Mid Coast Maine

Last Update: 13/OCTOBER/2007

Compiled by Pete Payette - Š2007 American Forts Network

Camp John Pope
(1862), Bangor
A Civil War training camp. Undetermined location.

Fort Knox (State Historic Site)
(1844 - 1923), Prospect Ferry
The northernmost "Third System" fort in the United States. It was designed to hold 137 guns, several still remain. It was garrisoned during the Civil War, and was reactivated in 1898 to guard the minefield in the Penobscot River. The Torpedo (Mine) Storehouse was built in 1900. Admission fee. Friends of Fort Knox | Another website from Evolving Beauty.com

Fort Pownall
(Fort Point State Park)
(1759 - 1775), Stockton Springs
Located on Fort (Wasaumkeag) Point, built by the Massachusetts colonial militia. It consisted of one massive palisaded blockhouse with its own bastions, built on fieldstone footings, surrounded by a moat within four-pointed star earthwork. British troops removed the remaining guns in March 1775, and Patriot forces later demolished the blockhouse and filled-in the moat in July 1775 to prevent further British use. The star-shaped earthworks still exist.

Belfast Bay Defenses
(1863 - 1865), Belfast
Two five-gun Civil War batteries, at Minister Point (some earthworks remain on private property) located about 1.5 miles west of Moose Point State Park, and at Little River, located south of town at the end of Battery Road just north of the Little River (magazine remains on private property, battery built on). Barracks were built in the summer of 1864. All guns were transferred to Fort Knox by December 1865.

Camden Batteries
(1814 - 1815), Camden
Two state militia batteries, located at Eaton's Point and Jacob's Point. Both no longer exist.

Rockland Defenses
(1864 - 1865), Rockland and Owls Head
Two five-gun Civil War batteries. One was located at Jameson Point at the breakwater, but was partly destroyed during construction of the Samoset Resort golf course. Remnants are still extant. The other battery was at Battery (Halfway) Point in Owls Head, destroyed in the 1950's for a housing development.

Fort Lucia
(1730's), near St. George
A colonial militia fort built by Samuel Waldo at the mouth of the St. George River sometime between 1735 and 1745. Undetermined location.

Fort St. George's (3) (State Historic Site)
(1809 - 1814), St. George
An American three-gun crescent earthwork with a blockhouse, barracks, and magazine. The British captured the fort in 1814 and spiked its guns. Some earthworks remain at Fort (Robinson's) Point. No land access (boat only).

Fort St. George's (2)
(1720 - 1762), Thomaston
A complex of two palisaded blockhouses located near the later site of the Knox Mansion. Attacked by Indians in 1722, 1723, and 1758.

Capt. Benjamin Burton's Fort
(1754 - 1762 ?), Cushing
A palisaded stone blockhouse that was originally built in 1750. It was attacked by Indians in 1755, 1756, and 1758.

Fort Friendship
(1750 - unknown), Friendship
Located on Garrison Island at Meduncook (Friendship), it provided protection to all the settlement's families in 1755.

Pemaquid Forts
(Pemaquid State Historic Site)
(1630 - 1759), Pemaquid Beach
First located here was Abraham Shurte's Fort (1630 - 1633), a palisaded trading post that was burned down by pirates under Dixie Bull. Fort Pemaquid was then built (1633 - 1676). Destroyed in King Philip's War. The third fort was Fort Charles (1677 - 1689). It was a timber redoubt with a bastioned outwork. The outlying settlement at this time was known as Jamestown. The fort was again destroyed by French and Indians. The current stone structure is a 1908 reconstruction of the fourth fort, Fort William Henry (1692 - 1696), which was attacked and destroyed by the French. The fifth fort was Fort Frederick (1729 - 1759). It was attacked by the French and Indians in 1747 but held. The abandoned ruins were further dismantled by the local residents in 1775 to prevent British use during the American Revolution. The foundations of Fort Frederick are within the perimeter of Fort William Henry.

Col. William Vaughan's Fort
(1745 - 1750's), Damariscotta
A garrison house with a 100-square foot stockade.

Fort Webber
(1808 - 1816), near East Boothbay
A Federal three-gun enclosed circular earthwork battery with a blockhouse located on the southern end of Fort (Webber's) Island. Also known as Damariscotta Battery. Some excavation was done in 1985. Ruins still exist. Boat access only.

Fort Damariscove
(1622, 1676), Damariscove Island
Originally a stockaded settlement was located here. A palisaded fort was erected in 1676.

Boothbay Harbor Fort
(1814 - 1815), Boothbay Harbor
A state militia work located on McFarland's Point.

Fort Anawagen
(1630's ?), Newagen
A settlement defense located on the southern end of Southport Island at Cape Newagen.

Fort Edgecomb (State Historic Site)
(1808 - 1816), North Edgecomb
A Federal six-gun enclosed battery on Davis Island with an octagonal wooden blockhouse, stone bastions, earthworks and a palisade. It was rebuilt in 1961. The blockhouse is the last remaining original "Second System" blockhouse in Maine. Another website.

Fort Anne
(unknown - 1676), Sheepscot
May have been built as early as 1630. It was destroyed during King Philip's War. The remains are buried in a cemetery that was established in the 1730's.

Wiscasset Garrison Houses
(1740's), Wiscasset
Fort Clark's Hill was a garrison house built after 1743. Fort Garrison Hill was a square wooden blockhouse built in 1743 on Brimstone (Garrison) Hill. Its remains are buried under the present-day Methodist church.
(NOTE: There is a Fort Hill Street in town.)

Fort MacDonough
(1814 - 1815), Westport Island
A state militia six-gun star-shaped earthwork fort located on Clough Point on Westport Island, directly across from Fort Edgecomb. Earthworks remain on private property.

Fort Sagadahoc
(unknown dates), Stage Island
A colonial era fort located off of Kennebec Point at the mouth of Sagadahoc Bay.

Col. Arthur Noble's Garrison
(1730's or 1740's), Georgetown
A garrison house in the village center. Undetermined if built before or after Fort Noble in Phippsburg.

Arrowsic Trading Post (1)
(1654 - 1676), Arrowsic
A Clarke and Lake Co. fortified trading post and garrison house. Located on the eastern side of Arrowsic Island along the Sasonoa River at Squirrel Point, between Mill Island and Spring Cove. It was attacked and destroyed in 1676 during King Philip's War, with the death of Thomas Lake. The fort's two cannon were recovered by a relief party in 1677, and removed back to Boston. Excavations done initially in the 1890's and later in the 1960's - 1970's revealed hundreds of artifacts, most on display at the Woolwich Historical Society.

Samuel Denny's Fort
(unknown dates), Arrowsic
A colonial era garrison house or blockhouse located on the Kennebec River at Butler's Cove, opposite the south-end of Lee Island.

John Watt's Fort
(unknown dates), Arrowsic
A colonial era garrison house or blockhouse located on the Kennebec River at Green Point, nearly opposite the north-end of Lee Island.

Arrowsic Fort (2)
(1717 - 1721 ?), Arrowsic
Also known as Fort Menaskoux. A peace conference between the Indians and settlers took place here in 1720. Located on the west-side of Arrowsic Island along the Kennebec River near Fisher Eddy.

Woolwich Garrison Houses
(1676, 1740's), Woolwich
Richard Hammond's Garrison and trading post (1676) was located near Day's Ferry on the east side of the Kennebec River, near Route 128 and Old Stage Road. Attacked by Indians in 1676, killing Hammond. Some excavation was done years ago. Site is on private property. Samuel Harnden's Garrison was located in the area (at Burial Point ?) by 1742 (?). Job Lewis' Fort was built before 1745 at the eastern shore of Merrymeeting Bay near Chop's Creek. There may have been five additional garrison houses built before 1747.

Fort Frankfort
(1752 - 1760's), Dresden
Located on the Kennebec River south of Augusta. Later renamed Fort Shirley. One of the three Kennebec River forts during the French and Indian War, it consisted of two 24-foot square two-story blockhouses with a barracks and 40-foot long storehouse, enclosed within a 200-foot square palisade. The site, excavated in 1975, is next to the Pownalborough Court House (1761).

Fort Western
(1754 - 1769), Augusta
One of three forts built along the Kennebec River in 1754. Became strictly a private trading post after 1769 under the ownership of Capt. James Howard. Although most of the fort was dismantled, the Garrison House was not, and it has been restored (1919). This is New England's oldest surviving wooden fort. This was the staging point for Benedict Arnold's march on Québec in the fall of 1775. Admission fee. Another website from Augusta.

The Pilgrim's Cushnoc Trading Post was first located here (1627 - 1661).

Kennebec Arsenal
(1827 - 1903), Augusta
A Federal arsenal located on Arsenal Street. Became the Maine Insane Hospital in 1905.
(thanks to Marshall Sitrin for additional info)

Augusta Civil War Camps
(1860's), Augusta
Civil War training camps located in the area were Camp James Fry, Camp Coburn (1) (1862 - 1863), Camp Halleck (1862 - 1863), Camp E.D. Keyes (1) (1862 - 1864), and Camp Coney (Cony) (1865 - 1866).

Camp Keyes (2)
(1888 - present), Augusta
A state guard summer encampment area. Made a permanent site in 1889. Originally named after each sitting state governor. Known as Camp Powers from 1897 - 1900. Used as a muster site for state troops during the Spanish-American War (1898). Present name in use since 1909. Located near the airport.

Totannock Indian Fort
(1675 - 1676), Winslow
A winter refuge for Penobscots during King Philip's War. Located at the confluence of the Kennebec and Sebasticook Rivers.

Fort Halifax (State Historic Site)
(1754 - 1766, 1775 - 1778 ?), Winslow
One of the three Kennebec River forts, it was apparently abandoned after 1762, but it was reoccupied by Patriots in 1775 during Col. Benedict Arnold's expedition to Canada. The fort was demolished in 1797 except for the blockhouse. The present blockhouse was reconstructed after the original was destroyed in 1987. It was the oldest surviving blockhouse in the U.S. until then.

Norridgewock
(1721 - 1724), Norridgewock
An Abenaki Indian stronghold that the French, under Jesuit Father Sebastian Rasle, used as a base of operations to attack English settlements to the south. The English under Capt. John Lovewell attacked and destroyed the village in 1724, killing about 80 Indians, including Father Rasle (Lovewell's War).

Fort Richmond
(1719 - 1755), Richmond
A wooden blockhouse used as a government trading post. It was enlarged in 1723, and rebuilt in 1740. It had ten guns in 1754. Replaced by Fort Frankfort.

Joseph Berry's Fort
(unknown dates), West Bath
A colonial era garrison house or blockhouse located on Winnegance Creek.

Fort Noble
(1734 - unknown), Phippsburg
A colonial militia square palisade with two blockhouses and barracks, built by Col. Arthur Noble. It was still in use in 1745. Located along the Kennebec River at Pleasant (Morse) Cove at the southern end of Fiddler's Reach.

Fort at Cox's Head
(1814 - 1816), Cox Head
A state militia four-gun brick fort and barracks for 105 men that replaced Hunnewell's Point Battery (see Fort Popham below).

Fort St. George (1)
(Maine's First Ship 1607)
(1607 - 1608), Sabino Head *MAP*
The first English settlement in New England, but could not survive another harsh winter season in the region, as well as the death of its leader, George Popham. Archaeological digs in 1997 unearthed the remains and artifacts of the fort, located at the parade ground/administrative area of Fort Baldwin. The first sailing ship built in North America, the VIRGINIA, was constructed here in 1607, and returned the settlers to England the following spring.

¤ COAST DEFENSES of the KENNEBEC RIVER

¤ Fort Popham (State Historic Site)
(1861 - 1918), near Popham Beach
Site of earlier forts, a British one-gun blockhouse from 1744, a Patriot fort from 1775, and American Battery on Hunnewell's Point (aka Georgetown Battery) (1808 - 1814), a six-gun enclosed work with a brick magazine and barracks, later relocated to Cox Head (see above). Construction of the casemated, multi-level Fort Popham was never completed, and it was abandoned in 1869. An unnamed battery (1899 - 1910) (one M1888 8-inch BL gun on modified 15-inch Rodman carriage) protecting an underwater minefield was built nearby. The mine casemate was located in the fort. Photos of Forts Popham and Baldwin | Another website from Destination Maine | Another website from Evolving Beauty.com

¤ Fort Baldwin
(1905 - 1928, 1942 - 1946), Sabino Head
Located here on Sabino Hill were Battery Hardman (1908 - 1917), Battery Hawley (1908 - 1924), Battery Cogan (1908 - 1924), and an unnamed battery of four 155mm guns from WWII (two Panama mounts on Battery Hawley and two Panama mounts next to Battery Hawley). A concrete observation tower was built here in World War II and was used for Battery 102/Steele on Peaks Island (see Portland Defenses). The parade ground/administrative area of the post encompassed the site of the 1607 Popham Colony fort. During WWII this post was a subunit of the Portland Harbor Defenses. Photos of Forts Baldwin and Popham.

¤ ALSO: A concrete WWII FC tower is located to the west at Small Point (Bald Head) (private property), part of the Portland Defenses.

Fort Augusta
(1718 - 1721), Small Point
A stone fort 100-feet square built by Dr. Oliver Noyes to protect a fishing village at Small Point Harbor, named Augusta. It was later abandoned by the militia troops sent to garrison it. The original village and the fort survived until about 1821. Remnants of a brick chimney and fireplace supposedly still remain.

Cundy's Harbor Fort
(1814 - 1815), Cundy's Harbor
A state militia fort located on Fort Point at Sandy Cove, just south of town. Site is on private property.

Brunswick Garrison Houses
(various dates), Brunswick
Located here in 1675 was David Dunning's Fort, a log blockhouse or garrison house, and David Giveen's Garrison. Located here in 1730 was James McFarland's Garrison, a two-story timber blockhouse on Maine and Mason Streets. The settlement was then known as Pejepscot.

Fort Andros
(1688 - 1694), Brunswick
A colonial militia zig-zag trace stone fort once located south of Bow Street. The fort was destroyed by French and Indians.

Fort George (1)
(1715 - 1737), Brunswick
A stone fort with two bastions and two half-bastions, and a two-story barracks within. Built near the site of Fort Andros. Attacked by French and Indians in 1722. The fort was dismantled by the Massachusetts government over budget constraints. Site located on northern Maine Street.

Fort Androscoggin
(1680's), Auburn
A colonial fort located on Laurel Hill. In existence in 1690.

NEED MORE INFO: Fort Hill Street in Wiscasset.

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