Savannah Bound-- Part 17: Fort Fremont

THURSDAY, APRIL 4

From 1891 to 1895, a drydock was built was built at the naval station; the only one along the Atlantic coast south of Norfolk.  The base grew in importance.  Twenty naval ships visited the base, including the USS Maine which picked up provisions before continuing on to her date with history in Havana Harbor.

Fort Fremont was built on Saint Helena Island in 1899 by the Army Corps of Engineers across the Beaufort River from the Naval Station.

The main weapons in the fort consisted of three 10-inch breech-loaded disappearing cannons in Battery Jessup and two 4.7-inch rapid fire gins at Battery Fornance.  (Disappearing cannons could be lowered behind the fort's walls after firing and reloaded.)

It was a part of the U.S. Endicott System of forts.

It was deactivated in 1912 and offered for sale in 1921.  After that it was left to the elements and became overgrown.

But now, a group has begun work to bring it back.

--RoadDog