Fort Gorges, Casco Bay, Maine
Following the War of 1812, the United States Army Corps of Engineers proposed that a fort be built on Hog Island Ledge, in Casco Bay at the entrance to the harbor at Portland, Maine. Named for the colonial proprietor of Maine, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, it was constructed to support existing forts, including Fort Preble in South Portland and Fort Scammel built on nearby House Island in 1808. Congress, however, did not fund construction of Fort Gorges until 1857. The walls of the fort were begun the next year, and when the American Civil War broke out in 1861, work quickly advanced.
The fort was designed by Colonel Reuben Staples Smart. The chief architect in charge of construction was Thomas Lincoln Casey, who later became Chief of Engineers. It is similar in size and construction to Fort Sumter, but is built of granite instead of brick.
The fort was completed in 1865 as the war ended. Modern explosives made the fort obsolete by the time it was completed. A modernization plan was begun in 1869.
Capture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:15 PM•Views: 30
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Spring Point Light, South Portland
The lighthouse was constructed in 1897 by the government after seven steamship companies stated that many of their vessels ran aground on Spring Point Ledge. Congress initially allocated $20,000 to its construction, although the total cost of the tower ended up being $45,000 due to problems with storms and poor quality cement. The lighthouse featured a fog bell that sounded twice every 12 seconds, and a lantern fitted with a fifth order Fresnel lens first lit by Keeper William A. Lane on May 24, 1897.
Improvements were made to the lighthouse throughout the 20th century. It was electrified in 1934, and in 1951, a 900-foot breakwater made from 50,000 short tons (45,000 t) of granite was constructed in order to connect the lighthouse to the mainland. The lighthouse was originally owned and operated by the United States Coast Guard. However, on April 28, 1998, the Maine Lights Selection Committee approved a transfer of ownership of the tower to the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust.
Capture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:15 PM•Views: 31
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Fort Gorges, Casco BayCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:16 PM•Views: 31No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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Fort Gorges, Casco BayCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:16 PM•Views: 30No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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Fort Gorges, Casco BayCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:16 PM•Views: 32No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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Portland Head Light (distance) and Spring Point Light (foreground)Capture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:16 PM•Views: 29No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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The "Sacred Soil"! Little Diamond IslandCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:17 PM•Views: 36No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
Laurie Aug 2, 2013 08:30 PM
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Wow how pretty |
LDICapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:18 PM•Views: 35No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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The Casino (NOT a gambling place) on Little Daimond IslandCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:19 PM•Views: 33No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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Looking back at Portland and Fort GorgesCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:19 PM•Views: 38No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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Approaching the LDI dock and the CasinoCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:19 PM•Views: 37No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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LDI. The Yellow Cottage is the Zerner ancestral manse.Capture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:19 PM•Views: 37No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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Little Diamond Island's pier and CasinoCapture Date: Jul 19, 2013 01:19 PM•Views: 37No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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From the porch of the Zerner ancestral manseCapture Date: Jul 20, 2013 11:24 AM•Views: 39No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
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On the deck of Starship Zerner-Libby, Georgia and Dr. John checking his iPhoneCapture Date: Jul 20, 2013 11:24 AM•Views: 72No comments yet. All fields are required, fill in the form. Comment successfully added. Comment
Laurie Aug 2, 2013 08:31 PM
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Great porch |
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