Local author and historian James D. Charlet, aka Keeper James, is passionate about Outer Banks maritime history and the history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, predecessor of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS) existed nationally from 1871 until 1915. As Charlet will readily tell you, the surfmen of the USLSS responded to more than 178,000 lives in peril from shipwrecks – and saved more than 177,000 of those lives! Somehow, he laments, America forgot these heroes. Most people do not even know that the USLSS existed. Part of the reason is that in 1915, the USLSS merged with the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and was renamed the United States Coast Guard, which we all familiar with today.
Charlet keeps this part of the Outer Banks past alive by telling the stories of the many shipwrecks that occurred here in the Graveyard of the Atlantic and of the brave U.S. Life-Saving surfmen who performed heroic deeds and dramatic rescues.
Charlet’s first book on the subject, Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, published in 2020 by Globe Pequot Press, continues to be top seller. His second book, Sensational Wrecks and Heroic Rescues by the United States Life-Saving Service, is being released next week (April 15). The new book is available for pre-order now through national bookstores, and both books will be available as a hardcover set. Charlet is already at work on a third volume.
Photo: James D. Charlet, aka Keeper James, often dress the part of a USLSS Keeper as he shares the stories of the past. Photo courtesy Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group | Facebook
Charlet is hosting a Book Launch event for his new book on Sunday, April 13 at Oregon Inlet Fishing Center (see details below). On Sunday you can get signed copies of the book, meet Keeper James and participate in a fundraiser for another one of Charlet’s passion projects: saving the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Savng/Coast Guard Station.
Because Charlet is more than an author and historian. He is also a preservationist deeply committed to keeping the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station (once the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station and then the No. 16/Coast Guard Station No. 176) where it is and giving this important historic building a new life.
Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station was one of 29 stations along the North Carolina coast and is one of the few left intact on the North Carolina coast. On the north end of Hatteras Island, it’s the station you see just as you head south over the Basnight Bridge over Oregon Inlet. The only building for miles around, surrounded by vast stretches of dunes, beach, ocean and sound, the lone, obviously historic building stands in memory of a previous time. It is a much-loved symbol of the history and natural beauty we all cherish about the Outer Banks.
The remote Oregon Inlet station was in use for 73 years, its crewmen saving lives, assisting mariners and helping locals and travelers. The U.S. Coast Guard abandoned the building in 1988 and moved to the modern station that’s currently in use on the north side of Oregon Inlet. Since then, the historic building has been neglected, left to deteriorate and even vandalized. At one point is was partially restored, but then it was left alone again, its fate unknown.
Photo: The 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station on northernmost Hatteras Island. Photo courtesy Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group | Facebook
Charlet lives on Hatteras Island and was the site manager of Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Historic Site from 2005 to 2015, developing a deep respect for the Life-Saving Service history during that time. For years he worked at Wright Brothers National Memorial and Roanoke Island Festival Park, which required crossing bridge over Oregon Inlet every day.
“I’d see the Oregon Inlet station every day, and like everyone else, I would say, something needs to be done about that station! It’s falling apart,” Charlet says.
He did some research and learned that the building is now in the hands of the North Carolina Aquariums. The Aquariums initially had plans to use the building for educational purposes, but then the money funded for the project went to the Jennette’s Pier project and the station has been left to languish.
Charlet also learned that there was talk of moving it from Hatteras Island to another location. “We cannot allow that to happen,” Charlet says.
He vehemently disputes rumors that it “needs to be moved.” He points out that erosion is definitely not a problem as it is surrounded by acres of open land and that it has survived the Outer Banks weather for 127 years. To see more about the saga of the station ownership, click here.
In January 2024 Charlet formed a 501(c)(1) nonprofit, Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group, and established a board of directors with the goal of rescuing, repairing and repurposing the station.
Charlet envisions the Oregon Inlet station as a Hatteras Island Welcome Center for the three million people who visit Hatteras Island each year. He wants to see not only helpful visitor information and restrooms but also a museum celebrating all 29 of the Outer Banks U.S. Life-Saving stations. He envisions re-creations of the original 1898 rooms, including kitchen mess, keeper’s office, boat room, weather station and watch tower with an incredible view. He has thoughts of using the space for events and gatherings to keep necessary funds coming in.
Even though the group does not own the station, they are raising money with hopes of getting the support of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources and the local community to keep the station where it is and repurpose it into something of great value for locals and visitors.
“What we need is public support, vocal comments from residents and visitors, and support from the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources," Charlet says.
Help Save the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving/Coast Guard Station
- Send a donation via the website
- Be a corporate sponsor of Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group
- Help spread the word via social media posts or other way
- Send your comments and permission to share them with the appropriate officials to: James D. “Keeper James” Charlet, Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group, Founder, Chair & CEO, email: LifeSavingServiceOBX@gmail.com
- Attend Charlet's Book Launch on Sunday
Meet Keeper James
Book Launch
Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic
Sunday, April 13
2 to 4 p.m.
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center Event Venue, 8770 Oregon Inlet Rd, south of Nags Head
Charlet will sell, sign and personalize initial pre-release copies. He will also auction Copy No. 1, with proceeds donated to the nonprofit Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation group, who are saving the 1898 Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station. If you can’t make the local signing, the book will be available at all Outer Banks bookstores (shop local!) and national retailers.
For more information visit the Outer Banks Coast Guard History Preservation Group website or Facebook page.
About the Author Molly Harrison
Molly Harrison is managing editor at OneBoat, publisher of OuterBanksThisWeek.com. She moved to Nags Head in 1994 and since then has made her living writing articles and creating publications about the people, places and culture of the Outer Banks.
