Fort Williams (Maine)
| Fort Williams | |
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| Part of Harbor Defenses of Portland | |
| Cape Elizabeth, Maine | |
10-inch disappearing gun at Fort Casey, Washington state, similar to those at Fort Williams.
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 Fort Williams
Fort Williams
Location in Maine
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| Coordinates | 43°37′24″N 70°12′40″W / 43.62333°N 70.21111°WCoordinates: 43°37′24″N 70°12′40″W / 43.62333°N 70.21111°W |
| Type | Coastal Defense |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine |
| Controlled by | Town of Cape Elizabeth |
| Open to the public |
yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | United States Army |
| In use | 1898-1962 |
| Battles/wars | |
Fort Williams is a former United States Army fort in Cape Elizabeth, Maine which operated from 1872 to 1964. It was part of the Coast Defenses of Portland, later renamed the Harbor Defenses of Portland, a command which protected Portland's port and naval anchorage 1904-1950. After its closure, it was redeveloped into Fort Williams Park.
A 14-acre purchase near Portland Head Light in 1872 served to establish a sub-post to Fort Preble located at Spring Point. This fortification became known as Fort Williams on April 13, 1899, by order of Army Headquarters (General Order No. 17, Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, D.C.). It was named for Brevet Major General Seth Williams. By 1903, the fort had grown to 90.45 acres.
The Board of Fortifications, often called the Endicott Board, recommended a comprehensive program of new fortifications in 1885. Fort Williams was one of the results. It first test-fired its guns in 1898, shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish–American War, and was complete by 1906.
As built, the fort contained three batteries: Battery Sullivan (two 10-inch guns on disappearing carriages), Battery DeHart (three 10-inch disappearing guns), and Battery Hobart (one 6-inch Armstrong gun), all built between 1896 and 1898. Three other 2-gun batteries were added later: Battery Blair, 2 12-inch disappearing guns (1903); Battery Garesché, 2 6-inch disappearing guns (1906); and Battery Keyes, 2 3-inch rapid-firing guns (1906), the latter to guard a minefield. The remains of a wharf for loading mine planters can be seen near Battery Keyes. An underground bunker for the submarine mine system, later used in Cold War civil defense, is near Battery Hobart. Searchlights were also mounted at some of these batteries; the counterweight for a disappearing searchlight tower (it "disappeared" when folded down) remains on site.
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Wikipedia