Fort Levett: Difference between revisions
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In 1894 the government exercised its right to eminent domain and took control of the land from Francis Cushing to establish a new fort. The initial parcel of land was 33.75 acres which was deemed too small for military use. In 1903 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 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 secondary 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 60-inch searchlight was located on a concrete platform near Battery Daniels. <gallery mode="packed" heights="75"> | In 1894 the government exercised its right to eminent domain and took control of the land from Francis Cushing to establish a new fort. The initial parcel of land was 33.75 acres which was deemed too small for military use. In 1903 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 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 secondary 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 60-inch searchlight was located on a concrete platform near Battery Daniels. <gallery mode="packed" heights="75"> | ||
File:LevettMap.jpg|alt=|Early 1900s map | File:LevettMap.jpg|alt=|Early 1900s map | ||
File:Narrow GaugeRRmap.jpg|Map of narrow gauge railroad. | |||
File:WhiteheadFCS.jpg|alt=|Whitehead complex | File:WhiteheadFCS.jpg|alt=|Whitehead complex | ||
File:TempDorm.jpg|alt=|Whitehead Dormitory | File:TempDorm.jpg|alt=|Whitehead Dormitory | ||
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File:Levett (200) 32.jpg|alt=|NCO Quarters | File:Levett (200) 32.jpg|alt=|NCO Quarters | ||
File:Levett (200) 31.jpg|alt=|1921 Fire Station | File:Levett (200) 31.jpg|alt=|1921 Fire Station | ||
File:Coal shed remains.jpg|Coal Shed Foundation | |||
File:Levett (200) 28.jpg|alt=|Granite posts for barbed wire behind Battery Kendrick | File:Levett (200) 28.jpg|alt=|Granite posts for barbed wire behind Battery Kendrick | ||
File:Narrow gauge Rail.jpg|Remaining narrow gauge rail. | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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File:Levett (79) 30.jpg|alt=|Emplacement #2 | File:Levett (79) 30.jpg|alt=|Emplacement #2 | ||
File:Levett (200) 11.jpg|alt=|Emplacement #1 | File:Levett (200) 11.jpg|alt=|Emplacement #1 | ||
File:Levett (79) 31.jpg|alt=|BC Station remain (dismantled | File:Levett (79) 31.jpg|alt=|BC Station remain (dismantled 1990s) | ||
File:Fort Levetts 14.jpg|alt=|Plotting Room | File:Fort Levetts 14.jpg|alt=|Plotting Room | ||
File:Levett (79) 40.jpg|alt=|Interior | File:Levett (79) 40.jpg|alt=|Interior | ||
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== Present == | == Present == | ||
In 1948 all the remaining guns were scrapped, temporary WWII buildings salvaged, and the post was abandoned, | In 1948 all the remaining guns were scrapped, temporary WWII buildings salvaged, and the post was abandoned, along with the narrow-gauge railroad being dismantled. Some of the rails still remain although they are scattered around the side of the path. The remaining rail was found on the spur leading up to the top of Battery Foote. The rail in the dock was kept until the wood was replaced sometime after 1971. The site of the Wagon shed has been turned into a bocce court. The foundation of the coal shed remains right next to it.The army wanted $177,000 for the entire fort and it was purchased in 1957 and became a private housing complex. In 1970 the original barracks building was blown up, and the Sewell FC stations were razed at whitehead. In the 1960s Battery Bowdoin had drill holes made to test the concrete to see if the battery could be used for storing bank records. It never was and no modifications were made. A fire in the late 1970s destroyed most of the large officer's duplex but part of the first floor was salvaged and is now part of a cottage. The hospital was renovated for a residence and the NCO duplexes were converted to single family dwellings. Some of the storehouses and workshops have also been converted to residences but many buildings also remain as storage such as the power plant, stables, mule barn, fire station and pump house. The area with the batteries and FC stations has been designated a nature preserve operated by the islanders but in the past, there were proposals to make it a camp or a science center. Therefore, many of the buildings remain unchanged although heavily weathered with the exception of whitehead, where most of the Sewell structures have collapsed or been removed. Permission is needed to visit the island. | ||
=== SOURCES and REFERENCES === | === SOURCES and REFERENCES === | ||
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/216887826 | [https://catalog.archives.gov/id/216887826 National Archives Catalog] | ||
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101008080612/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,826379,00.html Project Science Island] | [https://web.archive.org/web/20101008080612/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,826379,00.html Project Science Island] | ||
[[wikipedia:Cushing_Island|Cushings Island]] | [[wikipedia:Cushing_Island|Cushings Island]] | ||
[https://cdsg.org Coast Defense Study Group] | |||
[https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/me3.html North American Forts] | [https://www.northamericanforts.com/East/me3.html North American Forts] | ||