Station Point Allerton

• Historic Lifesaving Station: Station Point Allerton, located in Hull, Massachusetts, was established in 1889 as part of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, a precursor to the U.S. Coast Guard. • Strategic Location: The station was situated at the northern tip of the Nantasket Peninsula, providing a vital vantage point for monitoring the entrance to Boston Harbor and responding to shipwrecks. • Early Heroics: In its first decades, the Point Allerton crew performed daring rescues, including saving 29 people from the wreck of the schooner Ulrica in 1896. • Notable Keeper: Joshua James, a legendary lifesaver, served as the station’s first keeper. He is credited with saving over 500 lives during his career, many from Point Allerton. • Joshua James’ Legacy: Joshua James died in 1902 after a drill at the age of 75, and his legacy is honored annually by the Coast Guard and the local community. • Transition to Coast Guard: In 1915, the U.S. Life-Saving Service merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard, and Point Allerton became a Coast Guard station. • Role in WWII: During World War II, Station Point Allerton played a key role in coastal defense and search-and-rescue operations, guarding against German U-boat threats. • Modernization: The original station building was replaced in 1967 with a modern facility, but the original structure still stands as a museum and historical site. • Continuing Service: Point Allerton remains an active Coast Guard station, conducting search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection missions in the Boston area. • Public Recognition: The station, and particularly Joshua James, have been honored in numerous books, documentaries, and even a Coast Guard cutter named USCGC Joshua James (WMSM-754).