An OBX Trip Through Time: Visiting Coast Guard History

By Chicamacomico Historical Association
Oct. 17, 2022

Explore the deep history of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, along with a look at the ways the US Coast Guard helps protect visitors today.

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, pronounced chi-ka-ma-COM-i-co, includes two stations and five outbuildings. It is the most complete site of all remaining life-saving stations in North Carolina and one of the most complete sites in the nation. The site and museum can be found on Hatteras Island in Rodanthe, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

The all-civilian, all-volunteer Beach Apparatus Drill Team performs a historically accurate Beach Apparatus Drill reenactment in accordance with the 1871 regulations as set forth by Chief of the Revenue Marine Division of the US Treasury, Sumner I. Kimball. Below, Jason Walsh, Surfman #8, recounts a recent fast-moving North vs. South contest filled with flying sand, hauled rope, and the firing of the gun.

As a volunteer surfman arriving for Friday morning duty, Jason did not know who he would be teaching that day. He did not anticipate two energetic groups of Coast Guard Chief’s, each ready to learn the life-saving drill practiced by those who came before them and then race the clock before an audience for drill bragging rights. Six volunteer surfman, keeper included, guided both teams through the responsibilities of each role on the nine surfman team. At one point or another, each person was likely reminded that their own station was the crucial one, which is probably accurate, since rescuing a shipwrecked crew requires every team member to do the job correctly.

After noon, the First Flight Chief’s Mess from Elizabeth City and the Chesapeake Regional Chief’s Mess, made up of men and women, each worked through a slowed-down, hands-on practice drill that included rescuing one of their own. The young female Chief who rode in the breeches buoy seemed especially delighted with the pop-up zipline, perhaps more than many of the younger audience volunteers during the regular season.

Throughout practice, participants talked about the ways earlier Life Saving Stations helped shape parts of the modern Coast Guard. Civilians, including Jason, heard about the many career paths available in the Coast Guard and the important role it plays in safety around the world today. In what felt like standard Coast Guard fashion, the group paused for a 20 minute lunch, quickly eating a meal from Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship that was worthy of a slower pace.

With lunch finished and the morning’s training complete, the teams moved to the drill field and the stopwatch came out. Spectators included active-duty personnel, retirees, families from Elizabeth City, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Oregon Inlet, Hatteras, and fortunate members of the general public. The Keepers for each team gave the signal, and the groups rushed into their assigned tasks. Holes were dug, the Lyle gun was positioned, and hundreds of yards of rope were readied. Then fire and smoke erupted as the 16 pound projectile shot from the cannon-like Lyle gun. Both teams struck the simulated shipwreck pole target cleanly, with the rope attached to the projectile.

The Chiefs then raced to pull lines, secure knots, tighten ropes, and prepare the zipline-style equipment for a courageous seven-year-old girl from the audience to be brought safely in. Once her feet reached the ground, the time stopped.

Ultimately, the day was less North vs. South than historic vs modern. The original surfman were expected to complete the drill in FIVE minutes or less, while the modern teams needed more than twice that time. As for who won, anyone who came to Chicamacomico Life Saving Station that day likely left entertained, having learned something, met someone new, and carried a little Rodanthe sand home in their boots.

Categories

• History & Heritage

Tags

• Hatteras
• Rodanthe

Author

Chicamacomico Historical Association is responsible for caring for the place, artifacts, and history of the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Coast Guard Station. The Association’s vision is to forever preserve and present the history of Chicamacomico and commemorate its valiant heroes. Its mission is to preserve the historic Chicamacomico site and share its distinctive story.