Fort Edgecomb
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| Fort Edgecomb and Boundary Increase | |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Location: | On Davis Island in the Sheepscot River |
| Nearest city: | Edgecomb, Maine |
| Architect: | Col. Moses Porter |
| Added to NRHP: | October 1, 1969 December 22, 1991 (boundary increase) |
| NRHP Reference#: | 69000020 91001814 (boundary increase) |
Fort Edgecomb was built in 1808-1809, a two-story octagonal wooden blockhouse and restored fortifications. It is located on Davis Island in the town of Edgecomb, Lincoln County, Maine, United States. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Maine state historic site. There is some evidence (although unverified) that Alexander Parris designed the blockhouse, the most prominent part of the fort remaining.
The fort was built as part of the U.S. second system of fortifications, guarding the then-important port of Wiscasset. Thomas Jefferson's Embargo was not popular with American merchants, and it is said that the only time Fort Edgecomb's cannon were fired was in salute at James Madison's inauguration (or, less tactfully, to celebrate his lifting of the Embargo).
During the War of 1812, this post saw considerable activity holding British prisoners of war, many of them brought to Wiscasset harbor by American privateersmen. In 1814, Fort Edgecomb became the center of American preparations to invade mid-coast Maine. It remained manned until 1818, and was reactivated during the Civil War.
Fort Edgecomb will celebrate its bicentennial in 2008.
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