Cape Elizabeth MR: Difference between revisions
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[[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]] | [[Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland]] | ||
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR Plan.jpg|thumb|311x311px|Reservation Plan]] | |||
The Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation (Location 158) was established in 1942 for the [[:Category:Harbor Defenses of Portland|Harbor Defenses of Portland]]. Batteries 101 and 201 were to be built along with Fire Control and Radar Stations. The reservation was split into three parcels. Site 1A was 32.62 acres acquired in 1943 for Battery 201. Site 1B was directly behind site 1A and was 7.3 acres acquired in 1943 for a combined Fire Control Tower and Battery Commanders Station. Site 2A was .30 acres acquired in 1942 for a combined Fire Control and Radar Tower. Site 3A was also acquired in 1942 for a radar tower. | |||
== | == Fire Control and Radar Towers == | ||
Two Fire Control Towers and two radar stations were built on the reservation. A fire control switchboard was located in Battery 201. | |||
File:Cape Elizabeth MR | === Site 1B The Silo === | ||
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR 16.jpg|left|thumb|195x195px|The Silo in 2023]] | |||
File:Cape Elizabeth MR | This Fire Control Tower was built in 1943 as a Battery Commanders Station for Battery 201. It also housed a Base-End Station for Battery 201 (It was going to include one for Battery 101). The tower was built next to a farmhouse and disguised as a silo. The farmhouse burned shortly after the tower was completed. This tower was nearly identical to the one at [[Emerson Point MR]]. Today the tower is sealed and is slowly deteriorating. | ||
File:Cape Elizabeth MR 18.jpg | |||
File:Cape Elizabeth MR | |||
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR 21.jpg|left|thumb|144x144px|Cape Elizabeth West Light]] | |||
File: | === Site 2A The Lighthouse === | ||
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 18.jpg|thumb|155x155px|Top Floor of the Lighthouse]] | |||
[[File:Cape Elizabeth MR (2) 28.jpg|thumb|150x150px|Lighthouse Steps]] | |||
This combined fire control and radar tower was built in 1942 on top of the deactivated West Light (1874). This station was not disguised as a lighthouse but rather a water tower. A faux wooden tank held the SCR-296 radar. This station was for Battery 202 at [[Jewell Island MR]] and Battery 203 at [[Peaks Island MR]]. During the war the tower was painted brown. The faux water tank was removed around 1946. The tower was sold and the DPF pads were drilled out at one point. Gary Merrill who was the ex-husband of Bette Davis owned the tower from 1971-83. In 1985 the tower was purchased by Ken Lane who restored the exterior of the tower and has lived in the adjacent house since. | |||
=== Site 3A The Radar Tower === | |||
[[File:Dyer Point Radar.jpg|left|thumb|149x149px|Radar Tower Footers]] | |||
In 1942 a steel radar tower with a faux wooden tank was built at Dyer Point next to the Lobster Shack. The tower was probably removed shortly after the war, but the concrete footers still remain at the Lobster Shack. | |||
== Battery 201 == | == Battery 201 == | ||
== Battery 101 == | == Battery 101 == | ||
Battery 101 was going to be a twin 16-inch Long Range Barbette Battery but was terminated before a site was secured for construction. This battery would have been identical to Battery Steele at [[Peaks Island MR]]. | |||
== Present == | == Present == | ||
Revision as of 15:12, 12 November 2023
The Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation (Location 158) was established in 1942 for the Harbor Defenses of Portland. Batteries 101 and 201 were to be built along with Fire Control and Radar Stations. The reservation was split into three parcels. Site 1A was 32.62 acres acquired in 1943 for Battery 201. Site 1B was directly behind site 1A and was 7.3 acres acquired in 1943 for a combined Fire Control Tower and Battery Commanders Station. Site 2A was .30 acres acquired in 1942 for a combined Fire Control and Radar Tower. Site 3A was also acquired in 1942 for a radar tower.
Fire Control and Radar Towers
Two Fire Control Towers and two radar stations were built on the reservation. A fire control switchboard was located in Battery 201.
Site 1B The Silo
This Fire Control Tower was built in 1943 as a Battery Commanders Station for Battery 201. It also housed a Base-End Station for Battery 201 (It was going to include one for Battery 101). The tower was built next to a farmhouse and disguised as a silo. The farmhouse burned shortly after the tower was completed. This tower was nearly identical to the one at Emerson Point MR. Today the tower is sealed and is slowly deteriorating.
Site 2A The Lighthouse
_18.jpg)
_28.jpg)
This combined fire control and radar tower was built in 1942 on top of the deactivated West Light (1874). This station was not disguised as a lighthouse but rather a water tower. A faux wooden tank held the SCR-296 radar. This station was for Battery 202 at Jewell Island MR and Battery 203 at Peaks Island MR. During the war the tower was painted brown. The faux water tank was removed around 1946. The tower was sold and the DPF pads were drilled out at one point. Gary Merrill who was the ex-husband of Bette Davis owned the tower from 1971-83. In 1985 the tower was purchased by Ken Lane who restored the exterior of the tower and has lived in the adjacent house since.
Site 3A The Radar Tower
In 1942 a steel radar tower with a faux wooden tank was built at Dyer Point next to the Lobster Shack. The tower was probably removed shortly after the war, but the concrete footers still remain at the Lobster Shack.
Battery 201
Battery 101
Battery 101 was going to be a twin 16-inch Long Range Barbette Battery but was terminated before a site was secured for construction. This battery would have been identical to Battery Steele at Peaks Island MR.
Present
REFERENCES AND SOURCES
Location 158. Battery 201=Battery 1
lighthouse for battery 202 and 203