Southeastern Massachusetts

Last Update: 12/APRIL/2008

Compiled by Pete Payette - й2008 American Forts Network

NOTE: From 1620 until 1683, this part of the state was the Colony of Plymouth Bay.

д HARBOR DEFENSES of BOSTON (partial - see also page 1)

д Fourth Cliff Military Reservation
(1942 - 1948/present), near Humarock
Located here is Battery 208 (1944 - 1948) (proposed name Battery Ames) and two fire-control towers. The remains of a radar tower are at Holly Hill. Battery 106 was to be built on Flowers Hill, about one mile south from here. The site is now used as a recreation area for the Air Force. A fire-control tower is still nearby in Brant Rock, which is now a private home. (Regardless of what this outside website says, this was NOT a submarine watch tower.)

д Sagamore Hill Military Reservation
(1941 - 1945), near Sagamore
Once located at Scusset State Beach. It protected the Cape Cod Canal. The Panama mounts (1942) and battery commander's station of a two-gun 155mm battery still remain here, as well as several magazine igloos.

д ALSO: A 40mm AMTB battery (1944) was located at Sandwich, and a two-gun 155mm field battery (1944) was temporarily located at Rocky Point. A two-gun 155mm field battery (1942) was temporarily located at Race Point on Cape Cod.

Fort Andrew
(1776 - 1920's), Plymouth
Originally a six-gun Patriot fort known as Gurnet Fort was located here at Gurnet Point on Saquish Neck. It was rebuilt with five guns in 1808. It was rebuilt again in 1863 with seven guns and renamed. Became a Federal reservation in 1869, and was sold off in 1926. This is currently private property. A WWII fire-control tower was built on the parapet of the old fort. The Plymouth (Gurnet Point) Lighthouse is also here.
{Not to be confused with Fort Andrews in Boston Harbor, see page 1}

Fort Standish (1)
(1863 - 1920's), Plymouth
A rectangular earthwork located on Saquish Head. Became a Federal reservation in 1870, and was sold in 1925. This is private property.
{Not to be confused with Fort Standish (2) in Boston Harbor, see page 1}

Fort at New Plymouth
(1621 - unknown), Plymouth
The colony was originally stockaded and armed with six cannons. The church fort was built on Burial Hill. It was no longer in existence by 1675. The meeting house was palisaded in 1675 - 1677. Batteries were emplaced on Cole's Hill to repel any sea-born raids. It is now the site of the Pilgrim Memorial. Plimoth Plantation is a reconstruction of the original fort and village. Admission fee.
Located nearby is a replica of the Mayflower.

William Clark's Garrison
(1676), Plymouth
Located on the Eel River near Chiltonville. Originally built in the 1660's, it was destroyed during King Philip's War.

William Harlow's Fort House
(1677 - unknown), Plymouth
Located on Sandwich Street across from the fire station. It was built with the salvaged timber from the Plymouth Plantation Meeting House, which was dismantled after Indian attacks ended in this area. Admission fee.

Wing's Fort House
(1641 ? - unknown), East Sandwich
An 18th-century house built around the original 1641 house. Located at 69 Spring Hill Road. Admission fee.

Provincetown Batteries
(1860's), Provincetown
Two Civil War sand batteries at Long Point Inner Battery and Long Point Outer Battery. The local residents referred to them as Fort Useless and Fort Ridiculous. No trace remains of either.

Gosnold's Fort
(1602), Nantucket Island
A small supply post built by Bartholomew Gosnold's expedition. Lasted only for the summer season.

Tarpaulin Cove Battery
(1775 ?), Tarpaulin Cove, Naushon Island
A Patriot fort or battery on the east point of the entrance to the cove.

Elizabeth Island Post
(1602), Cuttyhunk Island
A fort and storehouse built by Gosnold. The settlement was named Elizabeth after the English Queen.

Aptuxet Trading Post (Museum)
(1627 - 1629 or 1635), Bourne
A Pilgrim trading post. It was probably abandoned in 1629. It was destroyed by a hurricane in 1635. It was excavated in the 1920's and reconstructed as a museum near Shore Road. Based on 1995 excavations, this site was probably the Ezra Perry Garrison (1676). The actual site of the trading post was probably located about one mile southwest in Gray Gables.
(info and website courtesy of Craig Chartier of the Plymouth Archaeological Rediscovery Project)

Palmer's Island Garrison
(1675), New Bedford
A settlers' fort located on Palmer's Island. No remains, completely developed. The island's namesake, William Palmer, was killed by Indians in 1670.

John Cooke's Garrison
(1675), Fairhaven
A settlers' fort that stood until the Civil War era. A marker is at Garrison and Coggeshall Streets.

Fort Phoenix
(Fort Phoenix Beach State Reservation)
(1775 - 1784, 1798 - 1815, 1861 - 1865), Fairhaven
Originally a six-gun (or 11-gun) battery during the American Revolution known as Fort Fearing (after 1778). Attacked by the British in 1778. Rebuilt in 1798 and renamed. Rebuilt again in 1808 as a 12-gun fort. Attacked by the British in June 1814. It was regarrisoned again for the Civil War (eight guns), and a new powder magazine was built. It was partially restored in 1971. Five guns remain on display. During World War II this was the site of a 37mm AMTB battery.

Acushnet Fort
(1776 - 1815 ?), New Bedford
A 10-gun Patriot battery was located on Eldridge Point at the entrance to the inner harbor. It was rebuilt with stone/masonry with six guns in 1808. It no longer existed or was in ruins by the 1840's before Fort Rodman was built.

дд HARBOR DEFENSES of NEW BEDFORD and BUZZARD'S BAY
Defenses of New Bedford - Fire-control station sites by Chris Wiles

дд Butler Point Military Reservation
(1943 - 1946), East Marion
Batteries here were AMTB Battery 934 (1943 - 1946) one mount buried, which replaced a two-gun 155mm battery (1942 - 1943) Panama mounts remain.

дд Fort Rodman
(Fort Taber Historical Association)
(1857 - 1892, 1898 - 1947), New Bedford
A stone hexagon-shaped fort was built here beginning in 1857, called Fort at Clark's Point. A six-gun earthwork battery (locally named Fort Taber) was built in 1863 because the stone fort was not yet completed. The entire reservation, with the new coast defense batteries, was formally named Fort Rodman in 1898. Batteries here are Battery Milliken (1924 - 1946), Battery Walcott (1899 - 1942), Battery Barton (1899 - 1942), Battery Cross (1902 - 1920), Battery Craig (1902 - 1920) one emplacement modified into AA battery for World War II, Battery Gaston (1902 - 1920), and a two-gun 155mm battery (1940's). Another website from Evolving Beauty.com | Another website
(some info provided by Steve Crossley and Chris McDonald of the Fort Taber Historical Association.)

дд Mishaum Point Military Reservation
(1943 - 1947), near Salters Point
Batteries here were Battery 210 (1945 - 1947) which is built over, and an unnamed two-gun 155mm examination battery, which is covered. A Harbor Entrance Contol Post and a radar tower were also here.

дд Barneys Joy Point Military Reservation
(1943 - 1946), near Slocums Corner
Located on the opposite side of the Slocums River from Mishaum Point was AMTB Battery 931 (1943 - 1946) one mount covered.

дд Elizabeth Islands Military Reservation
(1943 - 1946), Cuttyhunk
Batteries here were AMTB Battery 932 (1943 - 1946) on the north tip of Cuttyhunk Island (private property), and AMTB Battery 933 (1943 - 1946) (mounts remain) at Fox Point on Nashawena Island (private property). Cuttyhunk also had a radar tower (removed) and two fire-control towers (still standing). Three additional towers are still here for the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay. Naushon Island has three fire-control stations still remaining, two on the north end, and one on the south end (private property).

Located nearby, a 37mm AMTB battery was located at Wood's Hole, and two FC towers are still located at Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard, one is partially buried (for HD Narragansett Bay), and the other has been destroyed in the surf.

дд ALSO: WWII fire-control towers for the New Bedford Defenses are still located on West Island, and at Round Hill Point. Another tower for HD Narragansett Bay is located at Gooseberry Point (Horseneck Beach State Park).

John Russell's Garrison
(1675), South Dartmouth
A marker locates the overgrown foundation remains of this settlers' fort located on Fort Street overlooking Apponogansett Bay.

Fort Leverett
(1675), Fall River (or North Tiverton, RI)
Built by the colonial militia near Pocasset Swamp during King Philip's War.
(see also RHODE ISLAND page 1)

Swansea Garrison Houses
(1675), Swansea Township
Rev. John Miles' Garrison was located on Old Providence Road and Barneyville Road. It stood until 1910, now an empty field. It was the local militia's headquarters, and was attacked in 1675. Bourne's Garrison was located in South Swansea on Gardiner's Neck on Old Gardiner's Neck Road, south of Route 103. It was a stone warehouse, attacked in 1675. Major John Brown's Garrison was also in the area. There may have been up to a dozen more in the area.

Rehoboth Garrison Houses
(1675), South Rehoboth
Two settlers' forts stood here until the 1780's, described as blockhouses. Blockhouse #1 stood at Providence and Reed Streets, now an empty field. Blockhouse #2 stood one mile north at Wheeler Street, now a private residence on site. Site was excavated in 1975. (see also Old Rehoboth Garrisons listed in RHODE ISLAND page 1)

John Woodcock's Garrison
(1675), North Attleboro
A settlers' fort once stood here on Route 1A, 0.4 mile south of the town line. The present structure here now was built in 1720 as an inn, adjacent to the original structure. A hotel was built on the original site in 1806, demolished in 1893.

Taunton Garrison Houses
(1675), Taunton Township
A settlers' fort was once located at Cohannet and High Streets, by the Cohannet School. Another was once located at Washington and Tremont Streets. They were attacked in 1675 and 1676.

A Powderhouse was located in Weir on Powderhouse Hill, between Plain and Berkley Streets, east of Beacon Street. This may have been built during the American Revolution.

Samuel Leonard's Garrison
(1675), Raynham Center
A settlers' fortified house (built 1653) located at the site of the former Ancient Iron Works Co. location, since moved to Raynham. It was attacked in 1675 and 1676. A marker is located on the south side of Route 104, 0.7 mile east of Route 44.

Bridgewater Fort
(1675), North Middleborough
A settlers' fort on the south-side of the Tauntaun River, probably on Fort Hill. It was built because the settlers did not wish to relocate to the coast.

Middleberry Fort
(1670 - 1675), Middleborough
A log palisade built in 1670, abandoned in 1675 after the Indian raids, then burned down by the Indians. A marker is located on Route 105 one mile north of Route 28, by the school. The actual site is at or near the school's baseball field.

Camp Hooker
(1862), Lakeville
A Civil War training camp.

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Hill in Duxbury; Fort Hill in Eastham.

Information on the forts and garrison houses during King Philip's War was gathered from "King Philip's War: The History and Legacy of America's Forgotton Conflict" by Eric Schultz and Michael Tougias, 1999, The Countryman Press.

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