CDSGThe Newsletter The Coast Defense Study Group, Inc. — November 2012 Chairman's Message CDSG Meeting and Tour Calendar Chris Zeeman Please advise Terry McGovern of any additions or changes at [email protected]. This time of year is one when we typically give thanks. Here in the Northeast we are thankful that the recent storms have spared CDSG Annual Conference the majority of our fragile coast defense sites. I have not heard of April 24-28, 2013 any reports from remote locations such as how the dock at Fort Pensacola/Mobile Michie fared, or how Fort Mansfield withstood the storm surge. David Ogden, [email protected] With the exception of the sites just mentioned, I have not heard of any sites being damaged in Long Island Sound or Narragansett Bay. CDSG Special Tour Unfortunately, the storm had a huge impact on the coastal areas June 8 - 19, 2013 of New York and New Jersey. Places such as the Rockaways (Fort Norway Tilden) and Sandy Hook (Fort Hancock) bore the brunt of the Terry McGovern, [email protected] damage. In addition I have seen pictures of extensive flooding at Fort Mott. It may be some time before we can get accurate damage Proposed CDSG Special Tour reports from these hard hit areas. February 2014 Hopefully the CDSG can take a role in the cleanup and rebuild- Manila Bay, the Philippines ing. We can help in two ways – first by have members pitch in Andy Grant, [email protected] and volunteer, and second – with the CDSG Fund. Once again we are counting on local members to get involved, keep us updated, CDSG Annual Conference and help out the local sites! Finally I would like to announce my October 2014 appointment as chairperson for the upcoming year. Tentatively Los Angeles - San Diego HDs * * * * * CDSG Annual Confernence Preservation Committee Report April 2015 Gordon Bliss Tentatively Delaware River HD There are two new items that I will focus on this time. Proposed CDSG Special Tour June 2015 The Gateway National Recreation Area is preparing a new Gen- Panama Canal Zone eral Management Plan. Part of it is choosing different alternatives Terry McGovern, [email protected] for the focus of development. Between the alternatives, the one favoring historical sites is the best for preserving the various batteries Other Meetings and Tours and other coast defense related structures. However, even this plan only looks at preserving a small number of these. The majority of February 8 - 22, 2013 the concrete batteries are relegated to what are labeled as “Ruins Great Fortress Tour to India/Rajasthan Zones”. For example, at Sandy Hook (Fort Hancock), only Batter- ICOFORT Germany Tour ies Potter and Gunnison are indicated as historical resources, the Hans-Rudolf Neumann, [email protected] rest, including the main gun line (“nine-gun battery”) are in ruins zones. Though finding out about this late, the CDSG has sent a March 6 - 7, 2013 comment letter favoring the historical-oriented alternative but Forts at Risk - London expressing concern about the fate of other coast defense resources; Fotress Study Group Meeting and has asked to be included in the further development of this Bill Clements, [email protected] plan. Given the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which heavily affected most parts of Gateway, further work on the plan may be on hold May 2013 until the parks are cleaned up and effects of the storm fully assessed. Southern Ireland For those interested, details of the plan alternatives can be found Fortress Study Group Overseas Tour at: http://www.nps.gov/gate/parkmgmt/gmp-2012.htm. My thanks Bill Clements, [email protected] to Terry McGovern for helping to follow up on this. The CDSG Newsletter, November 2012 Page 2 May 2013 May 2014 Council on America's Military Past Annual Conference Eastern Pyrenees, Spain and France Dayton, OH Fortress Study Group Overseas Tour Martin Gordon, [email protected] Mike and Ann Brock, [email protected] May 8 - 12, 2013 August 30 - September 6, 2014 Villach, Austria Pula & Croatia Interfest e.V. Annual Conference ECCOFORT Reg. Association Tour Florian Brouwers, [email protected] Hans-Rudolf Neuman, [email protected] August 31 - September 3, 2013 September 2014 Southwest Wales East Anglia Fortress Study Group Annual Conference Fortress Study Group Annaual Conference Jonathon Berry, [email protected] September 2014 August 31 - September 8, 2013 Koln (Cologne) Slovenia and Palmanova Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung Annual Meeting ECCOFORT Reg. Association Tour Andreas Kupka, [email protected] Hans-Rudolf Neuman, [email protected] October 2014 September 2013 London Zitadelle Spandau, Germany International Fortress Council Annual Meeting Deutsche Gesellschaft für Festungsforschung Annual Meeting Luc Fellay, [email protected] Andreas Kupka, [email protected] May 2015 October 2013 South Portugal Utrecht, the Netherlands Fortress Study Group Overseas Tour International Fortress Council Annual Meeting Charles Blackwood, [email protected] Luc Fellay, [email protected] August/September, 2015 February 2014 Verona, Italy Sultanate of Oman ECCOFORT Reg. Association Tour ICOFORT Germany Tour Hans-Rudolf Neuman, [email protected] Hans-Rudolf Neumann, [email protected] smoothed and grassed with the foundation outlines still visible. I Also new are further developments in the process of selling Plum was told by one person that they may use this area for camping. On Island (Fort Terry), NY. The GSA has held public hearings in CT the tactical side, none of the battery structures has been touched. and NY about their plan to sell the island – the intent is to sell it The area behind the two rapid-fire batteries has been cleared and as a single parcel. Most of the attendees were there to voice their is being developed as a yurt camp. The brick fire control structure interest in preserving it as a wildlife refuge, but the CDSG also had near that was in the process of being cleaned up, the windows and a presence at the meeting. Any sale is still a number of years off door had plywood in them – I assume they will thus seal it; and as the lab is still there and isn’t moving very soon. But we need to the outside steps had been removed. Overall, though the loss of keep alert for further developments. My thanks to Chris Zeeman the structures is regrettable, the wooden ones were effectively be- for keeping up on this and attending the Connecticut meeting. yond saving, and the fort looks much less derelict than it used too. I finally got out to Fort Andrews in Boston Harbor to see the The one big step left is if the batteries can get cleaned up as well. results of the demolition project there. All of the wooden build- My congratulations to those that have saved 3 of the 16-inch ings are completely gone, except for the chapel. One of the brick gun barrels – Golden Gate NRA/Battery Townsley, Cape Hen- barracks has been removed as well as most of the post headquar- lopen State Park, and the Eastern Shore of Virginia NWR. These ters – all that is left of it is the perimeter foundation wall a few have been covered by other articles in the newsletter, so I won’t feet high. There are four brick quarters left, along with two of the go into the details here. barracks and most of the other brick buildings. The remaining On the other ongoing issues such as Fort Monroe, the Presidio brick buildings have all been cleaned up, the window openings Parkway project, and the Washington state parks; I don’t have sealed with boards, and the roofs repaired and/or patched to make anything new to report at the current time but will continue to them waterproof. The guardhouse was open as a visitor center follow them. In Panama, the condition and situation of most of with exhibits and information handouts available. Most of the the coast defense structures continues to go downhill. The article area where the demolished quarters and hospital were has been in this newsletter talks to the batteries on the Atlantic side and The CDSG Newsletter, November 2012 Page 3 from the reports that I have heard, the situation on the Pacific planned. Volunteers are not allowed to perform repair on the guns side is much worse. beyond scraping and painting. Anything else could be considered If you have a Preservation issue, or for further information on a union and professional safety qualification violation. any of the items I’ve mentioned, contact the Preservation Com- The good news: Boy Scout Troop 18 of Mukilteo, WA, has mittee Chair, Gordon Bliss, at preservation @cdsg.org. adopted Fort Casey as its prime project location. So far this year they have cleared a couple acres equivalent of brush from around * * * * * the fort emplacements. From the parados bridge to the 1918 News from the Forts: switchboard-room entrance they have cleared and cleaned from CDSG Representatives Update the road-side gutter to the exterior slope of the parapet of Battery Karl Fritz and Steve Kobylk Valleau and Battery Trevor; cleaned and opened all the gutters and associated drains and the vertical battery drains; Opened Update from the Whidby Island, Washington drain, cleaned, scrubbed, and painted Battery Trevor BC as In General well as the Searchlight No. 10 & 11 Power House. Cleaned and Washington State parks is out of state supported funds as repainted the outside of Battery Kingsbury and Battery Moore of June 2013. The Discover Parking Pass sales are way below Fire Control stations. projected sales. State Parks will request between 15-17 million The other good news relates to the Admiralty Head Lighthouse dollars in the last gasp effort to stay afloat in January when the at Fort Casey.