South Portland in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Fort Preble

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2011

1. Fort Preble Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

This area is the site of Fort Preble, also known as Fort Hancock during the Revolutionary War, a temporary fort. Fort Preble was begun in 1808 during the administration of Pres. Jefferson and completed before the War of 1812. It was named for Commodore Edward Preble, native of Portland and prominent naval officer. This fort, later enlarged and renovated, guarded the entrance to Portland Harbor and played a strategic role in coastal defenses until its deactivation in 1950.

Erected by South Portland - Cape Elizabeth Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War of 1812 • War, US Revolutionary • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.

Location. 43° 38.769′ N, 70° 13.797′ W. Marker is in South Portland, Maine, in Cumberland County. Marker is on Fort Road near Campus Center Drive, on the right when traveling north. Marker is south of Cates Hall, on the Southern Maine Community College campus. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 88 Fort Road, South Portland ME 04106, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Morris P. Cates (a few steps from this marker); Civilian Conservation Corps (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Congregational Church of South Portland (approx. 0.2 miles away); Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Preble (approx. 0.2 miles away); Coast Artillery Corps Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Early Settlement (approx. ¼ mile away); Shipbuilding (approx. ¼ mile away); West Yard (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in South Portland.

Also see . . .
1. Fort Preble at Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 21, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. History of Fort Preble by SMCC. (Submitted on May 21, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., September 25, 2011

2. Fort Preble Marker

Cates Hall in background

Edward Preble, USN image. Click for full size.

Internet Archive

3. Edward Preble, USN

Engraving by H.R. Hall after a Picture in Faneuil Hall Boston - from Genealogical Sketch of the First Three Generations of Prebles in America by George Henry Preble, 1868.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 746 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 21, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. 3. submitted on November 16, 2020, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.