Fort Andrews
Fort Andrews was created in 1897 as part of the Coast (later Harbor) Defenses of Boston, Massachusetts. Construction began in 1898 and the fort was substantially complete by 1904. The fort was named after Major General George Leonard Andrews, an engineer and Civil War commander, who assisted in the construction of nearby Fort Warren in Boston Harbor. It occupies the entire northeast end of Peddocks Island in Boston Harbor, and was originally called the Peddocks Island Military Reservation. Once an active Coast Artillery post, it was manned by hundreds of soldiers and bristled with mortars and guns that controlled the southern approaches to Boston and Quincy Bay. The fort also served as a prisoner-of-war camp for Italian prisoners during World War II, who were employed as laborers following the Italian surrender to the Allies in 1943. Today, the fort is abandoned, and is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, as part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.
| Fort Andrews | |
|---|---|
| Part of Harbor Defenses of Boston | |
| Peddock's Island, Massachusetts | |
At the height of its armament, the fort had 16 M1896 mortars as shown, in 4 pits of four mortars each. In 1910 four of these were sent to the Philippines; these were replaced by four M1908 mortars. Later 6 mortars (2 from each of 3 pits) were removed. This photo most likely depicts Pit A of Battery Cushing at Fort Andrews. | |
Fort Andrews Location in Massachusetts | |
| Coordinates | 42°18′06″N 70°55′53″W |
| Type | Coastal Defense, later POW camp |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area |
| Open to the public | yes |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1898-1904 |
| Built by | United States Army |
| In use | 1901-1947 |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |