| Group Detroit U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Press Release |
Date: October 18, 2004 Contact: |
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DEDICATION CEREMONY SET FOR NEW PORT HURON COAST GUARD STATION PORT HURON - U.S. Representative Candice Miller (R-10th) will be in Port Huron this Friday to dedicate the new Coast Guard Station building. The Coast Guard Station Port Huron Dedication Ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m., October 22nd, 2004. In 1931, 3 1/2 acres of land surrounding Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was purchased by the government, and on April 13, 1932, Coast Guard Station Port Huron was officially opened. Although Station Port Huron has seen many changes in its time, it was originally one main building, a boathouse and a lookout tower that also served as crew berthing. Station Port Huron’s missions were search and rescue, and they continue to be so today. Another duty that was assigned to Station Port Huron was providing supplies and transportation to the crewmembers of the Huron lightship. The Huron lightship was originally commissioned in 1921 as a relief vessel for other Coast Guard lightships in the Great Lakes area, it was decommissioned in 1970 and became a permanent fixture at Corsica Shoals, which are located six miles north of Port Huron. The main contributing factor adding to Station Port Huron’s charm is the fact that it is located approximately 100 yards south of Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. Fort Gratiot Lighthouse was constructed in 1825. This makes Fort Gratiot Lighthouse the oldest lighthouse in Michigan. In 1828 the lighthouse was destroyed in a violent storm. In 1829 the lighthouse was rebuilt by one of Michigan’s first US senators, Lucius Lyon. Fort Gratiot Lighthouse currently stands 86 feet and is still functional.
Over their history, Coast Guard stations have been modified and reconstructed as technology and boat types change, to meet Coast Guard needs and those of the American people. The current station building at Port Huron was built in 1932. In June 2002, Station Port Huron began the next chapter in its distinguished and historic service on the waters of Lake Huron and St Clair River with the construction of a new station facility that will serve the needs of the Coast Guard and the maritime population in the twenty first century. The station is much smaller than the pre-existing structure, 3,000 square feet vice 11,000 sq ft, and much less maintenance intensive so that station personnel may focus more squarely toward on-water operations. The new facility is located on the water in front of the old station building. Today, Port Huron maintains a 41-foot Utility Boat, 25-foot Response Boat and 24-foot Utility Light boat. The old station building, will be transferred to another government entity or organization via the Federal excess property disposal process managed by the General Services Administration – GSA. #
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