 AssateagueWinter Quarter Lightship |
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| (The text and photos included in these sections are from Lillian Mears Rew's book, Assateague & Chincoteague: As I Remember Them. The copyright belongs to Mrs. Rew's family, and the sections included here are reprinted by permission. Please note that the text and photos may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission.) | |
 Because of the increased strength of the
Assateague Lighthouse, the Winter Quarter Lightship that was established in 1874 was
discontinued in 1961 or 1962. It served eighty seven years, saved many lives and much
property, but is now no longer in existence. This lightship was moved to Cape May to serve
Delaware Station.Winter Quarter Lightship was located approximately 200 nautical miles 72 degrees due east of Assateague Lighthouse. It derived its name from a location on Assateague Island called "Winter Quarters." Lightships were numbered rather that named. When a lightship moved from one station to another, the station number was repainted. The last ship to serve Winter Quarters was LS107 (later Wal529, then WLV529). She was built at the Bath Iron Works, Maine, July 8th, 1921. She was 133 feet in length, had a 30 foot beam and 16 foot draft. She displaced 775 tons. She was propelled by a single diesel, with a top speed of 8 knots. WLV529 was designated relief of Cape May, N.J. in 1967. She is shown at the same station in 1968, but was disposed of 1969. Lightships have been gradually reduced by fixed structures on shore, or by gas buoys until now the minimum has been reached as far as the New England Coast is concerned. Once a month, a buoy tender from Norfolk serviced the Lightships in its assigned area, providing mail, provisions, water, and bringing back the Liberty Party, and taking a Liberty Party Ashore. Needless to say, it was a day the crews looked forward to. It was very uncomfortable during bad weather according to the report of Ballard Reynolds, a member of the crew, who served as captain in 1946-47-48. During the 1920's and 1930's, lightship No. 91 occupied Winter Quarters Station. Number 91 had the distinction of making Ripley's Believe It or Not column in the 1930's. When it came time to haul in the anchor to proceed to port for its annual overhaul, there was discovered an overhaul knot in the anchor chain. When No. 107 became "Winter Quarters," No. 91 was designated as the "Relief Lightship." In 1948 when No. 107 returned to Winter Quarter Station after its annual overhaul, No. 91 through some freak circumstances, had another overhaul knot in her anchor chain. Fortunately a buoy tender was in the area and cleared the chain so the No. 91 could return to port. After WW II, electronic navigational aids came into general use and the Lightships were gradually phased out. Mr. Joe Reed, of Deep Hole, the uncle of Captain Ballard Reynolds and a crew member of No. 45 which was on Winter Quarter Station during the early 1890's, said that in one storm the Lightship broke her main anchor chain, and since it had no power was carried off shore by the gale. Three days after the storm abated, a tender located the Lightship and towed it back to its station. Some of the crew members of the Winter Quarter were: During very heavy winds the ship would break loose. In spite of these difficulties many lives were saved by the Winter Quarters Light as well as by the strong light furnished by the Lighthouse on Assateague and by the watchful alertness of the U. S. Coast Guard Stations. Notes:
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