OSWEGO – A commemoration event to honor six former Oswego Coast Guardsmen was presented during last night’s Oswego Common Council meeting public session forum, Monday October 24.
Executive Director of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum Mercedes Niess and H. Lee White Board of Director Vice-President Dr. Robert Morgan stood before the Council presenting their plans to recognize six Coast Guardsmen who worked at the Oswego Station in 1942, thus perishing on a trip out to the lighthouse in severe weather.
“We have decided one of the many things we talk about when we take people out to the lighthouse is the tragedy that happened Dec. 4, 1942 when six Coast Guardsmen essentially drowned from hypothermia trying to exchange the lighthouse keeper,” Morgan said.
According to Morgan, with help from the city, the maritime museum was able to acquire a new pontoon tour boat this year for lighthouse tours. To honor the six Coast Guardsmen who lost their lives, the museum has decided to rename their boat “Honored Six Lighthouse Tender.”
According to Morgan, this year is the 80th anniversary of the tragic event. The H. Lee White Maritime Museum is planning a ceremony, feeling the selfless Guardsmen were never appropriately commemorated for their sacrifice.
“Our Coast Guard has been here for a long time, and their routine is – they’re at battle with nature all the time. They get mother nature when she’s really ticked off at us,” Morgan said. “Like firemen, they’re the ones who run into a building that’s burning. We just don’t think they were given the recognition that they should have. So, we want to bring some attention to that.”
Morgan went on to say that this is one of the largest tragedies for the Coast Guard since the start of WWI outside of Pearl Harbor, which happened three days after the Lake Ontario event, a year prior.
Also saying the museum is expecting 200-300 in attendance for the event; with invitations going out to Governor Kathy Hochul, Oswego County senators and congressmen/women, the Oswego County Legislature, Oswego Common Council, Oswego County Sheriff’s Office, Oswego Coast Guard, Oswego Police and Fire Departments, and others as well.
“The Coast Guard is excited. We would anticipate people from the Rochester and Buffalo Offices’ and everybody from the Coast Guard Station here,” Morgan said.
Morgan also asked the city for a $2000.00 discretionary donation to help fund the commemoration.
The event will be held from 1-3 p.m. on December 4, 2022; the event forum is still to be announced. More information will be posted when available.
Other items discussed during the main portion of last night’s meeting was the acquisition of Oswego County tax properties that have been foreclosed on within Oswego City limits.
According to Mayor Billy Barlow, the City of Oswego pays the county the defaulted property taxes on homes within city limits to avoid the residences going to county auction; thus being quickly bought up by Oswego landlords with minimal investment in the structures.
After acquiring ownership of the homes, the city sends out a thirty-day notice to the former owners, giving them a second chance to pay off their taxes and resume ownership.
If the taxes remain delinquent, the homes then go to city auction with the caveat that potential buyers must provide plans for desired use of the structure. By instilling this measure, the city can choose the buyer, thus eliminating potential blight throughout the city.
“This is the third or fourth time that we’ve done this process and we can actually provide examples of properties around the city to prove that this is actually the way to go in terms of neighborhood preservation and revitalization,” Barlow said. “So, this has worked really well and we’re going to stick with it.”
All bids are sealed, opened only during the Common Council Executive Sessions to pour over and select potential buyers. According to Barlow, all bid applications can be found at the City Clerk’s office or Code Enforcement office.
The meeting ended with Common Counselor President Robert Corradino reminding the public that there will be no Committee meeting on Monday, October 31 due to Halloween; instead reminding everyone of the 16th annual Halloween Parade. The parade will begin at 5:00 p.m.
“The fire department will lead the parade starting at the intersection of Munn Street and Burden Drive and the children, probably a hundred or so, will be walking down Burden Drive down to the Stone Ledge Park where I and several other volunteers will be passing out donut holes and some apple cider,” Corradino said.
Corradino said for anyone wishing to volunteer with the donuts and cider, please make yourself available at Stone Ledge Park at 5:15 p.m.
All resolutions on last night’s agenda were unanimously passed by the Council. To view the full agenda, please click here. To view the public session You Tube video, please click here. All Common Council meetings are held the second and fourth Monday of every month, the next meeting to be held on Monday, November 14 at 7:15 p.m. The next Committee meeting will be held on Monday, Oct. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
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