Spanish American War Fort in Arlington

[spuwho]

The T-U is reporting that the land owner next to the Ribault Monument is selling his property which contains a fort that served as an artillery battery in the S-A war.

Has MJ done any research on this former battery?

Built in 1898 they say it is in excellent condition.

http://m.jacksonville.com/#article=679931D200DA6C9F5C5F1C3FF55BF11E33A7

[camarocane]

Wow, never knew that even existed!

[thelakelander]

No. This is my first time hearing about this. Pretty cool

[Spitfire]

I remember reading about it when it was in the midst of sale last year.


http://m.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-11-01/story/tax-sale-leaves-historic-jacksonville-fort-new-owner-uncertain-future#showInfo=http://m.wap.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-11-01/story/tax-sale-leaves-historic-jacksonville-fort-new-owner-uncertain-future?fmt=www

[Adam White]

That was on a high school friend's property.  I grew up near there.

[Ocklawaha]

Been there several times, thought we mentioned this before way back at the start of MJ but I don't think it was in an article. The place is pretty much just gun platform and walls, the only 'mystical' place being a set of stairs into a small room.

I'd rank this along with he old prison which was just east of the old Imeson airport (think St. Augustines Old Jail attraction on steroids) and should have been saved. The Battery had a much shorter life. It would be interesting to know if it served in any capacity during WWI or II as many of the old forts and batteries had coastal lookout stations placed in them.

BTW, If you've never been to the Pensacola Beaches, there is a stretch of that coast that was fortified not unlike the scenes from Normandy in France during WWII. MASSIVE and miles long. 

[spuwho]

Been there several times, thought we mentioned this before way back at the start of MJ but I don't think it was in an article. The place is pretty much just gun platform and walls, the only 'mystical' place being a set of stairs into a small room.

I'd rank this along with he old prison which was just east of the old Imeson airport (think St. Augustines Old Jail attraction on steroids) and should have been saved. The Battery had a much shorter life. It would be interesting to know if it served in any capacity during WWI or II as many of the old forts and batteries had coastal lookout stations placed in them.

BTW, If you've never been to the Pensacola Beaches, there is a stretch of that coast that was fortified not unlike the scenes from Normandy in France during WWII. MASSIVE and miles long.

The article states that the battery was only operational for a year and the guns were moved to Pensacola shortly after.  I have a book on the history of the US Coastal Artillery Command and it never mentions this battery. Coastal artillery lost favor when air power grew and made them outdated.  The Japanese bombing of Corrigidor Island was proof that coastal artillery was becoming obsolete (even though the Japanese never took out Fort Drum nearby).

The last investment in coastal artillery that I have read is when the US took the guns off the sunken battleships (that couldn't be raised) in Pearl Harbor and mounted them in and around Oahu Island. Battery Arizona was made of of the 14" guns salvaged from the USS Arizona. The 8 inch guns were from the aircraft carrier Lexington. The 8 inch guns were fired in practice. Battery Arizona was nearly finished when work was stopped after the Japanese surrender. After that almost all coastal artillery defense went on standby and then were scrapped by 1948.

[spuwho]

The North Florida Land Trust is seeking donations to purchase the property and has 1 year to raise the $400,000.

It will be turned over the National Park Service upon purchase and be managed as part of the Timucuan Historic Preserve.

Apparently staff from the Fort Caroline office have been making frequent trips to the property to clear weeds and keep it safe from fire for many years.

It says a tram was built to bring the ammunition up from St John's Creek to the top of the bluff. Be interesting to see if anything is left of the tram system.

I have been researching who in the US Coastal Artillery Corp supervised the construction and managed it. The Spanish American War was very "fluid" when it came to materiel and troops due its shortness and the typhoid problem.

[coredumped]

The fort is back in the news:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/organization-fighting-to-save-lost-jacksonville-fort

[spuwho]

The fort is back in the news:
http://www.news4jax.com/news/organization-fighting-to-save-lost-jacksonville-fort

7 months to raise the dough.

[Tacachale]

Apparently, if they can raise $300k, the Delores Barr Weaver Foundation will kick in the other $100k. That makes the deal a good bit better.

[Noone]

Visit Jacksonville!

[Scarlettjax]

Good news here - the fort appears to be saved!  http://floridapolitics.com/archives/227446-jacksonvilles-spanish-american-war-fort-saved

Glad to see the COJ and the Delores Barr Weaver Foundation kick in to save this history.  For all us long-time Arlingtonians, you probably know it as "The Dungeon."  It was a must-see on late night outings with your SO back in the last century.

[Westside Guy]

Good news here - the fort appears to be saved!  http://floridapolitics.com/archives/227446-jacksonvilles-spanish-american-war-fort-saved

Glad to see the COJ and the Delores Barr Weaver Foundation kick in to save this history.  For all us long-time Arlingtonians, you probably know it as "The Dungeon."  It was a must-see on late night outings with your SO back in the last century.

Super excited to hear this! I'll be there the first day it's open to the public!

[spuwho]

This is fantastic news! Cant wait to see it when they get it cleaned up for walk throughs!