U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 75
YEAR BUILT: 1902
BUILT AT: Ferrysburg (MI)
APPROPRIATION: ?
BUILDER: Johnson Boiler Co
CONTRACT PRICE: $14,998
SISTER VESSELS: None
DESIGN: Steel scow; single lantern mast forward; large wood deckhouse
LENGTH: 83'9" (loa); BEAM: 23'0"; DRAFT: 96" (depth); TONNAGE: 160 gross
PROPULSION: No means of propulsion
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: Oil illuminant, other details not found
FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated bell
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS:
-1922: Illuminating apparatus converted to acetylene operation
-1926: Automated for unattended operation
-1934: Fitted with fog bell struck automatically by mechanism driven by
carbon dioxide gas
-1935: Equipped with radio-beacon; fog signal changed to air whistle
-1935: Radio control system installed to control light, fog signal and radio
beacon functions from ashore. This was the first lightship to operate
unattended, and the first to have provision for remote control of its
illuminating and signaling systems
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1902-1911: Grosse Pointe (MI)
1912-1939: Lake St Clair (MI)
HISTORICAL NOTES:
-1902 Aug, placed on Grosse Pointe station, marking the upper (northerly)
end of the 20 foot dredged channel in Lake St Clair
-Removed from station during the period the Lakes were closed to navigation
- typically early Dec -Mar/Apr each year. Maintenance and repairs were
performed during the winter lay-up period
-1911 Station moved and renamed Lake St Clair
-1926 Equipped for unattended operation
-1935 Equipped for controlling all systems by radio from ashore
-Remained assigned to Lake St Clair station until discontinued in 1939
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1939; AGE: 37
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold 1939; Reported later to have been
used as a lighter in New York Harbor; 1941
registration #175581. Said to be still in use as of 1983
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 75
1902-1903: John T Murray, Master
1903-1906: Charles Calnow, Master
1906-1915: Conrad Christiansen, Master
1915-1921: James Jones, Master
1915: Frank Leimbach, Mate
1915-1916: Charles Bernier, Mate
1916-1922: Gustav Affeldt, Mate
1921-?: Charles Bernier, Master
1922-?: Ernest LeBahn, Mate
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