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[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]]
Trundy Point Military Reservation was used for Fire Control as part of the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland|Harbor Defenses of Portland]] from 1922-45. Designated Location 159. Located at the end of Avon Road on Blue Hill in Cape Elizabeth Maine.
Loc. 159 Trundy Point was a Fire Control site part of the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland|Harbor Defenses of Portland]] from 1922-45. Located at the end of Avon Road on Blue Hill in Cape Elizabeth ME.


=== 1922 Tower ===
=== Site 1A ===
When Battery Foote at [[Fort Levett]] was built, it had the longest-range guns in Portland at the time. Due to the distance that the batteries projectiles could travel it was necessary to construct a few [[Fire Control Tower List|Fire Control Towers]] to help triangulate the location of enemy vessels. In 1922 a steel tower was built with one observation level for Battery Foote. It was used throughout WWII until Battery Foote was deactivated.<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="100">
[[File:Trundy Point MR 34.jpg|right|frameless|270x270px]]
File:Trundy Point MR 34.jpg|The only remaining steel tower north of New Jersey
File:Trundy Point MR 28.jpg|Towers base
File:Trundy Point MR 35.jpg|Steel ladder
File:Trundy Point MR 29.jpg|Note the deterioration
File:Trundy Point MR 30.jpg|Pipe Handrail
File:Trundy Point MR 33.jpg|Note the wooden floors
File:Trundy Point MR 32.jpg|Concrete Cab
</gallery>


=== 1943 Tower ===
When Battery Foote at [[Fort Levett]] was built, it had the longest-range guns in Portland at the time. Due to the distance that the batteries projectiles could travel it was necessary to construct a few [[Fire Control Tower List|Fire Control Towers]] to help triangulate the location of enemy vessels. In 1922 a steel tower was built with one observation level for Battery Foote. The cab was splinter proofed sometime during WWII and saw use until 1945.
In 1942 construction began on an eight-story tower near the original 1922 tower. It would have two observation levels. The eighth floor (DPF) was used for Battery Cravens at [[Peaks Island MR]] and the seventh floor (DPF) was used for Battery Ferguson at [[Fort Levett]] to the best of my knowledge. This tower unlike many in the area did not have an Anti-Aircraft Observation Post.<gallery>
=== Site 1B ===
File:Trundy Point MR 36.jpg|Approach to the tower
[[File:Trundy Point MR 36.jpg|left|frameless|1943 Tower]]
File:Trundy Point MR 01.jpg
In 1943 construction began on an eight-story tower near the original 1922 tower. It would have two observation levels. The eighth floor (DPF) was used for Battery Cravens at [[Peaks Island MR]] and the seventh floor (DPF) was used for Battery Ferguson at [[Fort Levett]]. A communications cable junction box is located under the tower.
File:Trundy Point MR 02.jpg|Entrance
[[File:Trundy Point MR 24.jpg|right|frameless]]
File:Trundy Point MR 03.jpg|First floor
File:Trundy Point MR 05.jpg|Destroyed electric panel
File:Trundy Point MR 04.jpg|Communications panel
File:Trundy Point MR 07.jpg|Communication cable junction box
File:Trundy Point MR 08.jpg|Ascending Stairs
File:Trundy Point MR 22.jpg|Descending Stairs
File:Trundy Point MR 21.jpg|Floors 1-6 have the same steps to the top
File:Trundy Point MR 20.jpg|Sixth Floor
File:Trundy Point MR 19.jpg|I don't think that is the original ladder
File:Trundy Point MR 15.jpg|Seventh Floor
File:Trundy Point MR 14.jpg
File:Trundy Point MR 11.jpg|Eighth Floor
File:Trundy Point MR 12.jpg
File:Trundy Point MR 17.jpg|Window hinges
File:Trundy Point MR 10.jpg|DPF on both floors
File:Trundy Point MR 16.jpg|Barely visible wood mount for communication equipment
File:Trundy Point MR 13.jpg|Descending ladder (Note the plywood trap door)
</gallery>


=== Present ===
=== Present ===
[[File:Trundy Point MR 24.jpg|thumb|WWI or WWII reservation fencing]]
After the end of WWII both towers were deactivated and returned to the town of Cape Elizabeth who auctioned it off. Today the 1922 and 1943 towers still stand in rough condition. Sections of the reservation fence can be found around the 1922 tower. The entire property including both towers are privately owned. Please respect the owner's privacy by not trespassing.
After the end of WWII both towers were deactivated and returned to the town of Cape Elizabeth. This is the only Fire Control Tower on mainland that is open to the public without supervised access. Although the towers are open some measures have been taken to protect the public. The first set of steps on the steel ladder have been removed and the wooden ladder going to the seventh floor in the 1943 tower has been removed (although sometimes someone leaves a ladder there). The 1943 tower is covered in graffiti. Remains of the military fencing can be seen around the perimeter of the reservation.
=== SOURCES and REFERENCES ===
''The Modern Defenses of Portland'' Joel W. Eastman


<youtube>JBxFXl343Ms</youtube>
Coast Defense Study Group
 
1944 Portland Harbor Defense Annex
 
[https://www.cehistory.org/ Cape Elizabeth Historic Preservation Society]

Latest revision as of 14:04, 28 November 2024

Loc. 159 Trundy Point was a Fire Control site part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland from 1922-45. Located at the end of Avon Road on Blue Hill in Cape Elizabeth ME.

Site 1A

When Battery Foote at Fort Levett was built, it had the longest-range guns in Portland at the time. Due to the distance that the batteries projectiles could travel it was necessary to construct a few Fire Control Towers to help triangulate the location of enemy vessels. In 1922 a steel tower was built with one observation level for Battery Foote. The cab was splinter proofed sometime during WWII and saw use until 1945.

Site 1B

1943 Tower
1943 Tower

In 1943 construction began on an eight-story tower near the original 1922 tower. It would have two observation levels. The eighth floor (DPF) was used for Battery Cravens at Peaks Island MR and the seventh floor (DPF) was used for Battery Ferguson at Fort Levett. A communications cable junction box is located under the tower.

Present

After the end of WWII both towers were deactivated and returned to the town of Cape Elizabeth who auctioned it off. Today the 1922 and 1943 towers still stand in rough condition. Sections of the reservation fence can be found around the 1922 tower. The entire property including both towers are privately owned. Please respect the owner's privacy by not trespassing.

SOURCES and REFERENCES

The Modern Defenses of Portland Joel W. Eastman

Coast Defense Study Group

1944 Portland Harbor Defense Annex

Cape Elizabeth Historic Preservation Society

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