Fort Rodman

Fort Taber District
Fort Rodman
Location New Bedford, Massachusetts
Coordinates 41°35′35″N 70°54′5″W / 41.59306°N 70.90139°W / 41.59306; -70.90139Coordinates: 41°35′35″N 70°54′5″W / 41.59306°N 70.90139°W / 41.59306; -70.90139
Built 1861
Architect Robert E. Lee
Architectural style No Style Listed
NRHP Reference #

73001954

[1]
Added to NRHP February 8, 1973

Fort Taber District or the "Fort at Clark's Point" is a historic American Civil War-era military fort on Wharf Road within the former Fort Rodman Military Reservation in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The fort is now part of Fort Taber Park, a 47-acre town park located at Clark's Point. Fort Taber was an earthwork built nearby with city resources and garrisoned 1861-1863 until Fort Rodman was ready for service.

Fort Rodman

Also known as the Old Stone Fort, Fort Rodman (known as "Fort at Clark's Point" until 1898) began to be constructed in 1857, and in 1862 construction became overseen by Henry Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order and an Army Corps of Engineers officer.[2] The fort as built had emplacements for 72 cannon in three tiers.[3] Construction was halted in 1871 and the fort as planned was never completed. With new batteries being constructed under the Endicott Program in 1898, the U.S. Army officially named the military reservation at the site and the fort as Fort Rodman Military Reservation, in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Logan Rodman, a New Bedford native with the 38th Massachusetts Infantry who died in the assault on Port Hudson, Louisiana in 1863. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[4]

The fort is awaiting restoration and is not open to the public.

Fort Taber

After the Civil War began in April 1861, it was apparent that the Fort at Clark's Point was still years from completion. Fort Taber, a small earthwork, was built nearby with city resources and named after New Bedford's mayor during that period.[2] It provided a temporary defense until the stone fort was garrisoned in 1863. Fort Taber is marked by a stone outline today.[5][6] The Fort Taber name was unofficially used to refer to the Fort at Clark's Point for many years, even by the garrison in letters home.[3]

Lighthouse

The Clarks Point Light stands on the parapet of the fort. Originally established as a freestanding tower, it was moved to the fort in 1869 because the fort's walls obscured the beacon from some angles. it was deactivated in 1898, but was relit in 2001 by the city as a private aid to navigation.

Fort Taber Historical Association Museum

The Fort Taber Historical Association Museum is located at Fort Taber Park, and features a miniature model of the fort, uniforms from different eras during the fort's active use, photos and military memorabilia. It is operated by the Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Historical Association and opened in 2004.

Park amenities

The park includes several gun batteries, and American Revolution, American Civil War, and World War II re-enactments are held in the park.

A World War II M-4 Sherman tank recovered from the debris of Exercise Tiger is on display in the park, and serves as the US memorial for the dead of the Exercise. A commemoration ceremony is held annually.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Staff (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 http://www.newbedford-ma.gov/Tourism/Attractions/FortTaberPark.html
  3. 1 2 Weaver, pp. 92-94, 103
  4. ↑ Fort Rodman at NorthAmericanForts.com
  5. ↑ Fort Rodman article at FortWiki
  6. ↑ Fort Taber at NorthAmericanForts.com

External links

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