Sunken History

Photos accompanying story by PA3 Etta Smith.

Remote operated vehicle check (4.16 MB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 18, 2007) Petty Officer 1st Class Carl Shipley tugs his remote operated vehicle from sea to the deck of Coast Guard Cutter Abbie Burgess, homeported in Rockland, Maine. The ROV was used in support of an archaeological survey dive in search of the remnants of the original Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, about four miles east of Scituate, Mass. Shipley, of the Maritime Safety and Security Team in Boston, worked with 12 MSST divers from all over the country to document the remnants of the lighthouse that collapsed into the ocean in 1851, just one year after its construction. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Etta Smith)
Cutter Abbie Burgess at anchor (3.42 MB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 19, 2007) Coast Guard Cutter Abbie Burgess, homeported in Rockland, Maine, lowers a small boat to the water in support of an archaeological survey dive around Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, about four miles east of Scituate, Mass. 12 Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team members from all over the country to document the remnants of the lighthouse that collapsed into the ocean in 1851, just one year after its construction. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Etta Smith)
All aboard (6.47 MB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 19, 2007) Two Coast Guard divers from the Maritime Safety and Security Team prepare to climb aboard Coast Guard Cutter Abbie Burgess, homeported in Rockland, Maine, as fellow divers watch from above. Twelve divers, from MSST units in California, New York, Florida and Massachusetts, conducted archaeological survey dives near Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, about four miles east of Scituate, Mass. The goal of the operation was create a map the remnants of the original Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse that collapsed into the ocean in 1851, just one year after its construction. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Etta Smith)
Submerged iron find (328.89 KB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 20, 2007) Two divers from the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team measure and mark an iron beam near Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, about four miles east of Scituate, Mass. The iron find is believed to have been structural support for the original lighthouse. This photo was taken by a remote operated vehicle, controlled by Petty Officer First Class Carl Shipley. The ROV was used in support of an archaeological survey dive in search of the remnants of the original Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, that collapsed into the sea in 1851 only one year after its construction. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Carl Shipley)
Underwater exploration (383.63 KB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 20, 2007) A diver from the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team measures and marks an iron beam near Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, about four miles east of Scituate, Mass. The iron find is believed to have been structural support for the original lighthouse. This photo was taken by a remote operated vehicle, controlled by Petty Officer First Class Carl Shipley. The ROV was used in support of an archaeological survey dive in search of the remnants of the original Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, that collapsed into the sea in 1851 only one year after its construction. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer First Class Carl Shipley)
Moment of silence (4.09 MB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 20, 2007) Chief Warrant Officer Paul Dilger (LEFT), commanding officer of cutter Abbie Burgess, stands alongside divers from the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team for a moment of silence around the memorial plaque honoring the fallen lightkeepers of the original Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse. On the third day of the archaeological survey of the remnants of the former lighthouse, the plaque was laid on the sea floor to memorialize lightkeepers Joseph Antoine and Joseph Wilson who lost their lives the day the lighthouse collapsed into the sea in 1851, just one year after its construction. The plaque was dedicated by the Foundation for Coast Guard History. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Etta Smith)
Memorializing lost lightkeepers (4.27 MB)

ATLANTIC OCEAN- (June 20, 2007) The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Abbie Burgess, of Rockland, Maine, lowers a commemorative plaque to the ocean floor, near the current Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, in honor of two fallen lightkeepers. Joseph Antoine and Joseph Wilson lost their lives the day the lighthouse collapsed into the sea in 1851, just one year after its construction. The plaque was dedicated by the Foundation for Coast Guard History. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Etta Smith)