The historic lifesaving station in Kittery was itself in distress and in need of rescue–those who answered the call accomplished something extraordinary.
The United States Life Saving Service constructed the station on Kittery’s Wood Island in 1908. During its four decades of service at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, the station’s “surfmen” carried out more than 60 major rescues and saved hundreds of lives. The US Navy assumed control of Wood Island during World War Two to bolster defense of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The station was decommissioned in 1948 and ownership was eventually transferred to the Town of Kittery in 1973.
Years of disinvestment coupled with extreme weather conditions left the station in ruins and unsafe for visitors. The building was near collapse, devoid of windows and doors, and a popular hangout for birds. In 2008, a town-appointed committee determined the best course of action was to pursue demolition. Thankfully, the price of abating environmental hazards in preparation was cost prohibitive.
The Town instead put out a call for proposals in 2011. The lone submission came from the newly formed Wood Island Life Saving Station Association, or WILSSA. The untested nonprofit negotiated with the town for five years to secure a final agreement, a period which included renewed calls for demolition by the town and citizen-led petitions to counter. The turmoil landed Wood Island on our list of Most Endangered Historic Places in 2012. The final restoration agreements were signed in 2016.
Meanwhile, temporary staging was installed to stabilize the structure. Intact interior features were documented while historians confirmed Wood Island was one of only 12 remaining Duluth-type lifesaving stations and the only one with a surviving marine railway used to launch rescue craft into the water. The compelling case for its significance secured eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in 2015, which helped unlock a $200,000 National Maritime Heritage grant, a match from the state legislature, and allowances to meet building codes.
In a dynamic move, WILSSA quite literally called up the National Guard. As part of its “Innovative Readiness Training,” the Maine Army National Guard brought 100+ soldiers to rebuild the sea walls and the station’s shed, construct an accessibility ramp, and install temporary electrical and plumbing systems. Pepperrell Cove Marine rebuilt the marine railway and constructed a new 120-foot pier to enhance public access.
State and federal grants funded cleanup of asbestos, bird waste, and lead paint. Nearly 100 tons of material was removed including original features like trim, beadboard, and flooring that would be either abated and reinstalled or used as patterns to fabricate replicas. Berwick-based Preservation Timber Framing followed behind the clean-up to repair the structure, install a new roof, and secure the building envelope with shingle siding, doors, and hurricane-proof windows.
Careful restoration of the interior included the return of salvaged and replicated woodwork, new plaster walls, and beautifully reconstructed tower stairs by Roe G. Cole. The project included rebuilding of a rare eight-oared rescue boat from the 1930s, called the Mervin Roberts, that now puts the rebuilt marine railway back in use!
The project would not have been possible without Samuel Reid, the President of WILSSA. Sam led with a smile, exhibiting pure determination and fortitude that resulted in thoughtful planning, effective partnerships, and to date, raising $7.2 million to make this project a reality. Calling on the legacy of the surfmen, WILSSA also pays it forward through its “Helping Others, Then and Now” initiative that has raised $150,000 in support of other charities.
The museum opened in August 2024, offering a range of educational programming, space for corporate events, and even overnight stays!
Project Participants:
Wood Island Life Saving Association
Preservation Timber Framing
Roe G. Cole Custom Design and Construction
Pepperrell Cove Marine
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Maine Historic Preservation Commission
Maine Department of Economic and Community Development
National Park Service
Environmental Protection Agency
United States Coast Guard
United States Navy
Maine Army National Guard
Town Of Kittery
Portsmouth Herald
Photo Credits: Wood Island Life Saving Association, Jim White
