Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor

Last updated

Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor
Part of Naval Security Group
Winter Harbor, Maine
RockefellerBuilding WinterHarborNavalStation.jpg
The "Rockefeller Building" at the former station
USA Maine location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor
Coordinates 44°20′17″N68°03′43″W / 44.338°N 68.062°W / 44.338; -68.062
Site information
Owner National Park Service
Controlled by Acadia National Park
ConditionStanding
Site history
Built1935
In use1935–2002
Garrison information
Current
commander
James W. Guest
GarrisonBig Moose Island, Maine
OccupantsBranch Medical Clinic, Winter Harbor; Customer Service Desk, Winter Harbor Maine; Naval Satellite Operations Center Detachment Alfa; Naval Security Support Group Detachment Two; Defense Commissary Agency, Winter Harbor, Maine; Navy Exchange, Winter Harbor, Maine
U.S. Naval Radio Station- Apartment Building and Power House
Built1935
ArchitectGrosvenor Atterbury
Architectural styleRustic Norman
NRHP reference No. 13000533
Added to NRHP5 July 2013

Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor was a radio station of the United States Navy that operated from 1935 to 2002.

Contents

History

In the early 1930s, Otter Cliffs Radio Station on Mount Desert Island was literally falling apart. [1] John D. Rockefeller, Jr., then developing the infrastructure of Acadia National Park, sought to locate the park's main loop road through the Otter Cliffs area. [2] The Navy was willing to meet Rockefeller halfway on the removal of the radio station from Otter Cliffs, agreeing to relocate if a suitable site could be found on the coast within 50 miles (80 km) of Otter Cliffs. [1] Big Moose Island, at the tip of Schoodic Peninsula about 5 miles (8.0 km) across the mouth of Frenchman Bay from Otter Cliffs, was determined to be an ideal location for the relocated radio station, and agreement was reached between the Navy, Interior Department, and Rockefeller for the relocation. [2]

Rockefeller, wishing the station's buildings to be compatible with others designed for the park, retained Grosvenor Atterbury, the New York architect who designed the park's gatehouses, to come up with plans for the radio station. Atterbury's plan for the new station included a beautiful residence hall similar to Mr. Rockefeller's residence at Seal Harbor. Artisans from all over the world contributed to the project. This building, and the adjacent power station which was also designed by Atterbury, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. [2]

On 28 February 1935, the U.S. Navy Radio and Direction Finding Station Winter Harbor was officially commissioned with Chief Radioman Max Gunn in charge of a complement of an 11 personnel crew. [1]

The station's name has changed several times over the years. In 1944, it was changed to Supplementary Radio Station, U.S. Naval Radio Station Winter Harbor. In 1950, it became known as U.S. Naval Radio Station (Receiver). The present station name, Naval Security Group Activity, Winter Harbor, became official on 9 June 1958.

In 2001, the base transitioned from an operational posture to focusing on the closure process, with the ultimate goal of transferring the Schoodic parcel to the National Park Service. The last System Maintenance Training Course graduated in July 2001. The AN/FRD-10 Wullenweber Antenna and Classic Wizard antennas came down in August. The last service was held at the Chapel 2 September 2001, and the Foc'sle Galley served its last meal on 28 September 2001. [1]

Redevelopment

After the base was closed in 2002, [3] the National Park Service (NPS) acquired the land and established the Schoodic Education and Research Center (SERC). The SERC campus is managed by the nonprofit Schoodic Institute and the NPS in a public-private partnership as one of 19 NPS research learning centers in the country. The center is dedicated to supporting scientific research in the park, providing professional development for teachers, and educating students who will become the next generation of park stewards. [4] [5]

Commanders

See also

Related Research Articles

Acadia National Park National park in the US state of Maine

Acadia National Park is an American national park located along the mid-section of the Maine coast, southwest of Bar Harbor. The park preserves about half of Mount Desert Island, part of the Isle au Haut, the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula, and portions of 16 smaller outlying islands. It protects the natural beauty of the rocky headlands, including the highest mountains along the Atlantic coast. Acadia boasts a glaciated coastal and island landscape, an abundance of habitats, a high level of biodiversity, clean air and water, and a rich cultural heritage.

Sullivan is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,219 at the 2020 census. The town was named for Daniel Sullivan, an early settler. Colloquially referred to as "Sully" or "the Sullivans"—like many Maine municipalities composed of villages with geographic designations of the town proper—the municipality was incorporated in 1789. Located in the Upper Schoodic Peninsula sub-region of Maine's Downeast Acadia region, the municipality has been known as "Waukeag", "New Bristol", and later Sullivan; and once included the nearby communities of Hancock, Sorrento, and what would later be Township 7, South & Middle Districts. Once home to abundant granite quarries, the town of Sullivan is now a residential community for nearby Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island. Located along U.S. Route 1, the Taunton River, and Hog Bay, Sullivan is home to a reversing tidal falls and many scenic turnouts that dot the Schoodic National Scenic Byway along the Upper Schoodic Peninsula.

Winter Harbor, Maine Town in Maine, United States

Winter Harbor is a town on the Schoodic Peninsula in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 461 at the 2020 census. The town is located just outside the Schoodic Peninsula portion of Acadia National Park, and is due east of the town of Bar Harbor and Ellsworth. Winter Harbor was once the location of a US Naval Station, NSGA-WH, which closed in the mid-2000s, and is now home to the Schoodic Institute’s Education and Research Center.

Mount Desert Island Island in the United States of America

Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of 108 square miles (280 km2) it is the 52nd-largest island in the United States, the sixth-largest island in the contiguous United States, and the second-largest island on the Eastern Seaboard, behind Long Island and ahead of Martha's Vineyard. According to the 2010 census, the island has a year-round population of 10,615. In 2017, an estimated 3.5 million tourists visited Acadia National Park on MDI. The island is home to numerous well-known summer colonies such as Northeast Harbor and Bar Harbor.

Grosvenor Atterbury American architect, urban planner and writer (1869–1956)

Grosvenor Atterbury was an American architect, urban planner and writer. He studied at Yale University, where he was an editor of campus humor magazine The Yale Record After travelling in Europe, he studied architecture at Columbia University and worked in the offices of McKim, Mead & White.

Schoodic Peninsula United States historic place

The Schoodic Peninsula is a peninsula in Down East Maine. It is located four miles (6 km) east of Bar Harbor, Maine, as the crow flies. The Schoodic Peninsula contains 2,266 acres (9 km2), or approximately 5% of Acadia National Park. It includes the towns of Gouldsboro and Winter Harbor. The peninsula has a rocky granite shoreline containing many volcanic dikes. The peninsula is home to the former United States Navy base, NSGA Winter Harbor, which has been converted into a National Park Service training center. A 3,300-acre (13 km2) resort development was proposed for land abutting Schoodic Peninsula's national park holdings to the north. An anonymous donor eventually bought the entire 3,200-acre tract and built the Schoodic Woods Campground and miles of gravel bike paths before donating all of it to Acadia National Park. Opening in 2015, Schoodic Woods is the newest campground in Acadia National Park, and the first built in the park since the original campgrounds were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression beginning in 1936. In the summer, the Schoodic peninsula is currently served by two separate ferry services from Bar Harbor to Winter Harbor that run daily.

VF-114 Military unit

Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) was a fighter squadron of the United States Navy that was active from 1945 through 1993. Nicknamed the "Aardvarks", it was based out of Naval Air Station Miramar, California. The squadron flew combat missions during the Korean War and Vietnam War. VF-114 was disestablished as part of the post-Cold War drawdown of forces on April 30, 1993.

Naval Air Station Sanford Airport in Sanford, Florida

Naval Air Station Sanford was a naval air station of the United States Navy in Sanford, Florida, approximately 20 miles north of Orlando, Florida. Opening less than a year after the start of World War II, NAS Sanford's initial function was as an advanced training base for land-based patrol bombers, followed by carrier-based fighter aircraft. The air station briefly closed in 1946 and was placed in caretaker status until being reactivated in 1950. It eventually served as a Master Jet Base for carrier-based heavy attack and reconnaissance aircraft until 1969. After its closure, it reopened as civilian general aviation airport under various names with a non-Navy civilian airport identifier until finally transitioning to a scheduled air carrier airport under its current name of Orlando-Sanford International Airport.

CSS <i>Acadia</i> Former Canadian research ship

CSS Acadia is a former hydrographic surveying and oceanographic research ship of the Hydrographic Survey of Canada and its successor the Canadian Hydrographic Service.

Otter Cliffs Radio Station

U.S. Naval Radio Station Otter Cliffs was a United States Navy radio receiver facility located in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, south of Bar Harbor, Maine.

VX-6 Military unit

Air Development Squadron Six was a United States Navy Air Development Squadron based at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Established at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on 17 January 1955, the squadron's mission was to conduct operations in support of Operation Deep Freeze, the operational component of the United States Antarctic Program.

VXE-6 United States Navy Air Test and Evaluation Squadron

Antarctic Development Squadron Six was a United States Navy air test and evaluation squadron based at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California with forward operating bases at Christchurch, New Zealand and McMurdo Station, Antarctica.

Priority Material Office Military unit

Established on 16 April 1964 as the Pacific Fleet Polaris Material Office (PMOPAC), the Priority Material Office (PMO) is headquartered at Naval Base Kitsap, Bremerton, Washington. PMO is a U.S. Naval command under the operational control of the Commander, Submarine Force, U. S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC). PMO is charged with providing dedicated logistics support to Pacific and Atlantic Fleet submarine forces, surface ship forces, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Military Sealift Command (MSC) units.

VF-92 (1952–1975) Military unit

Fighter Squadron 92, or VF-92Silver Kings was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established as VF-92 on 26 March 1952, it was redesignated VF-54 on 1 June 1962, redesignated VF-92 on 15 October 1963, it was disestablished on 12 December 1975. It was the third US Navy squadron to be designated VF-92.

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26 Military unit

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion TWO SIX was a United States Navy Seabee battalion commissioned in 1942 for support to Naval Operations in the Pacific Theater in World War II and later a Reserve Naval Construction Battalion based in various locations in the Midwest from 1962 until 2014.

RVAH-13 Military unit

RVAH-13 was a Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron of the U.S. Navy. Originally established as Heavy Attack Squadron Thirteen (VAH-13) on 3 January 1961 it was redesignated as Reconnaissance Attack (Heavy) Squadron Thirteen (RVAH-13) on 1 November 1964. The squadron was disestablished on 30 June 1976.

Alessandro Fabbri

Alessandro Fabbri (1877–1922) was both the builder and the commanding officer of the Otter Cliffs Radio Station, a United States Navy facility that was important during World War I. He was awarded the Navy Cross for exceptionally meritorious service.

Laurence A. Abercrombie

Laurence Allen Abercrombie, was a decorated commander during World War II who reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. Admiral Abercrombie was thrice awarded the Navy Cross, United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Urban, JO1 Sarah (21 March 2002). "End of an Era: NSGA Winter Harbor to Close Its Doors NNS020321-08". Navy News Service.
  2. 1 2 3 "NRHP nomination for U.S. Naval Radio Station- Apartment Building and Power House" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. "The Navy at Schoodic Point" (archive). schoodicinstitute.org. Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  4. "Schoodic Institute - Mission & History" (archive). schoodicinstitute.org. Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  5. "Schoodic Education and Research Center" (archive). nps.gov. National Park Service. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  6. "Previous Officers in Charge". navycthistory.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  7. "A Brief History of NSGA Winter Harbor". navycthistory.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.