Fort Dearborn: Difference between revisions

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[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]

Located in Rye New Hampshire the first military installations were built during WW1 which included a fire control station 1917 and searchlights 1920~~. The breakwater seen today was built in 1902~~. Fort Dearborn was built as a WW2 fortification for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth|Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]. No other existing Endicott fort could meet the new defense needs (Fort Foster had room for one battery). So it was decided in 1942 that the land between Odiornes Point and Frost Point would become the newest addition to Portsmouth defenses. In order to get this land they would need to remove the current residents and dwellings. So in 1942 the residents were given thirty days to pack their belongings and go elsewhere giving the government the first 200 acres of the reservation in 1943 (The second parcel was acquired later that year bringing the property to about 264 acres). The reservation was officially named Fort Dearborn in 1943 for Henry Dearborn. During this time the coastal highway would be closed for the fort and did not reopen until 1946. The first battery of four 155mm guns was built in 1942 while the others were under construction. All WW2 Post structures were demolished after the war aside from the TNT Building and a coupls remaining summer houses.<center><gallery widths="150" heights="150" caption="Fort Dearborn">

Located in Rye New Hampshire the first military installations were built during WW1 which included a fire control station 1917 and searchlights 1920. Fort Dearborn was built as a WW2 fortification for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth|Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]. No other existing Endicott fort could meet the new defense needs (Fort Foster had room for one battery). So it was decided in 1942 that the land between Odiornes Point and Frost Point would become the newest addition to Portsmouth defenses. In order to get this land they would need to remove the current residents and dwellings. So in 1942 the residents were given thirty days to pack their belongings and go elsewhere giving the government the first 200 acres of the reservation in 1943 (The second parcel was acquired later that year bringing the property to about 264 acres). The reservation was officially named Fort Dearborn in 1943 for Henry Dearborn. During this time the coastal highway would be closed for the fort and did not reopen until 1946. The first battery of four 155mm guns was built in 1942 while the others were under construction. All WW2 Post structures were demolished after the war aside from the TNT Building and a coupls remaining summer houses.<center><gallery widths="150" heights="150" caption="Fort Dearborn">

File:Fort dearborn Layout WW2.jpg|Fort Dearborn Layout

File:Fort Dearborn Plans.jpg|Fort Dearborn Plan

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=== <u>Present Status</u> ===

In 1946 the coastal highway reopened and a group of 101 men would operate Battery 204 until 1948. All guns were removed from the Fort and [[Pulpit Rock MR]] in 1948. All personnel left the fort and it was declared surplus in 1949. The original landowners from pre-war would never get their original property back. The air force used the property until 1968 and Battery 204 was a civil defense shelter until the air force left. The gun batteries were filled in 1980 with gravel to prevent access. The reservation officially became a state park in 1962 and a summer cottage was converted to the Seacoast Science Center in 1992. All the battery entrances were uncovered in 1988 except for the plotting room and ventilation on Battery 204. The park today is 331 acres and you can walk around all the former military batteries. Battery 204 has some painted 16 inch shells from Battery Seamen out on display. One was recently sent to the Halibut Point Fire Control Tower for their display. The magazines of the two batteries are closed (currently). Admission to the park is charged at the main gate.

In 1946 the coastal highway reopened and a group of 101 men would operate Battery 204 until 1948. All guns were removed from the Fort and [[Pulpit Rock MR]] in 1948. All personnel left the fort and it was declared surplus in 1949. The original landowners from pre-war would never get their original property back. The air force used the property until 1968 and Battery 204 was a civil defense shelter until the air force left. The gun batteries were filled in 1980 with gravel to prevent access. The reservation officially became a state park in 1962 and a summer cottage was converted to the Seacoast Science Center in 1992. All the battery entrances were uncovered in 1988 except for the plotting room and ventilation on Battery 204. The park today is 331 acres and you can walk around all the former military batteries. The breakwater at Frost point seen today was built in 1902 by the Corps of Engineers. Battery 204 has some painted 16 inch shells from Battery Seamen out on display. One was recently sent to the Halibut Point Fire Control Tower for their display. The magazines of the two batteries are closed (currently). Admission to the park is charged at the main gate.

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 [[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]
-Located in Rye New Hampshire the first military installations were built during WW1 which included a fire control station 1917 and searchlights 1920. The breakwater seen today was built in 1902. Fort Dearborn was built as a WW2 fortification for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth|Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]. No other existing Endicott fort could meet the new defense needs (Fort Foster had room for one battery). So it was decided in 1942 that the land between Odiornes Point and Frost Point would become the newest addition to Portsmouth defenses. In order to get this land they would need to remove the current residents and dwellings. So in 1942 the residents were given thirty days to pack their belongings and go elsewhere giving the government the first 200 acres of the reservation in 1943 (The second parcel was acquired later that year bringing the property to about 264 acres). The reservation was officially named Fort Dearborn in 1943 for Henry Dearborn. During this time the coastal highway would be closed for the fort and did not reopen until 1946. The first battery of four 155mm guns was built in 1942 while the others were under construction. All WW2 Post structures were demolished after the war aside from the TNT Building and a coupls remaining summer houses.<center><gallery widths="150" heights="150" caption="Fort Dearborn">
+Located in Rye New Hampshire the first military installations were built during WW1 which included a fire control station 1917 and searchlights 1920. Fort Dearborn was built as a WW2 fortification for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth|Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth]]. No other existing Endicott fort could meet the new defense needs (Fort Foster had room for one battery). So it was decided in 1942 that the land between Odiornes Point and Frost Point would become the newest addition to Portsmouth defenses. In order to get this land they would need to remove the current residents and dwellings. So in 1942 the residents were given thirty days to pack their belongings and go elsewhere giving the government the first 200 acres of the reservation in 1943 (The second parcel was acquired later that year bringing the property to about 264 acres). The reservation was officially named Fort Dearborn in 1943 for Henry Dearborn. During this time the coastal highway would be closed for the fort and did not reopen until 1946. The first battery of four 155mm guns was built in 1942 while the others were under construction. All WW2 Post structures were demolished after the war aside from the TNT Building and a coupls remaining summer houses.<center><gallery widths="150" heights="150" caption="Fort Dearborn">
 File:Fort dearborn Layout WW2.jpg|Fort Dearborn Layout
 File:Fort Dearborn Plans.jpg|Fort Dearborn Plan
@@ Line 77: / Line 77: @@
 === <u>Present Status</u> ===
-In 1946 the coastal highway reopened and a group of 101 men would operate Battery 204 until 1948. All guns were removed from the Fort and [[Pulpit Rock MR]] in 1948. All personnel left the fort and it was declared surplus in 1949. The original landowners from pre-war would never get their original property back. The air force used the property until 1968 and Battery 204 was a civil defense shelter until the air force left. The gun batteries were filled in 1980 with gravel to prevent access. The reservation officially became a state park in 1962 and a summer cottage was converted to the Seacoast Science Center in 1992. All the battery entrances were uncovered in 1988 except for the plotting room and ventilation on Battery 204. The park today is 331 acres and you can walk around all the former military batteries. Battery 204 has some painted 16 inch shells from Battery Seamen out on display. One was recently sent to the Halibut Point Fire Control Tower for their display. The magazines of the two batteries are closed (currently). Admission to the park is charged at the main gate.
+In 1946 the coastal highway reopened and a group of 101 men would operate Battery 204 until 1948. All guns were removed from the Fort and [[Pulpit Rock MR]] in 1948. All personnel left the fort and it was declared surplus in 1949. The original landowners from pre-war would never get their original property back. The air force used the property until 1968 and Battery 204 was a civil defense shelter until the air force left. The gun batteries were filled in 1980 with gravel to prevent access. The reservation officially became a state park in 1962 and a summer cottage was converted to the Seacoast Science Center in 1992. All the battery entrances were uncovered in 1988 except for the plotting room and ventilation on Battery 204. The park today is 331 acres and you can walk around all the former military batteries. The breakwater at Frost point seen today was built in 1902 by the Corps of Engineers. Battery 204 has some painted 16 inch shells from Battery Seamen out on display. One was recently sent to the Halibut Point Fire Control Tower for their display. The magazines of the two batteries are closed (currently). Admission to the park is charged at the main gate.