Ida Lewis Auditorium Opening Ceremony

The opening for the Ida Lewis Auditorium was held here at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May on Oct. 10, 2001. Idawalley Zorada Lewis, called Ida, was born in Newport, Rhode Island on Feb. 25, 1842.

She was the second of four children of Captain Hosea Lewis and Idawalley Zorada (Willey) Lewis. Captain Lewis was appointed keeper of Lime Rock Light in the early 1850's. By the mid-1850's, Captain Lewis suffered a stroke that left him unable to work.

The duties of light keeper fell to his wife, and eventually Ida, who was officially appointed keeper of the light in 1887. During her time on Lime Rock, Ida was credited with saving 18 lives, although some reports claim as high as 25.

Ida accomplished her first rescue when she was 16 and her last rescue when she was 64.

Ida received numerous awards for her rescues. Among the highest being:

• U.S. Life Saving Service Gold Medal


• Massachusetts Humane Society Silver Medal


• American Cross of Honor Society Gold Medal

Ida Lewis, the heroine of "Lime Rock" became known as "The Grace Darling of America". Grace Darling was an English heroine whom made her rescues from the open sea. Until her death in 1911, Ida remained keeper of the Lime Rock Light. Her death was mourned not only by Rhode Island but the entire world.

In 1924, the Rhode Island legislature officially changed the name of Lime Rock to Ida Lewis Rock. Later the Lighthouse Service changed the name of the light to Ida Lewis Lighthouse. This was the only time a lighthouse was named to honor a person.

Program of events for opening ceremony -
Arrival of the Official Party
Musical Honors National Anthem
Introductions - CWO Bill Carson Remarks - CAPT Douglas Wisniewski, Commanding Officer, TRACEN Cape May Remarks - RADM Vivien Crea, Director of Information and Technology/Chief Information Officer
Presentation - MCPO Dave Evans and HS1 Jillynda Williams
Blessing - LCDR Sam Ferretti, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy Reserve

From the files -- Cape May's Relay History

Prior to falling into the capable hands of the Coast Guard in 1948, Cape May belonged to the Marines, then the Navy.

The first Marine Aeronautical Company trained and flew seaplane operations at Cape May beginning Oct. 14, 1917. The Marines who trained here later fought in Europe during World War I. In December 1917, the Navy began to use the site as well for seaplanes and "lighter-than-air" dirigible anti-submarine patrols. The site was names Camp Wissahickon by the Navy and activities continued here until 1922.

In 1926, the second Coast Guard Air Station was founded here (the first was at Gloucester, Mass.) to deter rumrunners. The air station's first commanding officer was Cmdr. Carl C. Von Paulsen, a pioneer in the Coast Guard aviation. Lt. Cmdr. Elmer F. Stone, Coast Guard Aviator #1 and one of the pilots of the Navy NC-4 Curtis Seaplane that made the first successful trans-Atlantic crossing in 1919, relieved him. Capt. Richard L. Burke, who set a national and internal speed record with 500 kilograms of payload at 174 mph on June 25, 1935, at Cape May, relieved Stone. Two days later, Burke set the world record for altitude for amphibian planes at 18,100 feet.

For training purposes, an aviation school for enlisted personnel was founded at Cape May in 1934. The air station was decommissioned in 1938 due to a lack of funding. However, air patrol detachments were maintained at Cape May until 1941. During World War II, the Navy used Cape May again, this time for training pilots in aircraft carrier operations. The unique positions of Cape May on the Atlantic provided excellent simulated conditions.

One May 31, 1948, the Coast Guard moved in and they have been at Cape May for more than 60 years.