Post by aneaglesangel on Oct 23, 2006 21:03:38 GMT -5
Crumbling away in the south end of New Bedford is a building with quite a history. In 1778,
the British came into the Acushnet River and destroyed 26 storehouses, and 70 ships. Later,
during the War of 1812, the city was again open to attack. During the 1840's a decision was
made to build a fort. In 1857 the government bought the farm on Clark's Point, the Edward Wing
Howland Farm. Granite was shipped in from Fall River and Maine to begin construction.
The Civil War began and construction was halted. Attacks from the Confederate ships, the
Jefferson Davis, the Florida, Alabama, the Tascony and the Tallahassee captured and destroyed
some of our ships. Work began on a temporary installment to protect the Whaling Fleet. Earth-
works were begun, west of where the granite building would later be. Captain Henry Martyn Robert
was in charge of the construction of the earthworks. Once they were complete they were named
Fort Taber for the city's then Chief Executive, Mayor Taber. Coast Guard and Artillery
Companies were sent to man Fort Taber and Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven.
In 1863 the fort walls were complete. The earthworks were dismantled, and at this time, the fort
was called "the fort at Clark's Point" but the name Fort Taber has stuck, even up to today! Once
the Civil War ended construction stopped with the third tier still incomplete. The leftover
granite blocks were used to construct the sea wall that still stands there today. It was in 1898 that
they named the fort after Lt. Colonel William Logan Rodnman who was killed in the Civil War.
In 1899, two batteries were built. These were named the Barton-Walcott Batteries and were put on
the East and West sides of the fort. They still stand today, but are crumbling badly. In 1900 a
small amount of troops were installed in the fort to protect the guns and property. In 1902, two
bunkers were added called the "Craig" and "Cross" bunkers, on the west side of the building.
In the 1920's the Battery Milliken was added. This part of the fort could stand alone, and had
power, chemical warfare service units, radio and signal operations, a plotting room, a projectile
powder and storage facility, all inside a reinforced concrete, gas-proof facility. The Battery
Milliken was named after Second Lt. Colonel Alfred W. Milliken. It had two 12 inch guns
which protected a 16 mile radius.
During the 1940's the fort was brought to full strength at the start of WWII by National Guard
and Army Coast Artillery. Many were housed in tents due to the barracks and quarters not being
completed. In 1941, a state of war was declared and German submarines had been spotted in
Buzzards' Bay and Newport, Rhode Island. Fort Rodman guarded the Bay with an ordinance and the
building was painted camouflage. At the end of the war, the fort was considered 'surplus' and the
12 inch guns and 155mm semi-mobile guns were removed.
The fort was used for Army Reserve training until the end of the Vietnam War, then it sat partially
abandoned until the 1970's when it was sold to the City of New Bedford. The building sat for
many years until the "Friends of Fort Taber" was formed. Now at present day, the fort is closed
to the public due to falling brick problems, and most of the bunkers, and the biggest the Battery
Milliken are sealed off. Some of the tunnels are still accessible, but are in poor shape. It
is still exciting to visit the fort, it is an area rich and alive with the history of its past!
The city has created a wonderful park there, great for walking, biking, skating, or a day in the
playground with the kids. After checking out the museum, you can grab a quick bite to eat, or an
ice cream cone at the "Cool Licks" restaurant next to the playground. Even as children play,
and people speed by on bikes and skates, the history of this fort speaks to you and you just may
find yourself lucky enough to hear the whispers of the past carried in on the ocean wind!
While I was here, I took lots of pictures, recorded a couple minutes on my dvr while I was inside
the bunker and enjoyed the glorious weather. As for paranormal, I can't say much happened, except
that when I was shoving my hand inside the peek holes with my camera, I was watching the screen
to line up the shots, at one point, something went in front of the screen, darkening it for a
moment. I did try to catch whatever it was, but wasn't quick enough. I didn't hear the flurry of
wings, so I don't think it was a bird, and this part of the building was enclosed by a ceiling,
so I don't think it was anything blocking out the sunlight, but I guess we'll never know. Another
small occurence, was that my fresh batteries ran out pretty quickly once I was taking shots of the
actual fort building itself. I of course, always ready, changed them with fresh batteries and began
to shoot pictures again. I was only able to take a few more shots, when suddenly, my new, fresh
batteries, suddenly also went dead. Guess I'm just going to have to go back and try again!!
(One of these days, I'm going to have a crew, and go on down into the Battery Milliken and get some
evp's and pics! I just can't go alone, god knows who is holed up down there, just waiting to give
me a big toothless kiss!!!)
the British came into the Acushnet River and destroyed 26 storehouses, and 70 ships. Later,
during the War of 1812, the city was again open to attack. During the 1840's a decision was
made to build a fort. In 1857 the government bought the farm on Clark's Point, the Edward Wing
Howland Farm. Granite was shipped in from Fall River and Maine to begin construction.
The Civil War began and construction was halted. Attacks from the Confederate ships, the
Jefferson Davis, the Florida, Alabama, the Tascony and the Tallahassee captured and destroyed
some of our ships. Work began on a temporary installment to protect the Whaling Fleet. Earth-
works were begun, west of where the granite building would later be. Captain Henry Martyn Robert
was in charge of the construction of the earthworks. Once they were complete they were named
Fort Taber for the city's then Chief Executive, Mayor Taber. Coast Guard and Artillery
Companies were sent to man Fort Taber and Fort Phoenix in Fairhaven.
In 1863 the fort walls were complete. The earthworks were dismantled, and at this time, the fort
was called "the fort at Clark's Point" but the name Fort Taber has stuck, even up to today! Once
the Civil War ended construction stopped with the third tier still incomplete. The leftover
granite blocks were used to construct the sea wall that still stands there today. It was in 1898 that
they named the fort after Lt. Colonel William Logan Rodnman who was killed in the Civil War.
In 1899, two batteries were built. These were named the Barton-Walcott Batteries and were put on
the East and West sides of the fort. They still stand today, but are crumbling badly. In 1900 a
small amount of troops were installed in the fort to protect the guns and property. In 1902, two
bunkers were added called the "Craig" and "Cross" bunkers, on the west side of the building.
In the 1920's the Battery Milliken was added. This part of the fort could stand alone, and had
power, chemical warfare service units, radio and signal operations, a plotting room, a projectile
powder and storage facility, all inside a reinforced concrete, gas-proof facility. The Battery
Milliken was named after Second Lt. Colonel Alfred W. Milliken. It had two 12 inch guns
which protected a 16 mile radius.
During the 1940's the fort was brought to full strength at the start of WWII by National Guard
and Army Coast Artillery. Many were housed in tents due to the barracks and quarters not being
completed. In 1941, a state of war was declared and German submarines had been spotted in
Buzzards' Bay and Newport, Rhode Island. Fort Rodman guarded the Bay with an ordinance and the
building was painted camouflage. At the end of the war, the fort was considered 'surplus' and the
12 inch guns and 155mm semi-mobile guns were removed.
The fort was used for Army Reserve training until the end of the Vietnam War, then it sat partially
abandoned until the 1970's when it was sold to the City of New Bedford. The building sat for
many years until the "Friends of Fort Taber" was formed. Now at present day, the fort is closed
to the public due to falling brick problems, and most of the bunkers, and the biggest the Battery
Milliken are sealed off. Some of the tunnels are still accessible, but are in poor shape. It
is still exciting to visit the fort, it is an area rich and alive with the history of its past!
The city has created a wonderful park there, great for walking, biking, skating, or a day in the
playground with the kids. After checking out the museum, you can grab a quick bite to eat, or an
ice cream cone at the "Cool Licks" restaurant next to the playground. Even as children play,
and people speed by on bikes and skates, the history of this fort speaks to you and you just may
find yourself lucky enough to hear the whispers of the past carried in on the ocean wind!
While I was here, I took lots of pictures, recorded a couple minutes on my dvr while I was inside
the bunker and enjoyed the glorious weather. As for paranormal, I can't say much happened, except
that when I was shoving my hand inside the peek holes with my camera, I was watching the screen
to line up the shots, at one point, something went in front of the screen, darkening it for a
moment. I did try to catch whatever it was, but wasn't quick enough. I didn't hear the flurry of
wings, so I don't think it was a bird, and this part of the building was enclosed by a ceiling,
so I don't think it was anything blocking out the sunlight, but I guess we'll never know. Another
small occurence, was that my fresh batteries ran out pretty quickly once I was taking shots of the
actual fort building itself. I of course, always ready, changed them with fresh batteries and began
to shoot pictures again. I was only able to take a few more shots, when suddenly, my new, fresh
batteries, suddenly also went dead. Guess I'm just going to have to go back and try again!!
(One of these days, I'm going to have a crew, and go on down into the Battery Milliken and get some
evp's and pics! I just can't go alone, god knows who is holed up down there, just waiting to give
me a big toothless kiss!!!)
