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Fort Lee
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Salem
Evening News SALEM - The Salem Bicentennial Commission is working to convert Salem's abandoned military forts into natural preserves. The commission hopes that the fort projects will rekindle some of the interest in the history of the forts and the importance of the forts as coastal military protection be/ore and during the Revolutionary War Richard Sadoski, foreman of the Bicentennial Commission, suspects that few people realize that Forts Lee and Pickering even exist. After a guided tour of the forts and a talk with Sadoski, it seems that many more people will be aware of the forts through the efforts of the commission during the Bicentennial year. The forts were originally built to afford a strategic position to protect Salem harbor. Until recently, however, the forts camouflaged by trees and weeds and destroyed by vandals sat silent as a mockery to the days when the forts were active defending Salem from attack Before the 1800's, Salem was probably one of America's most important shipping ports involved with China, India, and Asian trade. Salem was well protected. According to Sadoski, Salem was one of the few important ports that was never under control of the British during the Revolutionary War. "Salem was never attacked by the British or Dutch," said Sadoski. "Essentially the beginning of any commercial interest in Salem derived from its fishing trade." At that time, Winter Island was chosen by England as the staging area for the development of Salem's fishing trade. In order to protect this trade, Fort Picketing at Winter Island became necessary. The construction of the fort began in 1643 and took approximately 12 years to be completed, In 1667, the fort prepared its defense against possible Dutch coastal threat. For 20 years, the fort was strengthened to be ready in case of war. The fort underwent major alterations in 1863. Upon the structures of the old fort were added bomb proofs, a magazine, platforms for heavy artillery. A moat and outside walls were added to protect against any attempts of land attack. Housing and campsites were built on the island for the militia. Since that time little work has been done to preserve the island and the fort. Time and age have taken their toll. Erosion and vandalism gradually left the fort in a state of neglect and abandonment. Broken glass and trash litter the island. The fort was left vulnerable to the weather without any protection. "It almost looks like a ghost town," said Sadoski, who is in charge of the work being done at the fort. "The buildings aren't structurally sound. It's dangerous for people to be walking around down there." The work to restore the fort is extensive. According to Sadoski, much of the work will involve repairing the damage that erosion did to the fort. "We have to build an entire seawall. Ninety percent of the original wall has been washed out to sea," he said "We also have to repair an entire wall of the fort. The brickwork has to be finished and repaired and major work is planned on the interior drywalls and stone work" The commission also plans to reconstruct and renovate the buildings that are still standing and remove the ones that are dangerous and beyond repair. During the 1800's, a moat and outside walls were added to the fort to protect against any attempt of land attack After the fort was abandoned, the Coast Guard used the fort to store gasoline "The Coast Guard almost destroyed the moat, covering it over with earth." said Sadoski. "Hopefully, we will be able to remove the earth causeway and cover it with a wooden bridge," he added. The commission also plans to work on Fort Lee, located at the highest point of Salem neck, more familiarly known as Salem Willows. The fort, a star-shaped mound of earth, was designed to be used as a lookout to guard against coastal attack. Prior to the work that the commission has done, the fort was overgrown with thick weeds and shrubs, looking, as Sadoski described, like a jungle. Fort Lee probably started as an earthwork and gun platform somewhere between 1690 and 1694. The height of the mount and its view toward Salem and Beverly harbors made it a logical site for a coastal fortification. By 1742, larger breastworks had been built. The fort was modernized and the firepower strengthened to the point where the fort was manned by 16 eight-pound cannons. British threat made it necessary to refortify the fort. It was rebuilt under the direction of Richard Gridley, complete with a stone walled gun magazine, and was garrisoned by over one hundred artillerymen. The fort was again repaired and garrisoned as defense against the threat of Confederate Raiders during the Civil War. This was the last active role that Fort Lee had as part of Salem's coastal defense. Four post Civil War cannons, on top of the earthen walls of the fort remained in place until scrapped for either WW I or WW II war effort. Sadoski
hopes the work that the commission is doing will inspire pride and interest
for Salem citizens. On Sunday, June 20th, the Bicentennial Commission will sponsor a dedication to Fort Lee, featuring special celebrations and festivities. On September 19th, the commission is planning a dedication of Fort Pickering, which they hope to complete by that time. On Friday and Saturday nights, an historic militia group, the Continental Navy of Newburyport, plan a bivouac on the island "It will be exactly the way the fort would have been garrisoned during the Revolutionary War," said Sadoski. "The men will cook meals peculiar to that period of time and there will be music" The height of the celebration will be a candlelight parade from downtown Salem to the fort. |
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May 2002
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