Fort Levett: Difference between revisions

In 1894 the government exercised its right to eminent domain and took control of the land from Francis Cushing. The initial parcel of land was 33.75 acres which was deemed too small for military use. In 1904 the reservation was increased by 91.68 acres bringing the total to 127 acres. The fort was officially named on April 4th, 1900, after Christopher Levett who explored Casco Bay in the 1620s and was designated a sub post of [[Fort Williams]]. No construction on any part of the fort would begin until 1897. Four batteries were planned for the site in 1898. Railroad beds, drains, concrete mixing wells and other necessary infrastructure were prepared for construction and completed by 1899. The concrete work was started in 1900 on Battery Bowdoin and Kendrick. A narrow-gauge railway was completed in 1899 that connected each of the batteries. On August 26-29 a mock battle was created to test how strong the Naval ships were and how strong the Coast Artillery Forts were. Fort Levett did take part in this experiment. On November 29th, 1905, 15 main post buildings were accepted for service. The central powerhouse was completed either August 1903 or June 30th, 1905 (the engineer's notebook and QM book have different dates), for $52,600 along the parade ground with three Westinghouse 105 Horsepower steam engines that were purchased in 1903. This powerhouse would provide electricity for all of the tactical buildings at Fort Levett. Two 30-inch truck-mounted searchlights were transferred to Fort Levett on December 26th, 1905. Fort Levett was not garrisoned until 1907 when the 1st Company Coast Artillery Corps (CAC) came to Portland. On January 29th, 1909, a number of buildings were accepted for service including the switchboard building, dormitory, combined secondar station for [[Fort Williams]], Fire Command Positions and Base-End Stations for Batteries Chase, Bowdoin and Kendrick. Secondary Fire Control positions for Fort Levett were located in another stucco building at [[Fort Williams]]. On August 26th, 1909, another group of buildings were accepted for service including the district signal station, BC Stations for Batteries Bowdoin and Kendrick, the meteorological station and tide gauge station. In 1911 a brand-new searchlight powerhouse was built near whitehead to serve two 60-inch searchlights transferred April 28th, 1911. <gallery mode="packed">

Construction on this three-gun 3-inch rapid fire battery started in 1899. It was designed to protect and sweep the minefield. The battery was completed in 1900 and armed in 1901 with M1898 mounts and M1898 rifles. The battery was transferred April 23rd, 1903, for $14,994,18 after being named for Napoleon Daniels who served in the Civil War. In 1920 a program was started to remove all unnecessary small caliber guns. The guns of Battery Daniels were removed, and the mounts salvaged on March 27th, 1920. Interestingly, a CRF Station was built for the battery and the plans were accepted July 9th months after the guns were removed. This station would be renovated in 1942 for the Mine OP.  

In 1914 the 50th Company CAC was moved from [[Fort McKinley]] to Levett. In 1917 the 9th, 22nd and 23rd companies of the Coast Defenses of Portland were assigned to Fort Levett. Maine National Guard CAC would be stationed at the fort in the 1920s. Plans for a new post telephone switchboard were approved April 9th, 1918. This new design would provide all around protection for the building which before was located in a flimsy Sewell building at whitehead. This new switchboard building was accepted for service in 1921. In 1920 an Anti-Aircraft Battery of two 3-inch guns was built. In 1932 a third gun was added to the Anti-Aircraft Battery along with .50 Anti Air Machine Guns and a 60-inch AA Sperry Searchlight.<gallery mode="packed">

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On September 16th, 1940, Fort Levett was manned by the 1st Battalion 240th Coast Artillery under Colonel Fogg. Battery A would service Battery Foote, Battery B would service Battery Bowdoin and Battery C would service Battery Ferguson, Battery G would service the AA guns. The existing 28 post buildings were noted to be in poor condition by June 1940 and a building boom would start at the fort adding 26 temporary buildings and renovating the existing ones. In a June 1941 report all new post construction was complete and the number of enlisted men was 758 (it had been 124 in 1939). $65,412 was spent on repairing the existing buildings. The new construction would include 10 barracks, four mess halls and various assorted support buildings. By the end of WWII, Fort Levett had 55 buildings. Upgrades would be made to Batteries Bowdoin and Ferguson to improve them for war. Test firings were completed in 1941. Additional construction would take place on Fire Control Structures and Battery Foote from 1942-44. The AA Battery would be designated AA Battery #3 and a mobile SCR-584 would be located at the fort for Anti-Aircraft tracking.

AMTB #2 was constructed in 1942 and built 40ft above sea level. It covered the interior of the main shipping channel. Ammunition and powder were stored in the defunct Battery Daniels and the wooden BC Station was built inside one of the emplacements where it remained until 1987 when it was blown over. Two fixed 90mm guns were mounted on concrete pads and two mobile 37mm guns were located on wooden platforms near the fixed emplacements. This battery was deactivated in 1946 but its guns may have been stored away earlier.