Fort McClary

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Fort McClary (1808-1918) - An Second System Coastal Fort first established in 1808 in York County, Maine. Named for Major Andrew McClary, who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolutionary War. Abandoned in 1918.

Fort McClary circa 1902

Second System

Built as a blockhouse with external batteries 1808-1809.

Third System

Proposed to be upgrade to a full Third System fort by Brig. Gen.Joseph G. Totten, Chief Engineer of the United States Army. The fort was to work in conjunction with Fort Constitution to guard the entrance to Portsmouth harbor. Construction began in 1863 but was curtailed soon after the end of the U.S. Civil War. The partially complete walls can be seen today.

The Third System fort was constructed as an irregular pentagon with three sides and two bastions to the rear and two sides facing the water. A caponier was centered between the two walls facing the water. The original blockhouse, the magazine and a barracks were among the structures at the center of the new fortifications. Protection was provided for both the land side and the sea side. The walls were never completed above the first tier and modifications in the form of earthworks were built as temporary protection.

Endicott Period

Part of the Harbor Defense of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Three 15" Rodman smoothbore cannons were emplaced during the Spanish-American War as a temporary defense. These smoothbore cannons were still emplaced as late as 7 Dec 1903.

Fort McClary Endicott Period Battery (edit list)
Battery
Click on Battery links below
No. Caliber Type Mount Service Years Battery Cost Notes
Battery Unnamed 3 15" SB Rodman Iron Carriage 1898-190? $ ? In place 7 Dec 1903
Source: CDSG
Fort McClary Plan


World War I

Equipped as an observation post during World War I and closed in 1918 at the end of the war.

Current Status

Part of Fort McClarey State Historic Site, York County, Maine. Partially completed walls remain with cut granite stone blocks scattered about. Buildings on the site include the refurbished blockhouse, magazine and the shell of the Rifleman's house. Foundations of the second Rifleman's house and the barracks are exposed.

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Location: Fort McClary State Historic Site, York County, Maine.

Maps & Images

Lat: 43.0831445 Long: -70.7089412

Sources:

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Fort McClary Picture Gallery

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