Equipped with radio; discontinued 1923
-1925: Raised after being rammed and sunk; repaired and returned to service
-1931: Electric lens lanterns installed; 1935 equipped with radio-beacon



STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 49
1891-1916: Cape Charles (VA)
1916-1925: Relief (VA)
1925-1930: Hedge Fence (MA)
1930-1933: Relief (MA)
1933-1934: Hen and Chickens (MA)
1934-1941: Relief (MA)


(1925 Nov 11, rammed and sunk on station; replaced by Relief LV 5 same day, however LV 49 remained assigned to Hedge Fence until raised, repaired, and returned to service)

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 49
-1891: Jun 11, delivered by contractor to Portsmouth (VA)
-1891: Jun 25, placed on Cape Charles (VA)
-1893: Jun 7-Jul 5, relieved (by LV 46) for repair
-1894: Sept 27, parted both chains and lost both anchors in gale; sailed into
Hampton Roads and resumed station Oct 14
-1896: Oct 11, parted chain, drifting 16 mi SE of Cape Henry; picked up and towed
to Hampton Roads by 055 COLUMBIA; repaired and resumed station Nov 11
-1898: Apr 27, broke adrift in NE gale; worked in and anchored SSE of Cape Henry;
again parted chain, drifted and nicked up off Currituck (NC). Towed to Portsmouth, repaired then towed to station May S
-1898: During the year, was passed by 3268 steamers, 10 ships, 45 barks, 8 brigs,
7950 schooners
-1899: Mar broke adrift and made sail but bottom so foul no headway could be
made; picked up near Currituck (NC) and towed to Hampton Roads. Towed back to
station Mar 17
-1899: Apr 14-Jul 1, towed to Baltimore and underwent major overhaul
-1899: 0ct 31 broke adrift; worked into Hampton Roads under sail; resupplied and
returned to station Nov 12

More notes: LV 49
-1901: Aug 5-Sep 4, relieved (by LV 71) for repairs
-1903: Jul 21-Sep 6, relieved for repairs
-1903: Oct 11, broke adrift, picked up at sea by LV 71 and towed to Portsmouth
-1905: May 1-Jul 15, relieved (by LV 7) for repairs
-1906: Aug 15-Sep 26, relieved (by LV 7) for repairs
-1912: Apr 18, In collision with steamer GRAYSON
-1914: Dec 5, broke adrift; towed out of breakers off Cape Henry by ORCHID
-1916: Assigned as Relief (VA) until 1925; then transferred to Sedge Fence (MA)
-1925: Nov 11, rammed and sunk on Hedge Fence station by steamer K C HOLN, crew
launched boat and landed at Vineyard Haven; Relief LV 5 placed on station; later
raised, repaired and returned to service on Hedge Fence
-1930/31: Assigned as Relief (MA); 1933-34 assigned to Hen & Chickens (NA)
-1934: Assigned as Relief (MA) until 1941, based at Woods Hole (MA)

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1941; AGE:50

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: ?

COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 49
1893: William Moody, Keeper
1893-?: William Moody, Master

?-1914: Alexander Anderson, Mate
1914-1915: Gus Montague, Mate
?-1915: A K Thistel, Master
1915-1916: W H Harvey, Mate
1915-1917: C H Pertner, Master
1916-1917: Charles H Lowenhjelm, Mate
1917-1925: Alexander T Loss, Master
1919-1920: Eddie Mason, Mate
1920: James Lupton, Mate
1920: L R Tillett, Mate
1920-1921: Charles E Tull, Mate
1921-1922: George K Rollinson, Mate
1925-1930: J B Frizzell, Master

Back to Hedge and Fence Lightship Station History

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Revised: 10/23/06.