Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth and Cape Elizabeth MR: Difference between pages

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[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
File:Portsmouth Harbor (2).jpg|WWII Military Reservations
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR Plan.jpg|thumb|311x311px|Reservation Plan]]
File:PORTSMOUTH HRBR MP.jpg|Harbor Defense Chart
The Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation (Location 158) was established in 1942 for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland|Harbor Defenses of Portland]]. Batteries 101 and 201 were to be built along with Fire Control and Radar Stations. The reservation was split into three parcels. Site 1A was 32.62 acres acquired in 1943 for Battery 201. Site 1B was directly behind site 1A and was 7.3 acres acquired in 1943 for a combined Fire Control Tower and Battery Commanders Station. Site 2A was .30 acres acquired in 1942 for a combined Fire Control and Radar Tower. Site 3A was also acquired in 1942 for a radar tower. This was a sub post of [[Fort Williams]] nearby.
 
== Fire Control and Radar Towers ==
Two Fire Control Towers and two radar stations were built on the reservation. A fire control switchboard was located in Battery 201.
 
=== Site 1B The Silo ===
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR 16.jpg|left|thumb|195x195px|The Silo in 2023]]
This Fire Control Tower was built in 1943 as a Battery Commanders Station for Battery 201. It also housed a Base-End Station for Battery 201 (It was going to include one for Battery 101). The tower was built next to a farmhouse and disguised as a silo. The farmhouse burned shortly after the tower was completed. This tower was nearly identical to the one at [[Emerson Point MR]]. Today the tower is sealed and is slowly deteriorating. Barracks were once located next to the tower.
 
 
 
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR 21.jpg|left|thumb|144x144px|Cape Elizabeth West Light]]
 
=== Site 2A The Lighthouse ===
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 18.jpg|thumb|155x155px|Top Floor of the Lighthouse]]
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 28.jpg|thumb|150x150px|Lighthouse Steps]]
This combined fire control and radar tower was built in 1942 on top of the deactivated West Light (1874). This station was not disguised as a lighthouse but rather a water tower. A faux wooden tank held the SCR-296 radar. This station was for Battery 202 at [[Jewell Island MR]] and Battery 203 at [[Peaks Island MR]]. During the war the tower was painted brown. The faux water tank was removed around 1946. The tower was sold and the DPF pads were drilled out at one point. Gary Merrill who was the ex-husband of Bette Davis owned the tower from 1971-83. In 1985 the tower was purchased by Ken Lane who restored the exterior of the tower and has lived in the adjacent house since.
 
 
 
=== Site 3A The Radar Tower ===
[[File:Dyer Point Radar.jpg|left|thumb|149x149px|Radar Tower Footers]]
In 1942 a steel radar tower with a faux wooden tank was built at Dyer Point next to the Lobster Shack. The tower was probably removed shortly after the war, but the concrete footers still remain at the Lobster Shack.
 
 
 
== Battery 201 ==
Construction began on Battery 201 in 1942 and it was completed in 1944 unarmed. This battery had two 6-inch shieled guns on barbette carriages. This battery was designated Battery #1 on defense charts and was proposed to be named Battery Fesseden. Fire Control Stations for this battery were located at [[Fletchers Neck MR]], [[Prouts Neck MR]], [[Cape Elizabeth MR]], [[Fort Levett]] and [[Jewell Island MR]]. The battery would have had a range of 15 miles and 5 rounds of shells weighing 105lbs could be shot per minute. In 1946 the battery was abandoned by the coast artillery.<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="75">
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 12.jpg|Central Entrance
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 13.jpg|Exhaust Vents
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 09.jpg|Emplacement #1 Entrance
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 10.jpg|Emplacement #1
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 05.jpg|Emplacement #2 Entrance
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 06.jpg|Emplacement #2
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 11.jpg|Vent Shaft
File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 09.jpg|Reproduction Doors
File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 04.jpg|Shell Room
File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 01.jpg|Compressor Room
File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 27.jpg|Generator Room
File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 05.jpg|Plotting Room
</gallery>
</gallery>
== Battery 101 ==
Battery 101 was going to be a twin 16-inch Long Range Barbette Battery but was terminated before a site was secured for construction. This battery would have been identical to Battery Steele at [[Peaks Island MR]].
== Present ==
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR 03.jpg|thumb|245x245px|Battery 201 Central Entrance]]
In 1961 sites 1A and 1B were taken over by the state to create Two Lights State Park. In 1995 an interpretation project was set up inside the battery which involved putting new electric lights and exit signs in. Interoperative plaques still remain marking each of the rooms with their purpose. Today all of the reservation except for the West Light is accessible to the public. Battery 201 is closed to the public at this time.
=== REFERENCES AND SOURCES ===
[https://www.archives.gov/ National Archives]
[https://www.cehistory.org/ Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society]
[http://www.fortwiki.com/Cape_Elizabeth_Military_Reservation Fort Wiki]
[https://cdsg.org/ Coast Defense Study Group]
[https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/me3.html American Fort Network]

Revision as of 18:32, 12 November 2023

Reservation Plan

The Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation (Location 158) was established in 1942 for the Harbor Defenses of Portland. Batteries 101 and 201 were to be built along with Fire Control and Radar Stations. The reservation was split into three parcels. Site 1A was 32.62 acres acquired in 1943 for Battery 201. Site 1B was directly behind site 1A and was 7.3 acres acquired in 1943 for a combined Fire Control Tower and Battery Commanders Station. Site 2A was .30 acres acquired in 1942 for a combined Fire Control and Radar Tower. Site 3A was also acquired in 1942 for a radar tower. This was a sub post of Fort Williams nearby.

Fire Control and Radar Towers

Two Fire Control Towers and two radar stations were built on the reservation. A fire control switchboard was located in Battery 201.

Site 1B The Silo

The Silo in 2023

This Fire Control Tower was built in 1943 as a Battery Commanders Station for Battery 201. It also housed a Base-End Station for Battery 201 (It was going to include one for Battery 101). The tower was built next to a farmhouse and disguised as a silo. The farmhouse burned shortly after the tower was completed. This tower was nearly identical to the one at Emerson Point MR. Today the tower is sealed and is slowly deteriorating. Barracks were once located next to the tower.


Cape Elizabeth West Light

Site 2A The Lighthouse

Top Floor of the Lighthouse
Lighthouse Steps

This combined fire control and radar tower was built in 1942 on top of the deactivated West Light (1874). This station was not disguised as a lighthouse but rather a water tower. A faux wooden tank held the SCR-296 radar. This station was for Battery 202 at Jewell Island MR and Battery 203 at Peaks Island MR. During the war the tower was painted brown. The faux water tank was removed around 1946. The tower was sold and the DPF pads were drilled out at one point. Gary Merrill who was the ex-husband of Bette Davis owned the tower from 1971-83. In 1985 the tower was purchased by Ken Lane who restored the exterior of the tower and has lived in the adjacent house since.


Site 3A The Radar Tower

Radar Tower Footers

In 1942 a steel radar tower with a faux wooden tank was built at Dyer Point next to the Lobster Shack. The tower was probably removed shortly after the war, but the concrete footers still remain at the Lobster Shack.


Battery 201

Construction began on Battery 201 in 1942 and it was completed in 1944 unarmed. This battery had two 6-inch shieled guns on barbette carriages. This battery was designated Battery #1 on defense charts and was proposed to be named Battery Fesseden. Fire Control Stations for this battery were located at Fletchers Neck MR, Prouts Neck MR, Cape Elizabeth MR, Fort Levett and Jewell Island MR. The battery would have had a range of 15 miles and 5 rounds of shells weighing 105lbs could be shot per minute. In 1946 the battery was abandoned by the coast artillery.

  • Central Entrance
    Central Entrance
  • Exhaust Vents
    Exhaust Vents
  • Emplacement #1 Entrance
    Emplacement #1 Entrance
  • Emplacement #1
    Emplacement #1
  • Emplacement #2 Entrance
    Emplacement #2 Entrance
  • Emplacement #2
    Emplacement #2
  • Vent Shaft
    Vent Shaft
  • Reproduction Doors
    Reproduction Doors
  • Shell Room
    Shell Room
  • Compressor Room
    Compressor Room
  • Generator Room
    Generator Room
  • Plotting Room
    Plotting Room

Battery 101

Battery 101 was going to be a twin 16-inch Long Range Barbette Battery but was terminated before a site was secured for construction. This battery would have been identical to Battery Steele at Peaks Island MR.

Present

Battery 201 Central Entrance

In 1961 sites 1A and 1B were taken over by the state to create Two Lights State Park. In 1995 an interpretation project was set up inside the battery which involved putting new electric lights and exit signs in. Interoperative plaques still remain marking each of the rooms with their purpose. Today all of the reservation except for the West Light is accessible to the public. Battery 201 is closed to the public at this time.

REFERENCES AND SOURCES

National Archives

Cape Elizabeth Historical Preservation Society

Fort Wiki

Coast Defense Study Group

American Fort Network

Media in category "Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth"

The following 200 files are in this category, out of 703 total.

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