In 1889 the tower and house were both termed "old and dilapidated" and were replaced the following year. The new thirty-eight foot tall lighthouse was placed into operation in 1891. Plans were first to build it of brick, but instead, it was a wood-framed shingled structure. The adjacent two-story dwelling, shown above, was also built of wood. The lantern room held a fifth-order Fresnel lens. In 1905 a stone oil house was added.
Prospect Harbor was one of several Maine light stations that were done away with in 1934 as an economic move. The aforementioned Fresnel lens was removed in 1951 and replaced by an automatic modern optic. At the time of my visit in 2001, the lighthouse was the grounds for a Navy Special Operations Command and the installation was off-limits to the public. I was able to get this picture using a 500mm lens, although it was very foggy that morning.
The U.S. Navy, at the time of my visit, occupied the station and also used the former keeper's house as a guest and rental spot for active and ex-military personnel and their families. During the winter of 1999-2000, Coast Guard crews replaced the lighthouse's lantern deck, re-shingled the tower's sides, and applied a fresh coat of paint to the entire structure.
Since 1989 the Navy has cooperated with local townspeople in presenting an annual light station "open house" during the Memorial Day weekend. (As of my visit in 2001) The public was invited to tour the station grounds, including the buildings, and were given rare opportunity to enter and climb a Maine lighthouse.
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