Fort Banks – Winthrop MA
by Guest Blogger, Bette Pye Wing
As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, Winthrop is where I grew up. I never knew it at the time, but it was a super special place to live. As I
moved to new places and visited others, I was able to make a fairly accurate
assessment of each and Winthrop always came out the winner.
For instance, how many kids grew up on a peninsula 1.6 miles
square, with 7 miles of beaches, a view of the inner harbor and Boston skyline
on one side and nothing but ocean and islands in any other direction? For that matter, how many kids grew up in a
town with two (2) forts and a third one near by on Deer Island? Yes, that would
be as in military forts and not just historical ones, but actively occupied and
maintained forts. It wasn’t unusual to see jeeps and Army trucks on the streets
near the biggest fort, Fort Banks. It was usual to spend a day at the beach and
see the Shore Patrol making their daily rounds. The Army was a definite
presence in our town.
Fort Banks started out as a Mortar Battery, originally built
in 1892. It was named for the Civil War general and congressman, Nathaniel P.
Banks. It originally had four pits with four, twelve inch diameter mortars
each. These mortars were capable of sending an 800 pound shell, nine miles out
to sea. This installation was meant to guard and protect Boston Harbor as part
of the Harbor Defense. Later, anti-aircraft guns were added and Fort Banks
became the base for the Army’s 9th Artillery Regiment. In
preparation for WWII, by the end of June 1941, there 58 Officers, 18 NCO’s and
892 enlisted men stationed at Fort Banks. As we headed into the Korean War,
Nike Anti-Aircraft Rockets were on the site.
The fort now served as part of the early warning system for all of New
England. There was also a 250 bed hospital, barracks and officers housing. Today,
only one pit and two underground bunkers remain of the original installation,
which were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. In the
40’s and 50’s military personnel had life pretty easy. Fort Banks became know
as The Country Club, while Revere Beach Amusement Park and the hot spots in
Boston provided plenty of entertainment.
What once was an important defense installation bustling
with military personnel and activity, became inactive September 30,1966. It has
become a multi-use area, today, with a school, playground, condominiums, apartment
buildings and a cemetery.
I have access to the census records of Fort Banks from 1910
– 1940 and will do look-ups. Please use thepyeplate@gmail.com
to request additional info or look-ups.
The other two forts, Fort Dawes and Fort Heath will be the
subjects of future blogs.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fort_Banks_Mortar_Battery_Winthrop_MA_01.jpg
personal observations and history
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I remember playing at Fort Banks with a fellow student at the Highland school whose dad was stationed there in 1948.
ReplyDeleteDavid Spector
We Lived there in the former generals Quarters when my dad was Statoned at Boston Army base. This was just before they closed the base entirely and it went to hell. I have a lot of fond memories of Playing in and around that fort with my school mates.
ReplyDelete