A HISTORY OF FORT GORGES, PORTLAND HARBOR

by Joel W. Eastman
University of Southern Maine
Video from "Granite Guardian" courtesy University of Southern Maine

After the War of 1812, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed a new fortification on Hog Island Ledge to support forts Preble and Scammel, both built in 1808. However, funding for the fort was not finally approved by Congress until 1857. Construction began the next year. A wharf and stone cutting shed were built on Hog Island Ledge, footings laid, and erection of the walls begun. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, work was speeded up. By 1864, the fort was well on its way to completion and twenty-six guns had been mounted while construction continued. By 1865, work was completed according to the original plan, and it was named in honor of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, colonial proprietor of Maine.

Engineers Wharf - Real Video  220k Cable Modem Stream 28k Phone Modem Stream

In 1869 a modernization project was begun to upgrade the fort. Guns and gun platforms on third level were removed, and new emplacements for larger guns begun on the north, east and west faces, with parapets and magazines protected by sod-covered sand. An embankment of sod-covered sand was built on south face to protect the rear of guns and magazines. A two story "great magazine" was built on east end of parade ground to store the large amounts of powder required by larger guns. Thirty-four guns remained mounted on the first and second levels of the fort.

In 1876, Congress ended funding for the modernization project, leaving work on third level unfinished. At the time of the Spanish War, thirty-one guns remained mounted, but these were salvaged shortly thereafter. In 1897, the Army constructed a submarine mine store house in the center of the parade ground, with small railroad running from it to a crane at the end of the wharf. A caretaker, Charles Rust, and his family lived in the fort in the apartments to the east of the entrance until 1916, and his granddaughter born there.

In the 1930s, the Coast Guard installed an aid to navigation beacon in fort which was powered by a generator and flashed out through one of the gun embrasures. In 1940s, rolls of steel cable for submarine mines, submarine nets or moorings were stored in the fort in the mine store house. In 1946, the fort was declared surplus by General Services Administration. In 1960, Fort Gorges was acquired by the City of Portland as historic site.

Rodman Gun - Real Video  220k Cable Modem Stream 28k Phone Modem Stream

  INFORMATION ON FORT GORGES

Name: Named for Englishman Sir Ferdinando Gorges (1566-1647), colonial proprietor of Maine.

Construction: Built of granite and brick with iron beams supporting the floors of the officers apartments.  Apartments were finished with wood lath and plaster, wooden floors, doors, and double-hung windows. Floors and ceilings of the powder magazines were built of wood, with concealed nails to avoid sparks.

First Level: The first level contained twenty-eight casemates for 10 inch Rodman guns with flues to exhaust powder smoke, and embrasures protected by iron stutters.  Powder magazines were located in the northeast and northwest corners of the fort. The north end of the fort contained officers apartments, store rooms, a bakery, and privies, which empty into the ocean. In 1869-76 the magazine in the northeast corner was expanded into the parade ground area.

Second Level: The second level also included twenty-eight casemates for 10 inch Rodman guns and powder magazines in the northeast and northwest corners. Circular staircases on the southeast and southwest corners of the parade ground gave access to the second and third levels of the fort.

Third Level: This level was originally planned for thirty-nine emplacements for 10 inch Rodman guns. In the years from 1869 to 1876, it was rebuilt to mount eleven 15-inch Rodman guns protected by earth parapets with adjacent powder magazines. Funding ran out before the modernization was completed.

Troops:  500 men would have been required to man all of the guns. The gun casemates on the first and second levels would have been framed in and doors, windows and stoves installed to serve as quarters for the enlisted men, but the fort was never permanently garrisoned.

Water: There are two brick water cisterns in the parade ground and four in the floors of the apartments.

Parrott Gun - Real Video  220k Cable Modem Stream 28k Phone Modem Stream

Armament Emplaced: In 1864 there were 26 smooth bore, muzzle-loading 10 inch Rodman guns mounted on the first level and three rifled, muzzle-loading Parrott guns mounted on the third level. Although the fort was not garrisoned, it could have been quickly manned with troops from Fort Preble or Fort Scammel. In 1870 there were twenty-eight 10 inch Rodman guns mounted, plus six Parrott guns. In 1896, a 300 pounder (10 inch) rifled Parrott gun was raised to the third level, where it remains unmounted. The rest of the guns were scrapped after 1898.

Range of Guns: A 10 inch Rodman gun fired a 125 pound projectile 3 miles.

FORT GORGES DOCUMENTARY WINS AWARD

The Television Department of the University of Southern Maine has won a national award for its 1999 production, “Granite Guardian,” a documentary on Portland’s nineteenth century defensive work, Fort Gorges. The twenty-two minute video, which aired locally on the Community Television Network last year, was given an Honorable Mention in the History category of the 1999 Communicator Awards, a competition open to university and commercial productions, which is held in Arlington, Texas. 

“Granite Guardian” presents a history of Fort Gorges, using historical photographs and current images of the structure, a prominent landmark which is visible from the mainland and islands of Casco Bay, but impossible to visit except in a small boat or kayak. The fort is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the property of the City of Portland. Two youth programs, Youth Build and Building Alternatives, sponsored by the Portland West Neighborhood Planning Council, contribute an annual work day at the fort to pick up litter, mow the grass and undertake basic maintenance.

The documentary was written by USM History Professor Joel Eastman and shot by Community Television Network videographer William Blood. Sound recording and editing was done by USM Television’s Nat Ives. Caroline Hendry of USM TV served as production coordinator.  Copies of the video may be obtained for $10, plus $2 shipping and handling, by writing to the Community Television Network, 100 Oak Street, Portland, ME 04101.

VISITOR INFORMATION

There is no ferry service to Fort Gorges, but it can be reached in small boats. Visitors enter the fort at their own risk and are urged to use caution as there are hazardous areas within the fort. Do not enter the powder magazines on the second level because the floors are missing. Do not enter the powder magazines on the first level without a flashlight. Do not climb on the earth-covered powder magazines and gun emplacements on the third level for there is danger of falling and of causing damage to the sod which will lead to erosion. 

Light fires only in the fire ring on the parade ground. Please keep fire away from the stonework because it shatters the granite. Do not remove wood from the apartments or powder magazines as they are being restored. There are no restrooms. Please carry out all trash. Your help in preserving this historic structure for future generations will be greatly appreciated.

Click on images for larger view

RECOMMENDED READING

Bradley, Robert. Forts of Maine. Augusta, 1980.

Lewis, Emmanuel W. Seacoast Fortifications of the United States: An Introductory History. Washington, DC, 1970.