Gelaspus Point MR: Difference between revisions

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Loc. 154 was a WWII Fire Control Site in Kennebunk ME.[[File:Gelaspus Point Locale 2024.jpg|left|thumb|155x155px|Tower Locale 2024]]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
[[File:Great Hill FCT Final.jpg|left|frameless|Gelaspus Point FCT]]
[[File:Great Hill FCT Final.jpg|left|frameless|Gelaspus Point FCT]]
Construction began in 1943 on this five story concrete tower on Great Hill in Kennebunk Maine. Originally this station would have been for Battery 103 at [[Fort Dearborn]] and for Battery 101 which was to be built at [[Cape Elizabeth MR]] but was terminated early in the war. This tower was the most northern tower for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth|Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]] and would have been the most southern tower for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland|Harbor Defenses of Portland]] ([[Cape Porpoise MR]] is the official southern most FCT for Portland). This site was designated Location 154. This tower is very similar in design to the tower at [[Halibut Point MR]] which is the most southern tower for Portsmouth. There are a few differences from the tower at Halibut Point such as the design of the barracks and the one less observation floor than at Halibut. The tower was demolished in 1949 by the landowners. There are no remains of the site and only two known photos of the tower.
[[File:Gelaspus Point FCS RCW 1943 2-2.jpg|right|frameless|239x239px]]
 
Completed in 1943 for $16.514, this station was the most northern FC station for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth|HD Portsmouth]]. It served only one gun battery, Battery 103 at [[Fort Dearborn]] with a DPF operated by 6 men. The tower had a second observation level which was designed for the never built [[Cape Elizabeth MR|Battery 101]]. AAIS-OP 13 was inside a faux wooden steeple on the roof. A wooden cottage surrounded the first two stories of the tower to aid in camouflage and provide barracks for the crew manning the tower (and searchlights). The reinforced concrete walls were 10" thick and were splinter proof. This station was very similar in design to the one at [[Halibut Point MR]]. This station was demolished in 1949 shortly after the Army's lease was up.  
 
=== SOURCES and REFERENCES ===
[https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/New_Hampshire/Towers/Great_Hill.html American Forts Network]
 
[https://www.cdsg.org Coast Defense Study Group]
 
[https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=8fa099aba657ed2dJmltdHM9MTcxNzk3NzYwMCZpZ3VpZD0xYjBlYTBjYi04OTI0LTY0ZmItM2NiNC1iNGEwODgwNDY1ZDkmaW5zaWQ9NTcxMA&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=1b0ea0cb-8924-64fb-3cb4-b4a0880465d9&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20vYWxpbmsvbGluaz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM2ElMmYlMmZicmlja3N0b3JlbXVzZXVtLm9yZyUyZiZzb3VyY2U9c2VycC1sb2NhbCZoPU5kU0N3YnJ5RDdOaGdCWGVrNmxyakFRRSUyYjlLZVR3ZUZ1bHkzWWFjVnhtQSUzZCZwPWx3X2xzdHAmaWc9QTA3MjUzOUM2NDUyNEY5OUJFMkEzM0ZGMDRCNzFFRUMmeXBpZD1ZTjg3M3gxMzI0ODk2NTY&ntb=1 Brick Store Museum]
 
HD Portsmouth Annex 1945
 
1943 Report of Completed Works

Latest revision as of 21:01, 7 December 2024

Loc. 154 was a WWII Fire Control Site in Kennebunk ME.

Tower Locale 2024
Gelaspus Point FCT
Gelaspus Point FCT

Completed in 1943 for $16.514, this station was the most northern FC station for the HD Portsmouth. It served only one gun battery, Battery 103 at Fort Dearborn with a DPF operated by 6 men. The tower had a second observation level which was designed for the never built Battery 101. AAIS-OP 13 was inside a faux wooden steeple on the roof. A wooden cottage surrounded the first two stories of the tower to aid in camouflage and provide barracks for the crew manning the tower (and searchlights). The reinforced concrete walls were 10" thick and were splinter proof. This station was very similar in design to the one at Halibut Point MR. This station was demolished in 1949 shortly after the Army's lease was up.

SOURCES and REFERENCES

American Forts Network

Coast Defense Study Group

Brick Store Museum

HD Portsmouth Annex 1945

1943 Report of Completed Works