Fort Popham

Fort Popham (1862-1924) - A Third System fort authorized in 1857, construction started in 1862 but was never completed. Located in Sagadahoc County, Maine. Named after George Popham, founder of the 1607 Popham Colony. Sold to the State of Maine in 1924.

Rear of Fort Popham
Fort Popham Aerial View circa 1936

Third System (1816-1867)

Part of the Harbor Defense of the Kennebec River, Maine. Constructed to protect the mouth of the Kennebec River and the approaches to Augusta and the Bath Iron Works.

Built to mount 42 heavy guns in a three tier half moon shaped granite fort. Only two tiers of casemates were completely finished. A Thirty foot curved granite wall faced the river side of the fort with a straight wall facing the land side. Internally the fort housed two barracks, a subterranean cistern and four magazines located in demibastions.

U.S. Civil War (1861-1865)

The fort was garrisoned during the U.S. Civil War and after until 1869 when construction was halted.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Fort Popham was regarrisoned briefly during the Spanish American War and had a single 8 inch breach loaded gun mounted in a temporary concrete emplacement exterior to the old fort. This gun was still in place on 31 Dec 1910 but by 31 Dec 1916 it was no longer carried on the records. The records show this was an 8" M1888MI BL rifle, serial number 15, mounted on a 15" Rodman smoothbore carriage. Still mounted on 31 Dec 1903 were two 8" Rodman guns and carriages, and one 100 pounder Parrott gun and carriage.

World War I (1917-1918)

Regarrisoned for the last time during World War I.

Sold to the State of Maine for $6,600 in 1924.

Current Status

Part of Fort Popham State Historic Site. Operates Memorial Day - September 30

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Location: 15 miles from Bath, Maine on Route 209, Sagadahoc County, Maine. Maps & Images Lat: 43.755062 Long: -69.783711 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 3'

Sources:

• Weaver, John R. II, A Legacy in Brick and Stone: America Coastal Defense Forts of the Third System, Redoubt Press, McLean, 2001, First Printing, ISBN 1-57510-069-X, page 73-74
• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 370

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Popham]
• Wikipedia - Fort Popham
• Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands

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