Cape Elizabeth in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
Battery Blair
Photographed By Beverly Pfingsten, July 16, 2009
1. Battery Blair Marker
Inscription.
Battery Blair was completed in 1903. It was named for Francis P. Blair, Jr., a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars who rose to the rank of major general and later represented Missouri in the U.S. Senate. The battery consisted of two twelve-inch guns, the largest in use at the time, which were designed to protect Portland Harbor from attacks by battleships and cruisers. The guns were mounted on disappearing carriages that returned them to shelter below the level of the parapet after firing, for both protection from hostile fire and rapidity of loading. Powder and shells were raised on mechanical hoists from magazines on the lower level and moved to the guns on dollies for loading. The guns were aimed with data provided by a sophisticated observation and plotting system and were fired by the National Guard during summer training. The battery was manned during World War I and the early years of World War II.
Battery Blair was completed in 1903. It was named for Francis P. Blair, Jr., a veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars who rose to the rank of major general and later represented Missouri in the U.S. Senate. The battery consisted of two twelve-inch guns, the largest in use at the time, which were designed to protect Portland Harbor from attacks by battleships and cruisers. The guns were mounted on disappearing carriages that returned them to shelter below the level of the parapet after firing, for both protection from hostile fire and rapidity of loading. Powder and shells were raised on mechanical hoists from magazines on the lower level and moved to the guns on dollies for loading. The guns were aimed with data provided by a sophisticated observation and plotting system and were fired by the National Guard during summer training. The battery was manned during World War I and the early years of World War II.
Location. 43° 37.351′ N, 70° 12.661′ W. Marker is in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, in Cumberland County. Marker is in Fort Williams Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Elizabeth ME 04107, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 18, 2011
3. Battery Blair
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 18, 2011
4. Battery Blair Relief on Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 11, 2009, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,264 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 11, 2009, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3, 4. submitted on December 10, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
