Nestled in the Center of our Patapsco River,
Due South of Baltimore’s Harbor and
Old Fort McHenry - Birthplace of Our National Anthem -
Sits a Sad Man-Made Non-Wonder.
It was named in Honor of Charles Carroll,
The Last Living Survivor of -
The Declaration of Independence -
With a Noble Purpose in Mind.
Construction was Started in Eighteen-Forty-Seven,
Supervised by a Brevet Colonel
From The Army Corps of Engineers -
By the Name of Robert E. Lee.
YEP - THAT VERY SAME ONE!
He commuted Daily from his Townhouse
In Baltimore, and Construction went very Slow -
By 1851, at a Cost of One Million Dollars,
Only about One-Fourth of the Plans were Completed.
At this point, Congress considered Changing
To another spot in The Chesapeake Bay in Virginia -
While they Failed to make a Decision - Lee took another Job as -
Head of West Point Military Academy!
By the time of The Civil War -
Only Half the Wall Height was Achieved -
And Only Thirty Guns were Mounted -
Ironically - to Defend against Lee’s Own Confederates!
WHO’D A THUNK?
But - Not One Shot Was Ever Fired There!
By 1898, The Spanish-American War was Under Way,
And Revisions were Made Yet Again -
All to No Avail.
By World War One - It was simply a Staging Area -
For Mining the Baltimore Harbor -
By 1921, the Army Abandoned the Post -
And Moved its Armaments to Fort Howard!
During World War Two, The U.S. Coast Guard
Used the man-made Four Acres as a Pistol Range -
And - also as Temporary Quarters for -
Foreign Sailors while their Ships were being Fumigated!
QUITE A DISTINCTION - EH WOT?
After the War Years it Succumbed
To Rot and Decay - and one Baltimore Mayor
Wanted to Erect a Statue of Lord Calvert -
But - It Never Happened Either!
After WWII, both the Fortress and Lighthouse
Were De-Commissioned, and in 1958 -
Our Esteemed Government Sold This Island
To Baltimore Lawyer, Benjamin Eisenberg -
FOR A PALTRY TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!
ONLY BLEW - $ 990,000 -
BRILLIANT - HUH?
He was going to Build a Casino There -
But - It Never Happened Either!
After Mending Walls and Planting Peach Trees -
In 1964 - Eisenberg Leased it to another Entrepreneur.
Robert Jackson had a Hydrofoil Named ‘Baltimore Clipper’
And Ferried Tourists Back and Forth -
Insufficient Profits Ensued and -
This Venture Failed Also!
Its Formerly Landscaped Interior
Is Now a Jungle of Trees, Vines, and Weeds -
Its Parapets covered in Bird-Droppings -
A Manifold Habitat of Bird Species Now!
I used to use 695 and saw that everytime I passed it, but never saw tourists or anything, just cars parked at that little park on the south side of the river...ed
This is a fascinating account of the doomed fort. I guess the owners forgot to question the feasibility of having to ferry patrons to the site and back again. Well penned. Hugs, J'nia
Its Formerly Landscaped Interior
Is Now a Jungle of Trees, Vines, and Weeds -
Its Parapets covered in Bird-Droppings
A most interesting piece of history, my friend. But it doesn't surprise me that we've let this particular piece of American history, rot. Unlike many nations, we do a very poor job of preserving historical sites.
Being a former Colonel under General Lee I can vouch that part of the above is true, although, been written by a Northerner I will take it with a bag of salt.
If they ever build the monument on the illustration photo I know where my measle Civil War thirty cannons will fire to!
The Old Colonel
from Florida, Missouri (Home of Mark Twain)
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EDWIN
Is Now a Jungle of Trees, Vines, and Weeds -
Its Parapets covered in Bird-Droppings
A most interesting piece of history, my friend. But it doesn't surprise me that we've let this particular piece of American history, rot. Unlike many nations, we do a very poor job of preserving historical sites.
At least the birds found a sanctuary.
If they ever build the monument on the illustration photo I know where my measle Civil War thirty cannons will fire to!
The Old Colonel
from Florida, Missouri (Home of Mark Twain)