Northeastern Massachusetts

Last Update: 27/SEPTEMBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Fort Nichols
(1775), Amesbury
A Patriot fort was built in 1775 at Salisbury Point, upstream and across the Merrimack River from Newburyport. Also known as Fort Merrimac.

Salisbury Battery
(1860's), Salisbury Beach
A nine-gun battery was located near the point during the Civil War. No remains, actual site washed away.

¤ HARBOR DEFENSES of BOSTON (partial)

¤ Salisbury Beach Military Reservation
(Salisbury Beach State Park)
(1942 - 1945), Salisbury Beach
There was a four-gun 155mm battery on Panama mounts and a battery commander's tower here during World War II, along with barracks and other supporting buildings. It protected the entrance to the Merrimack River. The battery is buried and the tower was dismantled. The concrete mounts (at least two) sometimes reappear after storms. No other remains.

A WWII fire-control tower was located north of this position, in the residential area on the town beach. It was used by the state police beach patrol after the war until destroyed by a hurricane in the 1950's. This tower was part of a series of stations for the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth, as were other towers located to the south at Plum Island (no remains), Castle Hill (Crane Beach) (no remains), and at Halibut Point State Park, which is open to the public. See also Portsmouth's WWII Fire-Control Towers

Fort Philip
(1776, 1808 - 1815 ?), Plum Island
A Patriot fort was once located at the northern end of Plum Island, known as Lighthouse Point. It was refortified again later as a five-gun battery, but the site was washed away in the 1830's. Plum Island was again fortified in 1898 by state militia field artillery.

Haverhill Garrison Houses
(unknown dates), Haverhill
Possibly up to a dozen garrison houses were once located in the area. Two blockhouses were built somewhere along the Merrimack River Valley in 1705, in addition to the two located in Andover (see below).
(NOTE: There is a "Garrison Street" located in Groveland across the Merrimack River.)

Andover Garrison Houses
(1676, 1705), Andover
Twelve garrison houses were built in the area during King Philip's War in 1676, and two additional blockhouses were built in 1705.

Lowell Civil War Camps
(1861- 1862), Lowell
Civil War training camps located here were Camp Chase (1861) and Camp Wilson (1862).

Camp Guild
(1917), Boxford
A National Guard mobilization center.

Camp Schuyler
(1861 - 1862), Lynnfield
A Civil War training camp. Renamed Camp Stanton in 1862.

Old Stone Fort
(1814), Rockport
Also known as Sea Fensibles Barrack, located on Bearskin Neck. A two-story high structure with two large chimneys and four fireplaces. It still exists.

A WWII fire-control tower is located near Lands End at Emerson Point (private property).

Eastern Point Battery
(1860's), East Gloucester
A seven-gun Civil War battery, known locally as the "Ramparts". The earthworks still exist on private property.

A WWII fire-control tower is located nearby on private property.

Fort Defiance
(1794 - 1865 ?), Gloucester
A Federal battery and blockhouse located at Fort Point, originally named Fort Lillie, renamed in 1814. Burned down in 1833 and rebuilt in 1851. Nothing remains of this fort. British Fort Anne (b) was previously here in 1703, rebuilt in 1743.

Fort Gloucester (1807), abandoned sometime after the War of 1812, was nearby. Possibly another name for Fort Defiance or Stage Fort below.

Stage Fort (park)
(1635 - 1898), Gloucester
The oldest fort of the Mass. Bay Colony, located on the western-side of Gloucester Harbor. The site was used until the Spanish-American War. During the Civil War it was renamed Fort Conant. It was also known as Fort Banks (1), Fort Cross, and Fort Allen. It was restored in 1973.

Fort Gloucester (1807), abandoned sometime after the War of 1812, was nearby. Possibly another name for Stage Fort or Fort Defiance above.

Nearby in Manchester by-the-Sea at Coolidge Point and at Gales Point are two WWII fire-control towers, both now private homes.

Beverly Fort
(1775 - 1776, 1814), Beverly
A Patriot work was located near the lighthouse at Beverly Harbor. In 1814 the militia built a barracks at Hospital Point. It burned down in 1849.

The Beverly Gun House (1808) was once located on High Street.

Curtis Point Battery
(1860's), Beverly
A 12-gun Civil War earthwork battery. Located south of Endicott College.

Camp Lander
(1862 - 1865), Wenham
A Civil War training center located at present-day Pingree Park. There were 20 barracks, Officers' quarters, cook houses, hospital, barber shop, and storehouses.

Watch House Hill
(1600's), Danvers
A fortified house near Salem. A church has been on this spot since 1700.

Naumkeag Fort
(1629 - unknown), Salem
An early settlers' fort (eight guns) located at present-day Lynde and Sewall Streets. The town was renamed Salem in 1630. This was the first capital of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

During the early 1700's, there were two blockhouses located near the almshouse (location ?).

Fort Lee
(1742 - 1815, 1863, 1898), Salem
Originally a colonial militia fort. It had sixteen guns in 1776. Earthworks repaired or rebuilt in the 1790's. Used by the state militia in 1813 - 1815. It was abandoned, but later rebuilt as a four-gun battery for the Civil War. Also used in 1898. The star-shaped earthworks still exist in a park on Fort Ave.

Fort Juniper
(1775 - unknown), Salem
A Patriot fort also known as Fort Number One (2), located on Juniper Point at Bayview Ave.

Fort Pickering
(1794 - 1900/intermittent), Salem
Located on Winter Island. A fortified site since 1655, known as Fort William (1). Renamed Fort Ann (a) (20 guns) in 1703. Renamed Fort Number Two (2) by Patriot forces in 1775. Renamed again in 1798. Rebuilt in 1800 and 1808 as a six-gun fort. Most current structures are from 1863 when the fort was tripled in size, and was known as Salem Barracks. Site used in World War II by the U.S. Navy to store depth charges. The Coast Guard Station here (1934) is now closed.
Also located on Winter Island were Mass. state militia Camp Sutton (1853, 1855), Camp Edmunds (1856), Camp Banks (1858), Camp Gardner (1860's).

Fort Miller
(1742 - 1815, 1861 - 1865, 1898), Marblehead
Located on Naugus Head, this site had been fortified since 1632. Originally named Darby's Fort. Used during the American Revolution, and rebuilt in 1813 by the state militia. Rebuilt again in 1861 as a five-gun battery and renamed. Nothing remains, now a residential area.

Fort Washington (2)
(1776, 1813 - 1815 ?), Marblehead
Located at present-day Fountain Park overlooking Little Harbor. Originally named Fort Bailey during the American Revolution, it was later rebuilt and renamed by the state militia.

Fort Sewall (park)
(1742 - 1870's ?, 1898), Marblehead
This site had been fortified since 1634. Originally called Gale's Head Fort. Rebuilt in 1775, 1794 (with blockhouse), 1799, and in 1809 as an eight-gun fort, and again in 1861 as a 12-gun battery. Probably renamed in 1814. This fort once protected the USS Constitution from British ships in 1814. Became a city park in 1892. Briefly garrisoned by the state militia in 1898. The 1794 magazine still exists, as well as the 1799 magazine / barracks.

The Marblehead Gun House (1808) still exists on Elm Street, and the Powder House (1755 - 1815) still exists on Green Street. Two observation towers from WWII are located nearby at Marblehead Neck, one of which is now a private home.

Fort Glover
(1775 - 1815, 1863 - 1865, 1898), Marblehead
A three-gun battery from the Civil War. Previously named Huits Head Battery from the American Revolution and War of 1812. Rebuilt in 1898. Site was leveled in 1917. Located at Seaside Park.

Located here or nearby was Gilbert Heights Fort (1813 - 1815) (location undetermined).

Cow Fort
(1775 - 1815), Marblehead
Site located at or near the Marblehead Yacht Club on Cliff Street. After it was abandoned as an active defense, local residents nicknamed it after the cows that roamed within the old walls. The official name, if it had one, is not known. (Gilbert Heights Fort ?)

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