- The small village of Prospect
Harbor developed a substantial fishing fleet in the nineteenth
century. The first lighthouse to mark the east side of the harbor
entrance was built in 1850. The light was deactivated between
1859 and 1870, because "the harbor is not used as a harbor
of refuge, and the village near which it is situated has only
a small coasting trade." Evidently, the use of the harbor
increased, as in 1870 the Lighthouse Board announced that the
light was reactivated on May 15 "to serve as a guide to
the harbor of refuge which it marks."
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- The first Prospect Harbor Light (U.S. Coast Guard)
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The original granite lighthouse attached to the keeper's house
was replaced in 1891 by the present 38-foot wood lighthouse with
a fifth order Fresnel lens, and a new 1 1/2 story farmhouse-style
keeper's house. The house and tower were at first attached by
a covered passageway, but the passageway was later removed. A
stone oil house was added in 1905, and for a time the station
had an active fog bell.
Civil War veteran Ambrose Wasgatt became keeper in 1891. His
two daughters later remembered playing croquet with guests at
the light station, as well as annual open houses that included
"boathouse dinners."
Long tables would be set up inside the boathouse with large
quantities of food for the visitors.
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- The oil house
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- U.S. Coast Guard photo
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The light was automated in 1934, but a keeper (John Workman)
remained at the station until 1953. In 1951 the Fresnel lens
was replaced.
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- The light remains an active aid to navigation, while the
surrounding grounds and buildings belong to the U.S. Navy; the
lighthouse is on the grounds of a Navy installation. The keeper's
house, known as "Gull
Cottage," is also available for overnight stays
for active and retired military families. Active Navy personnel
receive reservation priorities.
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- For information visit the Gull
Cottage web page.
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Some views of the interior of Gull
Cottage in June 2002:
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| According to guests at the keeper's house in
recent years, there has been ghostly activity in the building.
A statue of a sea captain (the one in the center in the picture
to the right) seems to change positions by itself, and some guests
claim to have seen or heard a ghost at night. |
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- A Coast Guard crew works on the lighthouse
in 2000
- U.S. Coast Guard photo
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A Coast Guard crew (an Industrial Support Detachment from
South Portland) did some work on the lighthouse in April of 2000.
The tower was reshingled and repainted; the interior had been
painted in the previous year.
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- Two views of the interior of the tower:
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The lighthouse tower itself was licensed in May 2000 to the
American Lighthouse
Foundation (ALF). ALF initiated the renovation of the
stairs and the replacement of a ladder in the tower in October
2001.
- The tower suffered from water leakage for some time. In August
2004, ALF had the lantern removed by crane and moved to a nearby
boatyard. The lead paint was removed and the lantern was repainted.
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- Inside the lantern room
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During the renovation in August 2004 |
At the same time, the lantern deck was rebuilt and the windows
were removed and replaced. The Cape Cod Chapter of ALF contributed
$30,000 toward this project from funds generated from the overnight
stays at Cape Cod's Race Point Lighthouse.
This attractive lighthouse can be seen across the harbor from
Route 186 in Prospect Harbor. You can also drive to the entrance
of the Navy installation for a good view of the light station.
The grounds around the lighthouse are off limits because of security
concerns at the Navy installation.
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- Photo by Dawn Perry, Administrative Officer
Naval Satellite Operations Center Detachment ALFA
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- Keepers: Pilsbury Stevens (1850-1853);
S. H. Sargent (1853-1858); Gibeon E. Harman (1858-1859); John
Royal (1870-1872); Horatio Allen (1872-1885); Ambrose Wasgatt
(1885-1918); Albion Faulkingham (1925-1935); John Workman (1935-1953)
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