The fire at Prospect Harbor light station after dawn on Monday sent black smoke billowing into the sky. Joseph Pitts photo via Ellsworth American
GOULDSBORO — The 131-year-old Prospect Harbor lightkeeper’s house was extensively damaged by fire on Monday. However, the 38-foot-tall light tower, a source of pride in town and notable for being a wooden structure, was not damaged.
A state Fire Marshal’s Office investigator was on the scene, but no cause has been determined yet.
Ten departments helped fight the fire in the historic wood-frame dwelling.
Standing on Prospect Harbor’s eastern shore, the automated Prospect Harbor Light station is on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Satellite Operations Center on Lighthouse Point. Called Gull Cottage, the two-story house is used as a vacation retreat for military personnel and their families. A family of five was staying in the dwelling and a family member reported the fire at 5:13 a.m. The family was able to get out unharmed.
First responders from 10 departments helped extinguish the fire at the keeper’s cottage at Prospect Harbor light station. Photo from Ellsworth American
Within minutes, the Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor fire departments were at the U.S. Navy facility and battling the fire, which was concentrated in the second story and roof.
Billowing black smoke from Gull Cottage’s roof could be seen from across the harbor and beyond as Steuben, Sorrento, Sullivan, Franklin, Hancock, Cherryfield, Lamoine and Trenton firefighters streamed in to help fight the fire. It was mostly extinguished by 10 a.m. The Schoodic EMS squad also responded and Milbridge dispatched an ambulance that stood by on Route 1. The Blue Hill Fire Department served as backup for the Sullivan Fire Department. Gouldsboro police also assisted.
Appointed by selectmen on Thursday, Gouldsboro Fire Chief Todd Daley credited the quick response of local fire departments and steady arrival of tankers to put out the fire. He said a southwest wind picked up and challenged the firefighting effort. While the cottage’s ocean-facing first floor, with its covered porch, looks partially intact, the chief says both fire and water caused much damage.
“Between water and fire damage, it is a complete loss,” Daley summed up Monday morning. He noted, however, that the light tower is unscathed and firefighters used it to better see the fire’s progression and took advantage of the tower as a platform to put out the fire. The beacon remains a navigational aid maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.
A U.S. Navy rear admiral’s painting of Prospect Harbor was among the historical items removed from the cottage. Patrick McNulty/Gouldsboro Police Department
Daley added that a rear admiral’s oil painting of the Prospect Harbor Light station was salvaged.
Activated in 1849, the original Prospect Harbor lighthouse and attached 1.5-story lightkeeper’s quarters were constructed with granite. The first appointed lightkeeper was Nathaniel Noyes. The lantern room was fitted with an improved fifth-order Fresnel lens, changing the beacon’s fixed white light to a flash every 60 seconds. The original lighthouse and cottage were replaced with wood structures in 1891.
The light’s last keeper, Albion Faulkingham, served from 1930 until the beacon was automated in 1934.
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