Great Brewster Island Military Reservation

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Great Brewster Island Military Reservation (1917-1946) - A World War I Coastal Military Reservation first established in1917 on Greater Brewster Island, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Named in G.O. 6, 1937. Used during World War II as an AMTB gun battery site. Abandoned by the U.S. Army circa 1946.

World War I (1917-1918)

Part of the Harbor Defense of Boston, Massachusetts.

The U.S. Government initially purchased enough land on Greater Brewster Island to build a seawall in 1848. The remainder of the island, 21.7 acres in total, was purchased on 18 Aug 1917 during World War I as a searchlight station. The reservation was abandoned after the end of the war.

Greater Brewster Island Military Reservation Plan 1921


World War II (1941-1945)

Mine Observation Post Plan

During World War II a small post was built to support a mine observation post and a 90mm gun battery, Battery AMTB 942. The post was built with just three barracks, a mess hall and a small officers quarters. The mine observation post was a small concrete structure, 13' by 13', equipped with a range finder. The AMTB battery had two fixed 90mm guns, two mobile 90mm guns, two mobile 37mm guns and an ammunition storage bunker. The AMTB battery was completed in 1943 and the mine observation station was accepted for service 18 May 1944.

Greater Brewster Island Military Reservation was abandoned by the U.S. Army circa 1946 and declared excess by the GSA on 27 Jun 1950. The property was sold to a private owner on 28 Sep 1953 and passed through a number of hands until it was sold to an agency of the State of Massachusetts on 22 Mar 1973.

Great Brewster Island Military Reservation World War II Battery (edit list)
Battery
Click on Battery links below
No. Caliber Type Mount Service Years Battery Cost Notes
Battery AMTB 942 2
2
2
90mm
90mm
37mm
AMTB Fixed
Mobile
Mobile
1943-1946 $ ?
Source: CDSG
Greater Brewster Island Military Reservation Plan


Current Status

Part of Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area and Boston Harbor Islands State Park, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

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Location: Greater Brewster Island, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Maps & Images

Lat: 42.3417654 Long: -70.8772685

Sources:

  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings for the former Greater Brewster Island Military Reservation AMTB 942, Project No. D01MA048102, December 1997. Large PDF Download
  • U.S.Army, Supplement to the Harbor Defense Project of Boston, Massachusetts, (HDB-AN-45), 31 Jan 1945, CDSG

Links:

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Great Brewster Island Military Reservation Picture Gallery

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