Fort Levett: Difference between revisions
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== Endicott Era == | == Endicott Era == | ||
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. Another searchlight was located on a concrete platform near Battery Daniels. <gallery mode="packed"> | 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. Another searchlight was located on a concrete platform near Battery Daniels. <gallery mode="packed" heights="75"> | ||
File:TempDorm.jpg|alt= | File:LevettMap.jpg|alt=|Early 1900s map | ||
File: | File:WhiteheadFCS.jpg|alt=|Whitehead complex | ||
File: | File:TempDorm.jpg|alt=|Whitehead Dormitory | ||
File: | File:1908Switchboardbldg.jpg|alt=|Switchboard Building | ||
File: | File:BowdinFCS.jpg|alt=|One of the many FC Stations | ||
File: | File:QuadFCS.jpg|alt=|Fort Williams Secondary Station | ||
File: | File:SrchlightPwrhouse.jpg|alt=|Searchlight Powerhouse | ||
File: | File:Fort Levett21.jpg|alt= | ||
File: | File:Fort Levetts 02.jpg|alt=|Interior | ||
File:Fort Levett20.jpg|alt=|Remaining searchlight tower | |||
File:DistSigSta.jpg|alt=|Radio Station | |||
File:Fort Levetts 01.jpg|alt= | File:Fort Levetts 01.jpg|alt= | ||
File:Fort Levett4.jpg|alt= | File:Fort Levett4.jpg|alt= | ||
File:Levett (200) 43.jpg|alt=|Metrological Station | |||
File:LevettCenteralPowerhouse.jpg|alt=|1903 Central Powerhouse | |||
File:Levett (200) 44.jpg|alt=|Shortly after construction. | |||
File:Fort Levett10.jpg|alt=|Construction in 1902 | |||
File:Fort Levett11.jpg|alt=|Boiler Room | |||
File:Centeralpwrhouseinterior.jpg|alt=|Engine Room | |||
File:Levett (200) 43.jpg|alt= | |||
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File:Levett (200) | |||
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File:Levett (200) 33.jpg|alt= | File:Levett (200) 33.jpg|alt= | ||
File:Levett (200) | File:Levett (200) 35.jpg|alt=|Boiler Room | ||
File:Levett (200) | File:Levett (200) 36.jpg|alt=|Engine Room | ||
File:Levett (200) 30.jpg|alt= | File:Levett (200) 37.jpg|alt=|Storage Battery or Storeroom | ||
File:Levett (200) 28.jpg|alt= | File:Levett (200) 30.jpg|alt=|Utility Pole | ||
File:Levett (200) 34.jpg|alt=|Coal Storage | |||
File:Fort Levett6.jpg|alt=|1920s | |||
File:Fort Levett3.jpg|alt=|Training in front of Admin building. | |||
File:Levett (200) 32.jpg|alt=|NCO Quarters | |||
File:Levett (200) 31.jpg|alt=|1921 Fire Station | |||
File:Levett (200) 28.jpg|alt=|Granite posts for barbed wire behind Battery Kendrick | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||