Massachusetts Forts

American Forts: East

MASSACHUSETTS

Last Update: 27/SEPTEMBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Colonial Forts of the Boston Area

Settlers' Forts
Chelsea: Samuel Maverick's Garrison (1) (1625), also known as Winnesimmet Fort.
Charlestown: Thomas Wolford's Garrison (1625) near Bunker Hill; Charlestown Fort (1634 - ?) at Moulton's Point.
East Boston: Samuel Maverick Garrison (2) (1630), with four guns, at Camp Hill on Noodle's Island.
Dorchester: Dorchester Fort (1634 - ?) on Savin Hill.
Cambridge: Newtowne Fort (1630 - ?).
Also: a Massachusetts Indian fort in Medford which lasted to 1621.

British Forts
Boston was occupied by the British Army from May 1774 to March 1776, during which several temporary forts were built. However, troops were quartered in the city beginning in October 1768.

Charlestown: Breed's Hill Redoubt (1775 - 1776) (previously Patriot);
Bunker Hill Fort (1775 - 1776) (See also Bunker Hill on the Freedom Trail).

East Boston: Noodle's Island Fort (1775 - 1776), a 19-gun quadrangular earthwork on Camp Hill;
Governor's Island Fort (1696 - unknown), it was later abandoned. A blockhouse with two batteries (1744 - 1776) was later located on the island.

Boston: Copp's Hill Fort (six guns);
North Battery (1646 - 1780, enlarged 1706, 1739, 1774) at Walter Merry's Point, now Battery Wharf. Site dismantled in 1789;
Beacon Hill Battery;
Fox Hill Battery;
Fort Hill (1634 - 1779), originally known as Corn Hill Fort, rebuilt 1687 as a four-bastioned quadrangular earthwork with a palisaded barracks and renamed Fort Andros, burned 1760, reoccupied 1774, abandoned 1776, rebuilt by Patriots 1776, abandoned by Patriots 1779, site leveled 1797, hill cut down 1865;
South Battery (1636 - 1780 ?), located near Rowe's Wharf. A second battery was built 1666, site burned 1760, rebuilt 1774. Described in 1743 as a 35-gun quadrangular bastioned work with a blockhouse and barracks. Site dismantled in 1789;
Boston Neck Fort and the Advanced Line.
Almost all of these works were occupied by the Patriots in 1776.

South Boston: Castle William (1701 - 1776). Originally called The Castle (1634 - 1689), which was originally a small mud and oyster shell fort. Rebuilt in 1644 with timber and stone. Burned and rebuilt in 1673 as a four-bastioned quadrangular stone fort. The bastions were named Crown, Rose, Royal, and Elizabeth. Renamed Fort William (2) in 1692. Substantially rebuilt in 1701. The Shirley Bastion was added in 1740. By 1760 the bastions were renamed Hanover, Governor's, Marlborough, Eugene, Northeast, and Southwest. To the northeast was Royal (formerly Lower) Battery (1703), and southeast was Shirley's Battery (1775). A strong redoubt with supporting batteries was built northwest of the fort in 1775, along with the South Point Blockhouse on the southern tip of the island. The fort was mostly destroyed by the British when they abandoned it in 1776.

Additional unnamed batteries and redoubts were located throughout the area.

Patriot Forts (1775 - 1779)
Charlestown: two-gun Breed's Hill Redoubt (British after Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775).

Somerville: Winter Hill Fort;
Ploughed Hill Fort;
Prospect Hill Fort (aka Paterson's Fort), used as a POW camp from 1777 - 1778 for British and Hessian troops captured at Saratoga, New York. They were then transferred south to Maryland and Virginia. The American Grand Union flag was first flown here in January 1776. A memorial (1903) is located on Prospect Hill Ave. and Munroe Street;
Cobble Hill Fort;
Number Three Fort (aka Red House Fort).

Cambridge: Number One Fort (1) on Putnam Ave.;
Number Two Fort (1);
Fort Washington (1) three guns, still exists in park on Waverly Street near Chestnut Street, with non-original cannon;
Butler's Hill Fort;
Lechmere's Point Fort renamed later to Fort Putnam.

East Boston: Noodle's Island Fort (1776 - 1778), formerly the British post on Camp Hill;
Governor's Island Fort (1776 - 1779), formerly the British post.

Boston: All remaining British forts and batteries were used by the Patriots after British troops left the city in 1776. Most of the outlying positions were then abandoned.

Brookline: six-gun Brookline Fort at Sewall's Point (attacked in 1775).

Roxbury: four-gun Lamb's Dam Redoubt, and Roxbury Fort.

South Boston: Castle William, renamed Fort Adams in 1778, the Patriots occupied the site until at least 1780.
Dorchester Heights Fort (1776), monument (PHOTO), site recently excavated;
Nook's Hill Fort (1776) on Dorchester Hill.

Long Island: Long Island Battery (1) (1776).

Squantum: Moon Island Redoubt (1776) authorized, but may not have been actually built.

Additional unnamed batteries and redoubts were located throughout the area.
See also Boston Freedom Trail - NPS website.

French Batteries (1778, 1782)
The French Marines occupied several positions around the outer harbor, centered around Hull, when the French fleet first arrived in August 1778 from Newport, RI. Several positions were re-occupied in December 1782 when the army and fleet finally departed America for Europe.
Noodle's Island (with a hospital), George's Island, Lovell's Island (decoy), Peddock's Island, and Hog Island (1782). (see also Fort Independence (1) below under Fort Revere listing)

Camp Sheppard
(1860's), Arlington
A Civil War training camp located by Spy Pond.

Camp Cameron
(1862), North Cambridge
A Civil War training camp. Also known as Camp Day. Site located near Massachusetts Ave.

Camp Ellsworth
(1861), Cambridge
A Civil War training camp located at Fresh Pond.

Harvard Army Ground School
(1917 - 1919), Cambridge
An Army Ground School on the Harvard University campus.

Camp Prospect Hill
(1861), Somerville
A Civil War training camp located at the site of the Patriot's Prospect Hill Fort.

Charlestown Point Battery
(1808 - unknown), Boston Naval Shipyard
An eight or 10-gun circular earthwork once located at the location of Buildings 40 and 42 at the Naval Shipyard. A brick arsenal and magazine were located where Buildings 187 and 149, respectively, now stand.

Fort Strong (1)
(1814 - 1815), East Boston
An earthwork built by the state militia at Camp Hill on what was then Noodle's Island, now filled in as part of East Boston. Site near the east-end of Webster Street, at Brophy Memorial Park. No remains.

Fort Independence (2)
(Boston Harbor Islands Reservation)
(1801 - 1899/1960), Castle Island *PHOTOS*
Located at Castle Island Park. It is a five-pointed star built on the site of colonial Castle William (see previous listing). The old fort was somewhat repaired in 1794, and was garrisoned in 1799 during the naval crisis with the French. The new fort was begun in 1800, with 42 guns and two outer batteries for six guns. The bastions were named Winthrop, Shirley, Hancock, Adams, and Dearborn in 1805. Extensively repaired in 1807, and modified in 1834. Two outer batteries were built in 1840 (East and West Batteries). The East Battery was rebuilt 1875 for five guns. New emplacements for 15 guns were built on the old fort in 1872 - 1873. The fort was abandoned from 1880 to 1898, briefly reactivated during the Spanish-American War as a mine depot. A two-gun AA battery was built in 1917, but no guns mounted. A U.S. Navy Degaussing Station was here 1942 - 1945. The fort was finally surplused in 1960. The outer batteries were demolished in the 1960's, and the ground was leveled to form a park. Open to the public beginning in 1975. Another website at nine3.com

Fort Winthrop
(1808 - 1905), Logan Airport
The site was once Governor's Island, located directly across from Castle Island. The 12-gun Fort Warren (1) (1808 - 1814) was built as a eight-pointed star within surrounding four-bastioned earthworks. It was renamed in 1833. A three-story casemated citadel for 16 guns was built over the star fort in 1846. Also located near here were the seven-gun West Head Battery and seven-gun South-East (or East Head) Battery (both 1840's), and both built over the sites of earlier circular brick 10-gun batteries (1808). The South Battery and the Northwest Battery were built in the 1860's. During the 1870's the South Battery (18 guns) was rebuilt, and the new East Battery (seven guns), and Mortar Battery (six guns) were built. The fort was badly damaged from a mine explosion in 1901. The fort's remains were leveled in 1946 to enlarge Logan Airport.

Camp Andrew
(1861), West Roxbury
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Brigham
(1861), Readville
A Civil War training camp.

Camp Meigs
(1862 - 1865), Readville
A Civil War training camp.
(thanks to Gregory Ross for location)

Camp Adams
(1861), Quincy
A Civil War training camp.

¤ HARBOR DEFENSES of BOSTON (see also Fourth Cliff Military Reservation - page 3)

¤ Fort Ruckman
(1902 - 1962), Nahant
Originally named Nahant Military Reservation until 1922. A temporary field artillery battery was here in 1898, as well as a mine casemate. A fire-control station was built on Bayley's Hill in 1907. Located here is Battery Gardner (1923 - 1946) casemated in 1944, partially buried. An AA battery was here in the 1920's. One fire-control tower remains as a private home. Became a NIKE missile control site 1955 - 1961.

¤ East Point Military Reservation
(Northeastern University Marine Science Center)
(1902 - 1962), Nahant
A temporary field artillery battery was here in 1898. A searchlight station was here 1917 - 1919. Located here is Battery Murphy / 104 (1944 - 1948), Battery 206 (1943 - 1948) (proposed name Battery Holbrook), and a two-gun 155mm battery (field emplaced 1941, Panama-mounted 1942 - 1943) that is buried (one mount remains). Three fire-control towers remain nearby. The post was proposed to be named either Fort Oliver Wendall Holmes or Fort Henry Cabot Lodge, but was never acted upon. A four-gun 90mm AA battery was here 1952 - 1955. Became a NIKE missile launch site 1955 - 1961. Acquired by Northeastern University in 1968.

¤ Fort Heath (park)
(1895 - 1965), Winthrop
Originally Grover's Cliff Military Reservation until 1899. Located here was Battery Winthrop (1901 - 1945) destroyed 1969, an AA battery (1930's), and AMTB Battery 945 (1943 - 1946) buried, which replaced a two-gun 155mm field battery (1942 - 1943). A U.S. Coast Guard RDF station was built here in 1933. An SCR-296A radar was here in WWII. Became the US Navy Field Test Station, Fort Heath (1946 - 1949), testing new fire-control systems, with a twin 5-inch naval gun turret and two 40mm guns emplaced. Became a MISSILE MASTER control site in the 1950's (demolished 1969). The FAA obtained a radar site here from 1965 - 1986, now demolished. The entire site is now an apartment complex and city park. Fort Heath Park is adjacent to the complex.

¤ Fort Banks (2)
(1889 - 1966), Winthrop
Originally named Winthrop Military Reservation until 1898. Located here was the combined Battery Lincoln and Battery Kellogg (1896 - 1943). Both are covered and built on. Battery Lincoln was converted to the Boston Harbor HDCP in 1943. Battery Kellogg was excavated in 1990 for use by the local Civil Defense. After 1922 this was the headquarters for Boston's Harbor Defenses. Became a NIKE missile control site in 1955. Now mostly a housing complex.

¤ Fort Dawes
(1941 - 1960's), Deer Island
Originally named Deer Island Military Reservation (1898 - 1941), which consisted solely of searchlight stations (1916), and fire-control and mine observation stations (1906, 1920's). WWII batteries here were Battery 105 (1944, never armed) (proposed name Battery Spurgin), Battery 207 (1943, never armed) (proposed name Battery Brown), New Battery Taylor (1942 - 1943), AMTB Battery 944 (1943 - 1946), and an AA battery. Also here in WWII was a U.S. Navy RDF station, an HECP (1941), and a mine casemate (1944), which replaced the one at Fort Strong. All of these were destroyed by 1988 for expanding the modern waste water treatment plant. Beginning in 1948, the post was used for Air Force radar and electronics experiments, as well as Navy harbor defense functions. From 1951 - 1955, there were four 90mm AA guns emplaced here. No public access.

¤ Fort Strong (2)
(1870 - 1960's), Long Island
Originally named Long Island Military Reservation until 1899. The gun blocks and magazines of 10-gun Battery at Long Island Head (2) (1873 - 1876) still remain. Endicott batteries here are Battery Hitchcock (1899 - 1939), Battery Ward (1899 - 1939), Battery Drum (1899 - 1917), Battery Smyth (1906 - 1921), Battery Stevens (1906 - 1946), Battery Taylor (1906 - 1942), and Battery Basinger (1901 - 1947). A two-gun AA battery was built in the 1920's, expanded to three guns in 1935. A mine casemate was built in 1906, which commanded the northern channel (President Roads) minefields until replaced by Fort Dawes in 1944. Became a NIKE missile launch site in the 1950's, with the control site in nearby Squantum. The site is now owned by the Long Island State Hospital. No public access.
Camp Wightman, a Civil War training camp, was located on the island in 1861.

¤ Fort Standish (2)
(Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston Harbor Islands State Park)
(Boston Harbor Islands Reservation)
(1880's ? - 1947), Lovell's Island
Originally named Lovell's Island Military Reservation until 1900. A mine casemate was built in 1895. It was sealed in 1899. Endicott batteries here are the combined Battery Morris (1909 - 1942) and Battery Burbeck (1907 - 1942), Battery Terrill (1902 - 1942), Battery Whipple (1904 - 1947) modified for WWII, Battery Vincent (1902 - 1920) partially modified as AA battery in 1937, partially buried, Battery Weir (1906 - 1926) destroyed, Battery Williams (1902 - 1946), and AMTB Battery 943 (1943 - 1946) atop Battery Terrill. A two-gun AA battery was built in 1917 near the Engineer Wharf, dismantled in 1923.
{Not to be confused with Fort Standish (1) at Plymouth, see page 3}

¤ Fort Warren (2)
(Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston Harbor Islands State Park)
(Boston Harbor Islands Reservation)
(1835 - 1952), George's Island *PHOTOS*
Originally a defense during the War of 1812. The name was transferred from the original Fort Warren (Winthrop) in 1833. Construction on the new fort was completed in 1857. It was used during the Civil War for training and as a POW prison. New parapet barbette batteries were built in the 1870's, and a six-gun battery with three magazines was built on the demilune. Several various sized Rodman guns were emplaced here by the 1890's. These positions were destroyed by the later Endicott batteries. The Endicott batteries here are Battery Stevenson (1903 - 1944), Battery Bartlett (1899 - 1942) partially destroyed, Battery Adams (1899 - 1914), Battery Plunkett (1899 - 1925), and Battery Lowell (1900 - 1920). A mine casemate was built in 1906. The southern-channel (Nantasket Roads) minefields were controlled from here in WWII. This was the headquarters of the Boston Coastal Defenses from 1917 - 1922. Became a state park in 1961. Another website from Evolving Beauty.com

¤ Brewster Islands Military Reservations
(1943 - 1950), Brewster Islands
Located on Great Brewster Island was AMTB Battery 942 (1943 - 1946), a mine casemate (1944) and mine command post (demolished). Located on Outer Brewster Island was Battery Jewell / 209 (1943 - 1948), a fire-control tower, barracks, and an SCR-296A radar. The Great Brewster Island Reservation may have been renamed Camp Prescott in 1943.

¤ Calf Island Military Reservation
(Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston Harbor Islands State Park)
(Boston Harbor Islands Reservation)
(1941 - 1946), Calf Island
A searchlight station and an observation post, as well as an SCR-268 radar, were here in WWII. No remains.

¤ Fort Andrews
(Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston Harbor Islands State Park)
(Boston Harbor Islands Reservation)
(1897 - 1948), Peddock's Island
Endicott batteries here are Battery Cushing (1904 - 1942), Battery Whitman (1901 - 1942), Battery McCook (1904 - 1947) rebuilt for WWII, Battery Rice (1901 - 1922), and Battery Bumpus (1904 - 1946). This post was the headquarters of the southern group of forts in Boston Harbor during WWI.
{Not to be confused with Fort Andrew at Plymouth, see page 3}

¤ Fort Revere (park)
(Boston Harbor Islands Reservation)
(1896 - 1960's), Hull
Originally named Nantasket Head Military Reservation until 1900. Endicott batteries here were Battery Ripley (1901 - 1943) buried and built over, Battery Field (1900 - 1917) partially destroyed and buried, Battery Sanders (1906 - 1943), Battery Pope (1906 - 1917), and AMTB Battery 941 (1943 - 1946) which was destroyed and buried. A three-gun AA battery was built in 1936. A 36-inch searchlight was mounted atop the water tower from 1916 - 1929. Fire-control towers were built at Point Allerton (1907 no remains, 1922 burned in 1926, 1928 demolished 1978, two in 1942, one still exists, other demolished 1978) and Strawberry Hill (1907, 1942 both still exist). Became a NIKE missile control site in 1955. Another website from Mass Film Office | Another website at key-biz.com

First located here was Patriot Allerton Battery, or Fort Independence (1) (1776 - 1782) (22 guns). It was occupied by French Marines in September 1778 and December 1782. Parts of that five-bastioned earthwork fort still remain here on Farina Road. It was never used during the War of 1812.

¤ Fort Duvall
(1917 - 1974), Hog Island
Originally named Hog Island Military Reservation until 1922. Located here was Battery Long (1927 - 1948) casemated in 1942, shielded 1944. It has been built on since the late 1980's. Became a NIKE missile control site in 1955. Now a private community, no public access.

¤ ALSO: Two additional WWII fire-control towers still exist at Strawberry Point in Minot. Two others were later destroyed. Both are private property.

Watertown Arsenal
(1810 - 1945), East Watertown
Originally an ordnance depot until 1835. This was the primary supplier of field, siege, and seacoast gun mounts and carriages for the U.S. Army from 1885 to 1945. The complex is now offices and retail shops, located on Arsenal Street at Arsenal Marketplace on the north bank of the Charles River.

Wessagusset Fort
(1622), Weymouth
A settlers' fort which was destroyed by Indians after a few months.

Hingham Garrison Houses and Forts
(1640's, 1675), Hingham
The town meeting house was used as a fort in beginning in 1639, palisaded in 1645. Joseph Andrew's Garrison (1640) was located at North and Cottage Streets. Another was located at Hershey and South Streets. Also here were Capt. John Smith's Garrison, Capt. John Jacob's Garrison and the Tower Garrison.
Several garrison houses were built at the outbreak of King Philip's War. Three forts were also built. One was located on Fort Hill, one was near the cemetery, and the other was one mile from the harbor, probably at Hingham Center.

Some information for Boston Harbor fortifications was gathered from "The Guns of Boston Harbor", by Gerald Butler, 2001, 1st Books Library.

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