In 1875 the supply ship Haze delivered materials to Pointe au Barques to build a lifesaving station 300 yards south of the lighthouse. On September 15, 1876, the Class A station opened in the morning as the first lifesaving station on the Great Lakes. It was the finest station of its time, with a boat shed, boat maintenance and rebuilding shop, dining area, watch tower, ice house, captain's quarters, quarters for oarsmen with families, and other necessary buildings. In the early days, Class A stations were built only in the most remote and desolate areas to attract men to the young service. On April 23, 1880, a day known as Black Friday among life savers, Captain Kiah and his six oarsmen faced stormy Lake Huron with tragic results as the lake capsized and swamped their boat several times. One by one the six men died, and Captain Kiah was the only survivor. The station later created one of the best records within the district and the lakes, completing more than 200 missions from Pointe aux Barques before it was decommissioned in 1937. In 1915 the U.S. Life Saving Service and the U.S. Revenue Service were joined to become the United States Coast Guard.