Description
The Fort Foster Fire Control Tower, also known as the Battery 205 Tower, is a unique abandoned military structure on Fort Foster in Kittery, Maine.
The Need For The Tower
As World War 2 began, the government sought to strengthen the Harbor Defenses of Portsmouth. Portsmouth was a vital harbor to protect due to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the entrance to the Piscataqua River. One of the defense systems built to increase capabilities was the Fort Foster Fire Control Tower.
This tower went into service on May 19, 1943. It is a six-story square concrete observation tower and it was built adjacent to Battery 205. The tower was home to the battery control station and operations functions of Battery 205. Essentially, if an enemy was spotted out at sea, the men inside the tower could operate the guns at Battery 205.
The Tower Today
Today, the fire control tower can be found in present-day Fort Foster park. Visitors are welcome to walk right up to the tower, but the door itself is sealed tight. That said, it is still a fascinating old structure to check out. Fort Foster is home to several old gun batteries and other interesting abandoned structures. Some of the highlights include Battery Chapin, Battery Bohlen, and, of course, Battery 205.
Specs
- Year Established: 1943Â
- Year Abandoned: 1948
- Original Function: A six-story fire control observation tower for World War 2
Fort Foster Fire Control Tower Location
- Park: Fort Foster Park
- Address: Pocahontas Road
- Town: Kittery
- State: Maine
- GPS: Lat 43.067205 Lng -70.6869232
- Parking notes: There is a large parking lot at Fort Foster Park. There is a fee of $20 for parking during the summer months. The Fort Foster Park gate is closed to vehicular traffic in the winter and it reopens each year in the Spring. That said, visitors can park at the gate and walk to the tower during the offseason.Â
- Parking directions: HERE
- Location directions: HERE
Julian Malcolm –
It is great condition and very cool inside. It was used as a Battery Commanders station for Battery 205 and a Base-End Station for Battery 103 I think. It was very unusual for this type of tower to be built for battery commanders. I was fortunate to go in with permission from the Kittery Public Works department, so the tower is not usually open.