"Indian
River Life Saving Station"
by Paul McGehee. Completed in the Queen Anne Style of architecture in
1876, the "Indian River" was one of a string of U.S.L.S.S. stations up
the east coast. They were built to assist in the rescue of survivors
from wrecked ships, housing a large boat which would be launched into
the surf, usually in the worst of weather. The men of the U.S.L.S.S.
were some of the toughest around...the Service had its roots in the
brave volunteers who would go out to wrecks from the beaches of New
England in the 1700s. The U.S. Government formed the U.S.L.S.S. in
1848, which was primarily a volunteer operation of surf-going first
responders. It was a risky job, to say the least, but it is estimated
that by 1915 the U.S.L.S.S. had rescued 186,000 people who would've
otherwise perished in the cold, cruel waves of the Atlantic. The Indian
River Station, situated on the ocean shores of Delaware at Rehoboth
Beach, was named for the Indian River, so called because there was once
a Native American reservation nearby. The beautifully-restored Station
stands today as a museum to the Service, and is also available for
functions such as parties and weddings. If
you'd like to pay them a visit, click here. "Indian River Life Saving Station" is
faithfully reproduced from Paul's original color pencil artwork in a
limited edition of 500 hand-signed prints.
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