It's Bill, 9/28/25: Cabin & Station House

Station Quoddy Head

The primary function of Station Quoddy Head was to perform rescues of crew, cargo and vessels in distress from grounding and possible sinking due to inclement weather and navigation errors, carrying out the duties of the original US Lifesaving Service. Lifesaving and Small Boat Rescue Stations were usually placed near a lighthouse which was situated near hazardous navigation conditions, such as shoals, rocks, cliffs, currents, particularly near a harbor entrance. The lighthouse and lifesaving personnel were under separate commands. They usually did not act in unison. The primary duty of the lighthouse keepers was to keep the lantern lit and to send bell or horn signals through the fog.

The Cabin

The Cabin, at West Quoddy Station, was an original c.1920 US Coast Guard building at Station Quoddy Head, Station 1, District 1, a Small Boat Rescue Station. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cabin is a one-story building, cedar shingled, painted white, with a red hip roof. Originally, The Cabin was a garage with a pair of wood X-braced garage doors, since removed. I removed the entry door on the north side, water view, and installed two windows. The Coast Guard had no view of the ocean! The garage housed a USCG lifesaving beach cart which carried lifesaving equipment to be set up on the beach to rescue the crew of a ship stranded on the rocks offshore.

When Station Quoddy Head was decommissioned in 1970, the station went under the care of the GSA. During the mid-'70s, it was utilized as the first headquarters of the Wooden Boat School, then back to the GSA. In the early '80s, it was developed into The Marine Mammal Rescue Center for 4–5 years. Then back to the GSA. Not maintained from 1970 to 2000.

The Cabin’s exterior, white cedar with a red hip roof.

Restoration and Legacy

The Cabin, being the first building restored, was utilized by me as my residence and office. Being first, it is still my emotional favorite. Many other guests feel the same.

Restored in 2001, the white cedar shingle exterior remains the same, the garage doors have been replaced with solid walls. The original 6-over-2 windows were replaced with modern 6-over-2 windows. The interior features diagonally fitted shiplap wooden walls, the walls blending into the hip-roofed ceiling, creating interesting diamond patterns. The floors have been replaced with 10” wide pine, showing wonderful wear. There is a queen bed and a double bed with a full kitchen and private bathroom. The Cabin is furnished in the manner of an old Maine sporting camp. The deck has fine ocean views.