Fort Revere

 (1897-1947) - An Endicott Period Coastal Fort first established in 1897 as Nantasket Head Military Reservation on Nantasket Head, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. Named Fort Revere in G.O. 43, 4 Apr 1900, after Paul Revere, a native of Massachusetts and Lieutenant Colonel of artillery in the Continental Army, who, on the night of 18 Apr 1775, made his famous ride from Charlestown to Concord, warning the inhabitants of the approach of the British. Deactivated in 1947 and declared surplus in 1948.

Endicott Period (1890-1910)


Two Endicott Period gun batteries Battery Ripley and Battery Field were constructed between 1898 and 1900. Both of these batteries were accepted for service on the same day, 26 Jan 1901. Both of these batteries were Barbette mounted, not on disappearing carriages. In 1903 work began on a large battery of six, 6" guns on disappearing carriages. That battery was completed and accepted for service on 28 Jun 1906. The battery was originally named Battery Sanders in 1904 but was administratively divided in 1906 into Battery Sanders (4 guns) and Battery Pope (2 guns). These batteries were again administratively realigned on 12 May 1909, each had three guns.

Fort Revere was laid out as a small, open plan, single company coastal fort. Construction on permanent post buildings began in 1901-1902 and continued through 1906 although most of the buildings were built in 1902. Only three sets of officer housing and two sets of NCO housing were built along with a single enlisted barracks housing 109 men. Support buildings included a headquarters, a hospital, a guard house, a PX and other necessary buildings.



World War I (1917-1918)
After the start of World War I the guns of Battery Pope (3) and Battery Field (2) were ordered dismounted for use abroad. All of these guns were shipped to arsenals for modification and eventually made their way to France. Battery Pope and Battery Field remained unarmed.

The post was expanded during the war by the construction of temporary WWI buildings including barracks and mess halls. Some of these buildings can still be seen on the 1921 post plan. All of the temporary buildings were gone in the 1938 post plan.

World War II (1941-1945)
The 30 Jun 1940 quartermaster report for Fort Revere set the post capacity at two officers, four NCOs and zero enlisted men. It seems that the only barracks for enlisted men had been taken out of service. The next year's report on 30 Jun 1941 indicated that ten barracks, four mess halls and officers quarters had been built in anticipation of the upcoming war. The post enlisted capacity was raised from 0 to 630. Later tents and hutments would further expand the capacity. A number of temporary support buildings were also built including a theater, a Post Exchange, day rooms and a firehouse. The permanent buildings were refurbished and made habitable. Over $212,000 was spent on new construction on Fort Revere during the 1941 fiscal year.

Deactivated on 31 Jul 1947 and declared surplus on 15 Feb 1948.

Current Status
Part of Fort Revere Park, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

See Also:
 * Battery Pope
 * Battery Sanders

Sources:
 * , page 408-409
 * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FUDS Archives Search Report, Findings, Fort Revere, Hull Massachusetts, Project No. D02MA021502, September 1995. Large PDF Download

Links:
 * North American Forts - Fort Revere
 * Wikipedia - Fort Revere Park