Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
United States Life Saving Station
Jupiter Inlet
— 1885-1899 —
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 13, 2016
1. United States Life Saving Station Jupiter Inlet 1885-1899 Marker
Inscription.
United States Life Saving Station. Jupiter Inlet. In 1885, the only United States Life Saving Station on the Florida East Coast was built at this site. Charles R. Carlin, a former British sailor and Assistant Keeper at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, oversaw construction and served as the Station’s Keeper. The two-story facility housed men and rescue equipment, including a 27-foot self-bailing surf boat, a Lyle Gun, and a Breeches Buoy apparatus used to transfer people and cargo from ships in distress. The Station, highly regarded for its efficiency in sea rescues, was manned September through April by six uniformed Surfmen, who were quartered on the second floor. During the summer only the Keeper was on duty. The Surfmen drilled, stood watch in the tower, patrolled the beach, maintained equipment, and trained as medics. The Keeper’s detailed logs recorded rescues, weather details, patrol duties, and daily activities at the Station. With the completion of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad and the decline in sailing ships, the paid crew was replaced with local volunteers. Carlin remained caretaker until his death in 1912. At the advent of World War I, the Life Saving Service merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to create the United States Coast Guard.
In 1885, the only United States Life Saving Station on the Florida East Coast was built at this site. Charles R. Carlin, a former British sailor and Assistant Keeper at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse, oversaw construction and served as the Station’s Keeper. The two-story facility housed men and rescue equipment, including a 27-foot self-bailing surf boat, a Lyle Gun, and a Breeches Buoy apparatus used to transfer people and cargo from ships in distress. The Station, highly regarded for its efficiency in sea rescues, was manned September through April by six uniformed Surfmen, who were quartered on the second floor. During the summer only the Keeper was on duty. The Surfmen drilled, stood watch in the tower, patrolled the beach, maintained equipment, and trained as medics. The Keeper’s detailed logs recorded rescues, weather details, patrol duties, and daily activities at the Station. With the completion of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railroad and the decline in sailing ships, the paid crew was replaced with local volunteers. Carlin remained caretaker until his death in 1912. At the advent of World War I, the Life Saving Service merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to create the United States Coast Guard.
Erected 2010 by The Town of Jupiter and the Florida Department of State. (Marker
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Number F-703.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 26° 55.782′ N, 80° 4.137′ W. Marker is in Jupiter, Florida, in Palm Beach County. Marker is on Van Kessel Parkway, 0.1 miles east of Ocean Boulevard (State Road A1A), on the right when traveling north. Located in Carlin Park in front of the Lazy Loggerhead Cafe. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 6 Van Kessel Parkway, Jupiter FL 33477, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 13, 2016
2. United States Life Saving Station Jupiter Inlet 1885-1899 Marker on right.
U.S. Jupiter Life Saving Station marker on left.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 564 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 16, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
