This presentation will be in person at the Congregational Church in Rye, but will also be broadcast through Zoom. Link below.

The Wood Island Life Saving Station is an exceptionally rare “Duluth Type” building that sits on a small island next to the Maine / New Hampshire border where the Piscataqua River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It was built in 1908 and decommissioned in 1948.  It housed brave men, called “surfmen” or “storm warriors”, who would row out to save mariners in distress. Hundreds of rescues were performed. Ownership shifted from the federal government to the Town of Kittery in 1973, but there was precious little maintenance from soon after WWII and by 2009 the Town began to plan for the demolition of the derelict and rotting structure.

A 501 (c) 3 charity was formed to prevent the Town from destroying this historic place.  They are called the Wood Island Life Saving Station Assoc. or WILSSA.  They succeeded in preventing the demolition and then took on the considerable task of restoring the National Register building to its former glory for the enjoyment of the public as a maritime museum on behalf of Kittery.  2022 is the seventh year of that restoration that has surpassed $5 million in the effort.  They are guardedly optimistic that the museum can open to the public in 2023.

Photo | David L. Ryan, The Boston Globe

Sam Reid has been the President of WILSSA since its founding in 2011.  His background is in public service as he has worked for three Governors and President George W. Bush.  In the past, he has successfully tackled other challenging historic preservation projects, such as the $80 million Masonic Temple restoration in Providence, RI.  He lives in Kittery Pt. and is married with two adult children, a dog named Dennis, and two hives of honey bees.  He loves wooden boats and his favorite part of the Wood Island restoration project has been all of the people he has met and helped bring together. Recently he has been researching the life-saving stations of New Hampshire’s coast including Rye, Hampton, and Wallis Sands.  He looks forward to describing the challenges of Wood Island’s restoration and explaining the work of the forerunner of the US Coast Guard in our area, the US Life Saving Service.

Suggested donation $5 if not a member of RHS

Rye Historical Society is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Wood Island Life Saving Station - Sam Reid presentation

Time: May 19, 2022 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88083356948?pwd=RDh5TFd6Ry9qaWlSdC9HZHY4WGJ5QT09

Meeting ID: 880 8335 6948

Passcode: 246743

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