Fort Strong (2)

 (1899-1961) - An Endicott Period Coastal Fort first established in 1899 on the site of the Battery at Long Island Head on Long Island, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Named Fort Strong in G.O. 134, 22 Jul 1899, after Major General George C. Strong, U.S. Volunteers, U.S. Civil War. Abandoned in 1961.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)
Seven Endicott Period gun batteries and a mine casemate were constructed on Fort Strong (2) between 1893 and 1906.

The post was built out as a two company, open plan, coastal fort between 1901 and 1907. The post buildings surrounded a rectangular parade with the officer quarters on the south end. The NCO quarters lined the east side and the two enlisted barracks angled off from the northeast corner. In 1911 the post was expanded to a four company post and a new double barracks (218 men) was constructed on the east side of the parade. Additional officer and NCO quarters were built accordingly. By the end of 1911 the post was virtually complete except for a bakery that was added in 1915.



World War I (1917-1918)
Fort strong expanded during World War I with the addition of several WWI temporary buildings which can still be seen on the 1921 post plan. Two temporary long barracks and a mess hall can be seen on the west side of the parade. By 1938 all of those temporary buildings are gone as is one of the permanent single company barracks. That barracks, building #11, was destroyed by fire on 10 Nov 1933 and not rebuilt.

Designated a sub-post of Fort Banks (1) after the end of the war.

A two-gun AA Battery #3 was built in 1917 and expanded to three guns in 1935. Battery Drum was deactivated in 1917 and had its guns and carriages shipped elsewhere. Battery Smyth was deactivated in 1921 and its guns were relocated to Battery Basinger. Both Battery Hitchcock and Battery Ward were deactivated in 1938.

World War II (1941-1945)
The post again expanded with temporary buildings during World War II. Three 63 man barracks, a mess hall and various support buildings brought the post capacity up to 48 officers, 7 NCOs and 516 enlisted men. Only Battery Stevens and Battery Basinger remained operational throughout World War II and no new gun batteries were constructed on Fort Strong during the war.

After the war, the post was declared surplus on 30 Sep 1947.

Cold War (1947-1991)
Fort Strong housed NIKE missile launch site B-35R in the 1950s, with the control site in Squantum and the Radar Section, 15th AAA Group (1958-1961). A target tracking radar was built in Battery Drum and only the footings remain.

Current Status
Closed to the public, obtain permission in advance of visit. Operated by The Boston Public Health Commission on Long Island, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Sources:
 * , page 411

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Strong
 * Wikipedia - Fort Strong
 * Wikipedia - Long Island
 * City of Boston - Harbor Islands