View source for Fort Foster (Maine)

{{PageHeader}}
'''Fort Foster''' (1873-1948) - An [[Endicott Period]] Coastal Fort first established in 1873 on Gerrish Island, York County, Maine. Named Fort Foster in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after [[John G. Foster]], a native of New Hampshire, and a lieutenant colonel, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, who served with distinction in the [[Mexican War]] and the [[U.S. Civil War]], attaining the rank of major general, U.S. Volunteers during the Civil War. Post abandoned by the U.S. Army in 1948. Assigned Location ID '''ME00060'''.
<gallery>
File:Fort Foster FC Tower - 7.jpg|Fort Foster WWII Fire Control Tower
File:Fort Foster FC Tower 2 - 2.jpg|Fort Foster WWII Mine Control Tower
File:Fort Foster Bty Chapin - 14.jpg|Fort Foster Battery Chapin Remains, Now a Part of a City Park
</gallery>
== [[Endicott Period]] (1890-1910) ==
{{HDPortsmouth}} 

The land for Fort Foster was acquired in two parcels, the first was a 40-acre parcel acquired in 1873 and the second was a 48-acre parcel formally acquired on 27 Feb 1943.

Construction began on the first of two [[Endicott Period]] gun batteries in 1898 and both were completed by 1904. [[Battery Bohlen]] was armed with three 10" guns on Disappearing carriages and Battery Chapin was armed with two 3" rapid-fire guns.

In 1909 a secondary mine station was built 25' in the back of [[Battery Chapin]]. This station was accepted for service on 9 Feb 1909 at a cost of $ 705.55.

Post construction was very limited and initially, the only quarters constructed were an NCO/caretaker dwelling. The Reports of Completed Batteries (RCB) for the pre [[World War I]] period show the post garrisoned by detachment from [[Fort Constitution (New Hampshire)]].
{{Clr}}
{{FtFosterEndicott}}
{{Clr}}

== [[World War I]] (1917-1918) ==
In August of 1917, all three 10" guns of Battery Bohlen were ordered dismounted for use abroad. All three guns were transferred to France in October 1917 and subsequently transferred back to Fort Foster in September 1919. The guns were then remounted in Battery Bohlen.

A number of temporary [[World War I]] buildings were constructed during the war including temporary officers quarters, enlisted barracks, post exchange and stable. These temporary buildings were removed in the 1920s and for most of the 1920s and 1930s, the post was in caretaker status.
{{Clr}}
[[File:Fort Foster Plan 1921.jpg|thumb|left|795px|Fort Foster Plan 1921 Showing WWI Temporary Buildings]]
[[File:Fort Foster Plan 1938.jpg|thumb|left|795px|Fort Foster Plan 1938 WWI Temporary Buildings Removed]]
{{Clr}}

== [[World War II]] (1941-1945) ==
Two [[World War II]] gun batteries were planned for Fort Foster, 6" [[Battery 205]] and  90mm [[Battery AMTB 952]]. Construction began on [[Battery 205]] in November 1942 on the 40 acres still under the acquisition process. This battery was completed in September 1944 but the gun tubes never arrived and it was never armed. [[Battery AMTB 952]] was begun and completed in 1943 as a protection against fast motor torpedo boats and aircraft. The AMTB battery was located in front of [[Battery Bohlen]] which had been approved for abandonment in December 1942.
[[File:Fort Foster Mine Casemate - 4.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Fort Foster WWII Mine Casemate]]
In 1942 a three-story mine control station was built in the back of [[Battery Bohlen]]. The station was accepted for service on 8 Jul 1942 at a cost of $ 13,944.39. Also constructed during [[World War II]] was a new mine casemate near [[Battery Bohlen]].

{{HDPortsmouthWWIIMines}}

On 19 May 1943 a six-story fire control observation tower was accepted for service in support of [[Battery 205]] at a cost of $10,630.00. This was a square concrete six-story tower located just north of [[Battery 205]]. Although accepted for service, this tower is not shown on the list of defense elements because [[Battery 205]] was never armed.

Post construction during [[World War II]] included four 66 man barracks, a mess hall, an admin building, an infirmary, two recreation buildings, and a 6 man officers quarters and mess. All of the buildings were of temporary [[World War II]] type construction. The cantonment area was located on the original parcel of land by the [[Endicott Period]] batteries.
{{Clr}}
{{FtFosterWWII}}
[[File:Fort Foster (Maine) Plan.jpg|thumb|left|795px|Fort Foster Plan WWII]]
{{Clr}}

== Current Status ==
Part of Fort Foster City Park, Gerrish Island, York County, Maine. No period guns or mounts in place.
{{#display_map:
43.06848,-70.691636~ Fort Foster<br>(1873-1948);
43.06743,-70.691775~ [[Battery Bolhen]];
43.068351,-70.693747~ [[Battery Chapin]];
43.066889,-70.691416~ [[Battery AMTB 952]];
43.066113,-70.686947~ [[Battery 205]];
43.067015,-70.686336~ Fire Control Tower;
43.067437,-70.692861~ Mine Casemate;
43.067716,-70.691807~ Mine Tower - 1942;
43.068483,-70.693722~ Mine Tower - 1909}}
{{Location|Fort Foster City Park, Gerrish Island, York County, Maine.|43.0672222|-70.6877778}}

'''Sources:''' 
* {{Roberts}}, page 360-361
{{HBSuppPortsmouthWWII}}

'''Links:''' 
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com North American Forts - Fort Foster]
* [http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/Maine/Fort_Foster/index.html North American Forts - Fort Foster Main Page]
* {{CDSGMainLink}}

{{Visited|20 Jun 2012}}
__NOTOC__
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foster (1)}}
[[Category:All]]
[[Category:Maine All]]
[[Category:Maine Forts]]
[[Category:Maine York County]]
[[Category:Coastal Forts]]
[[Category:Harbor Defense of Portsmouth]]
[[Category:Preserved]]
[[Category:City Park]]
[[Category:Endicott Period Forts]]
[[Category:World War I Forts]]
[[Category:World War I Coastal Forts]]
[[Category:World War II Forts]]
[[Category:World War II Coastal Forts]]
[[Category:Starter Page]]
[[Category:2012 Research Trip]]