Proceed No Further
"Proceed No Further" -
Prospect Harbor Light in peaceful Gouldsboro Maine, was originally a rubble granite stone tower built in 1850 after approved appropriations came from Congress in 1847. Designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers it is located at Prospect Harbor Point and meant to help guide vessels of the growing local commercial fishing fleet. Lobster and groundfish (cod, flounder, halibut) were common. However in 1859, it was deactivated due to the harbor being re-classified by the U.S. Lighthouse Board as a non-essential harbor of refuge for marine traffic during reoccurring Atlantic storms. In the following decade the fishing fleet grew larger and the operational activity of the Light tower was reactivated in 1870 with a fifth order Fresnel lens and other improvements to fix its deteriorated condition.
In 1891 the current Keeper’s Quarters and the Light tower were rebuilt but this time as a conical shaped wood framed structure sided with wooden shingles painted bright white as a daymark with black painted lantern housing which is how it still remains today. The 38 foot high tower (and 42 feet above High Mean Tide) has a ten-sided glass lantern room with an iron polygonal top. The tower was automated in 1934 and upgraded with an electrical optical light beam. In 1951 even more efficient high-energy modern optics with battery back-ups were installed. The station underwent major restoration in the early 2000’s due to water infiltration and deteriorating materials. The quarters have been dubbed the "Gull Cottage" by the Coast Guardsmen assigned the task of guarding the tower operations as well as the satellite station itself.
Prior to October 1, 2024 reservations could be made for overnight stays by all active duty and retired military personnel but not by the general public as is customary with other Light stations. In June 2022, one military family of 5 that stayed here were awakened in the night by fire/smoke alarms. Multiple local fire departments answered the call, and fought gallantly to save the Light tower structure since it was all wood, however, the house became a casualty to the fire burning through most of the second floor and roof. The cause was reported to have been an electrical short in a bathroom vent fan and deemed accidental. That same year a restoration project was under way to renovate the Keeper's Quarters that had so badly been damaged by the smoke and fire. The property had been, up to October 1, 2024 a high security navigational satellite operations station for the U.S Navy (NAVCOM) and operated and guarded by the U.S Coast Guard.
After October 1, 2024 the entire property including the lighthouse quarters and tower were no longer under the control of the U.S. Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) for military satellite operations (since 1962) but rather under the authority of the U.S. Space Force as a separate entity. This U.S. Space Force station is now known as the 10th SOPS (Space Operations Squadron) Detachment ALFA, a component of Delta 8 located at Point Mugu CA, responsible for military satellite telemetry, communications and guidance coordination. Other stations are located throughout the United States (Colorado, Florida, California) and other parts of the world like on Finegayan Island, Guam.
Personal Note: Currently, due to the increased security over the fact the station is now part of the U.S. Space Force SOPS, there appears from online photos to be an added security point of entry with a guard house and ID station. The fencing is higher and now topped with barb-wire. The fencing and security around the radome covered satellite installations is separate from the lighthouse station with it's own fencing but entry to the Lighthouse grounds is still restricted to authorized personnel only.
However, in 2014 when this photo was taken and the facility was only a NAVSOC satellite operations facility, security was perhaps a little more relaxed. But it did not seem that way to me at the time. At only two other operationally active lighthouse locations in the country had I ever witnessed this kind of scrutinized security. Most U.S. active operational lighthouses are secured under the auspices of The Department of Homeland Security with enforcement by the U.S. Coast Guard. As I approached the fence line, I could quickly see that there was a special interest given me by the U.S. Coast Guardsmen patrolling the fence line in their all dark blue operational dress uniforms. They slowly approached me as I walked down the fence line to the waters edge, I told myself my camera had better not stray towards the satellite installations, to the left of me in this photo. All I wanted after all was just a photo of the lighthouse. Once I reached the water's edge, I slowly but surely snapped several photos of the lighthouse. The inflatable pontoons you see in the foreground float into the water during higher tide and were added restrictions for those who might consider wading into the water to get closer. I was not interested in doing that. As they approached me, both were armed with guns drawn and at a "MLR" or Modified Lower Ready position. One had what looked like a M249 SAW 5.56mm machine gun with a shoulder strap and the other with a semi-automatic 9mm pistol. One yelled loudly and firmly at me "PROCEED NO FURTHER" and then added, "take no photos of the installations to your left nor photos of us. Back-up to a point further up the beach. Do it now."
I said thank you and was very willing to abide by his commands.
