Trundy Point MR: Difference between revisions

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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.
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.


=== 1922 Tower ===
=== 1922 Tower ===

Revision as of 20:29, 31 August 2023

Trundy Point Military Reservation was used for Fire Control as part of the Harbor Defenses of Portland from 1922-45. Designated Location 159. Located at the end of Avon road on Blue Hill in Cape Elizabeth Maine.

1922 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 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.

1943 Tower

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.

Present

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 perimiter of the reservation.