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. Located at the end of Avon | 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 === | ||
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. | 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|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 === | === 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. | 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> | ||
File:Trundy Point MR 36.jpg|Approach to the tower | |||
File:Trundy Point MR 01.jpg | |||
File:Trundy Point MR 02.jpg|Entrance | |||
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 === | ||
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 | [[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. 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. | |||
<youtube>JBxFXl343Ms</youtube> | <youtube>JBxFXl343Ms</youtube> | ||
Revision as of 18:57, 4 September 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.
-
The only remaining steel tower north of New Jersey -
Towers base -
Steel ladder -
Note the deterioration -
Pipe Handrail -
Note the wooden floors -
Concrete Cab
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.
-
Approach to the tower -
-
Entrance -
First floor -
Destroyed electric panel -
Communications panel -
Communication cable junction box -
Ascending Stairs -
Descending Stairs -
Floors 1-6 have the same steps to the top -
Sixth Floor -
I don't think that is the original ladder -
Seventh Floor -
-
Eighth Floor -
-
Window hinges -
DPF on both floors -
Barely visible wood mount for communication equipment -
Descending ladder (Note the plywood trap door)
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 perimeter of the reservation.