Logs at U.S. Archives Explain Much About the Point

On June 7, 1878, there is an interesting entry. Lieut. Shoemaker visited Keeper Quincy Raynor for the purpose of ascertaining and obtaining title to land for the purpose of erecting a new station between Jones Inlet and "Jack's" Inlet (We believe that the name should properly have been Zachs because there was an inlet at that time where Zachs Bay is now.) Raynor entered in the log that he did all in his power to help and the land claim was obtained.

Some new men were added to the crew during September 1878. They were Hiram Raynor and Oliver Golden. During the early morning of November 5, 1878, Hiram Raynor on patrol discovered the schooner, Gazell, which had run aground on the bars of Jones Inlet. Her home port was Patchogue. She was loaded with lumber from Albany and was destined for Fire Island. Captain E.K. Mott was Master. The ship was in bad condition and all assistance was rendered. The lumber floated ashore over the following days and the owner was notified.

There is no information in the log which indicates that a new Station was built across the inlet, but a good deal of construction work was done on the existing buildings of our Station during the summer of 1878 by a number of carpenters and masons.

On December 19 and 20, 1878, the crew of the Station assisted the crew of another Station in rescuing the crew, stores, loose articles, etc., of the Schooner Eliz. A. Hooper of Camden, New Jersey, which was loaded with coal from Philadelphia and was bound for Rhode Island. The ship had gone aground on the bars of Jones Inlet.

Another disaster occurred on March 19, 1879, when the Schooner Eva L. Leonard from Boston, bound for Charleston, S.C., 115 tons, loaded with a general cargo, ran aground on the bars of Jones Inlet and became a wreck.

We have not copied any of the log pages between October 1879 and January 1908. Some day we may go back and study those pages with more time than Jerry Boyle and Al Thompson were able to take.

This is an excerpt from the logs being explained to the community by the Historical Committee of the Civic Association. Mel Brown is Chairman of the Committee.