Life Saving Station #4 at Galilee

On March 5, 1849, Henry Wardell deeded a lot on the beach to the newly formed Life-Saving Society .The site was among the first of many Life-Saving Stations being built along the New Jersey shore. It was much needed because of the many shipwrecks along the coast. The site is listed on an Ocean Township survey map of 1873 as being located on the beach across from Park Road. The building was classified as an 1848 type structure, 16 feet wide and 28 feet long, one room.

In 1870, Summer I. Kimball, General Superintendent of the U.S. Revenue Marine, established the U.S. Life-Saving Service. Life Stations were set up every five miles along the coast. #1 was Sandy Hook, #2 was Spermacetti Cove, #3 was Sea Bright and #4 was Galilee, etc. to #40 in Cape May.

In 1874, a new building was built across the street from Seacrest Road. It was 1871 house type, two stories high, 18 feet wide and 42 feet long. The Station was manned with six surfmen and a keeper. They were required to practice regularly, maintain their equipment and patrol the beaches three times a night.

Night patrols departed all stations and patrolled until meeting the surfman from the next station and exchanged brass tokens.

In 1890, the Life-Saving Service started replacing the red house type stations with new Duluth style buildings. In 1895, Life-Saving Station #4 was built at the present location of Ocean Avenue and Seacrest Road.

In 1915, the Life-Saving Service was incorporated into the new, United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard remained here until the late 1950's.

The New Jersey Marine Police took over the building in the 1960's and remained there until 1993 when they ceased operations. Due to many hazards in the old building it was abandoned and shuttered.

In 1998, when the State of New Jersey proposed tearing the building down, several groups attempted to save it but in 1999 the State had decided to tear down all of the buildings. Monmouth Beach officials, the Historical Society and many volunteers launched a campaign to save the buildings. At this point, Mr. Jay W. Ross stepped forward and a five-member committee was formed to oversee the renovation of the building. As a result of the persistence of several groups, financing by Mr. Jay W. Ross, and the dedicated hard work of volunteers, the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center was dedicated on May 27, 2000.

Trustees are:

Megan Heath-Gilhool

James Heath

Richard S. Keller

Greg Kelly

James P. McConville

Patrick J. McConville

Richard White