Observations and Reactions:
I
have visited Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth ever since I have lived in
Maine. Until now I have taken it for granted, like much of Maine’s coast. Due
to the time of year there were not very many visitors at the park aside from a
few people walking their dogs and one pair of hipsters fascinated with the
swing sets. In past visits I have seen countless people visiting the park for
different reasons. People visit for the history and the views it has to offer.
When you’re young you visit because it is awesome to be in and old fort. As a
native of Maine I have visited the park because it is a great place to relax or
play football and baseball with friends. Portland Head Light seems to be the
main attraction to the park especially for tourists.
As
I walked the park I noticed some unfortunate changes (or lack of) to the park.
The pillboxes (where guns were mounted when it was an active base) have been
blocked of entry and graffiti has become more and more present over the years.
Goddard Mansion, my favorite of the buildings, has also been chained off and
labeled with warning signs for falling debris. Perhaps these things are the
result of a lack of funding for the upkeep of the park. Aside from some
unfortunate changes to the park, it remains a favorite place to visit for me. Also
the parking lot is currently under construction.
Historical Background:
Fort
Williams became an official military installation in 1899 as part of Fort
Preble which is located by Southern Maine Community College. The fort was named
after Brevet-Major General Seth Williams (first picture below) in an official order from Washington
D.C.: “By direction of the President, the battery at Portland Head, Portland,
Maine, shall hereafter be known and designated as Fort Williams, in honor of
the late Brevet Major-General Seth Williams, Assistant Adjutant-General, United
States Army”. The fort underwent a period of expansion in the years prior to
World War I. Everything that a military base needed was constructed including
barracks for officers, enlisted soldiers, and all of the facilities that they
needed. During World War I the fort was a base for the National Guard and
served primarily as an anti-aircraft and harbor defense base. After World War I
the fort remained a base for defense and did so until after World War II when
it became a support base for all military operations in Maine. After the Korean war and three months before
the Cuban Missile Crisis the fort was deactivated and sold to the town of Cape
Elizabeth.
Cape
Elizabeth had to figure out what to do with the fort after they bought it.
First, they thought of moving the University of Maine, in Portland, to the
fort. But after the university displayed their lack of interest the town
thought of building an entirely new school on the site. This idea was ruined
when the town’s educational committee found a more suitable site. Deciding that
the site was not fit for a school the town thought of an Urban Renewal Project.
This project would devote land to town houses, apartments, retail and office
buildings, restaurant facilities, and recreational area. A disagreement within
the town Counsel caused the plan to fail. Thoughts of a science center for
research that would become part of the University of Maine. Issues of money
caused this plan to fail.
Finally
the town decided on making the former fort a public park. A committee in Cape
Elizabeth decided that:
Fort Williams is a
unique community resource which has irreplaceable scenic, natural and
historical qualities. As such it should be dedicated to predominately park,
recreational and cultural uses, which uses preserve or enhance, and are
otherwise fully compatible with its unique qualities, and which uses are within
the financial capabilities of the Town.
The town has slowly been improving the site by
demolishing unnecessary buildings and restoring some of the more important
ones. Goddard Mansion has been a point of controversy as it is estimated to
cost about $200,000 to restore. Because of the high price it has remained
untouched and continues to degrade. The
park has been an attraction to Mainers and tourists ever since it has existed.
*One picture has my Boston Bruins hat in it as proof
of visit*
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