Exploring ABANDONED Fort Popham & Fort Baldwin (Phippsburg, ME)

[@elvee7851]

Another great, entertaining video - really enjoyed it. I wasn't aware of any of these forts but now I feel like I've been there. Drone footage at the end was great. Cheers J-M

[@j-mass]

Maine has many old forts like these, so I’m hoping to cover more over time! They’re so much fun to visit and learn about! Thank you!

[@elvee7851]

@@j-mass That's up there - like a 6 hour round trip from my house in Sutton.

[@AustinT247]

Best channel on KZbin… every video I always learn something

[@j-mass]

Thanks dude I really appreciate that! 🙌

[@NoahFaraday]

Great video bro!! Finally starting to catch up on your videos. You've been working hard. You're going to get 10k by the end of the year I'm calling it now! Cheers homie

[@j-mass]

Thanks so much bro! Excited to see the insane growth we’ve both been experiencing!

[@hampton61000]

I’ve been to the Maine coast countless times, but for some reason, I missed those two forts. Thanks for your usual educational and entertaining video 😊

[@j-mass]

Thank you so much! If you ever get back up there again, definitely check them out!

[@randallflaig]

I still remember 50 years ago skipping school and climbing the fire tower stairs. Amazing view from up there

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

If you are around Maine, checking out the Portland Tunnels would be fun. I haven’t been down there in years, but the abandoned bowling alley under the top of Forest Ave should still be accessible.

[@j-mass]

Woah, that sounds so cool, I’m not familiar with that spot… I’ll definitely have to check it out! Thanks!

[@kennethsonier1766]

Good evening from Cape Cod ⛵ it was really cool being on this exploration with you Jason ✌️🇺🇲

[@markreed5506]

You should check out the abandoned town of East Weare Village in NH. Flooded by the Army Corps of Engineers, and now visible to walk around and see driveways to nowhere, cellar holes, etc...

[@j-mass]

I’ll have to check that one out! I’ve heard of it before, but I’ve never been. Thanks for the idea!

[@ohmykai207]

Ah, this is cool! This is just down the road from me. Thanks for sharing.

[@jdgoesham5381]

I love that area of the state. I actually just moved back to the state a couple yrs ago. Born and raised in Bangor/Bangor area but these days I'm living near the capital. Which I don't love the area with how it's been allowed to go to crap so badly but it's where the work is...I'd much rather live down on one of those peninsulas or islands around where this video is...Or Downeast around the Machias/Roque Bluffs area, though. But the main reason I'm not where it's warm year round like say NC, is my immediate family.

[@caliwarren8327]

Loved your video! I grew up in Phippsburg and spent much time in the forts and beaches there. The history of that area is incredible. The Popham Colony was actually established in 1603, by George Popham. My Dad is a historian and did archeological digs every summer at the site of the original colony. I know he'd be thrilled to see your enthusiasm & to share the wealth of information about these forts, and the rich history of this magical place! Feel free to PM me for his contact info.

[@j-mass]

Wow, that sounds fascinating! I actually revisited Phippsburg just a few weeks ago, and checked out the Popham Colony Historic Site a bit more closely. Such cool history! And that’s awesome that your dad has done archaeological work there!

[@emmanuelmcdaddie5165]

Will there be a video of what the cutout parts of your videos look like and behind the scenes

[@j-mass]

I’ve actually been thinking about posting some behind-the-scenes stuff exclusively for members, but if I’m being honest, it’s not that interesting 😂 I actually film nearly everything except for the actual travel portions

[@Hello_Gypsy]

@j-mass That's an idea: start filming some outtakes from your travels. That'd be great, especially if you find some quirky sites en route or stop at a seedy gas station in some backwoods area. 😂 I'd watch the shit out of that. J-MASS on the road.

[@j-mass]

That could be fun, I think I might just have to do that!

[@Hello_Gypsy]

@@j-mass I'm all about hyping up your ideas! Honestly, if you were in a traffic jam on the way to an exploration or got caught in the rain and made it hilarious, that'd still be entertaining. More pizza and mushrooms. And more swears.

[@JoshuaLindbergFilms]

So cool. My family used to vacation on popham beach. this was one of the coolest places of my childhood

[@j-mass]

That sounds awesome! I would’ve loved to visit this place as a kid!

[@zone4garlicfarm]

Much of Fort Popham was closed to the public in the 1980s and 90s because the masonry was too unstable. When I was in my teens many of the gun bases were still in place. There was a turntable for aiming the cannons. It had a sloped track. The recoil would push the cannon backwards up the track about 4 feet, then gravity would pull it back down to be reloaded.

[@j-mass]

That’s pretty interesting! They must have done some serious renovations since then, as I think the fort is completely open to the public now.

[@zone4garlicfarm]

@@j-mass It's not quite completely open. You used to be able to go up the upper stairs onto the roof.

[@j-mass]

That’s true yeah, the entire upper roof portion was closed off for me.

[@Halfbittenjalapeno]

Ft gorges in Portland is nice too. Its just a kayak away

[@j-mass]

I love Fort Gorges! If you’re interested, I also filmed a video exploring that spot last summer, currently on my channel!

[@saddletramp6935]

I think the tower was used for submarine watch. There were quite a few of them on the New England coast.

[@1provoid657]

Very cool forts with interesting roles in US history. You mentioned the etymology of Fort Baldwin but not for Fort Popham do you know what it is? My theory would be it was named after the attempted colony in modern day Maine.

[@j-mass]

Whoops, you’re right! I completely forgot to mention how Fort Popham got its name-my bad! It’s actually named for the Popham Colony, which was founded in 1607 in modern-day Phippsburg; the colony itself is named for George Popham, who was the leader of the colony.

[@robertthomas3364]

Great vid. Check out Fort Montgomery up on Lake Champlain - another Civil War fort

[@j-mass]

I’d love to, that place has been on my list for ages! Such a cool fort and location!

[@julianmalcolm]

1:45 there is also a WWII fire control tower at Bald Head I Phippsburg. 2:10 the term for this era of fort is the third system. 3:47 both were designed by the same engineer. 5:50 one of the powder magazines (both rooms). 6:44 this was called an embrasure. This specific design was called the Totten embrasure and it had iron shutters that would remain closed until the guns fired. You mention these iron shutters throughout the video. Fort Gorges also would have had them by scrappers cut them up in the 1950s. 7:11 construction was stopped when funding was cut off from Congress. It was designed to have two casemented tiers and one barbette tier on the roof. The barbette tier was never built and would later be home to an Endicott Searchlight. 8:52 you mention the minefield multiple times throughout the video. It was installed around 1897 and there was a temporary wooden mine casement built near this fort. It was deactivated around 1900 and would be used briefly during WW1. In 1918 the mine casement was dismantled and there was no further minefield activity during WW2. 9:16 one of the powder magazines. That plan is a little misleading because it is a cutaway of what the fort would look like if it were complete. The entire section with officers quarters and storerooms was never completed. All they built was the granite wall at the entrance of the fort. 12:27 Fort Baldwin was more like a modification of Fort Popham. It only became a separate fort because there was no room at Fort Popham. 15:32 this is another powder magazine. 16:32 no it was not. 19:03 this was probably built out of all brick when construction funding cut off. 20:00 this would have been the barbette tier. 24:00 this is part of the section that was never built I mentioned earlier. The slits were rifle loopholes. 24:41 I assume it was a mine/torpedo from the 1890s. 26:23 I can certainly understand why you think that but this is the remains of the fort Popham lighthouse. It was on top of a steel frame which you can see the remains of. 27:05 oooooohhhhhhh aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh 28:24 it was more like 1900-1906. 29:38 many of the endicott forts in Portland are very similar. They have a unique design only in Portland. That is because Portland was where most of the developments in the Endicott program were first implemented. Things like telephone transmission, splinter proof concrete. Fort Levett and McKinley have the most unique structures because of all the changes and developments made. 29:55 this was airspace to absorb shock. 31:21 guard room. 32:20 the poor park manager has three parks he needs to take care of and doesn’t get the resources to take care of Baldwin. I was talking with him and they are considering closing the fort due to the deterioration. This can also be attributed to the type of concrete used in these batteries which did not do well when exposed to moisture. 32:50 1921 Battery Commanders Station. 35:20 aircraft did not exist when this battery was built. 36:47 this area you are walking is about where the forts power plant was. It was demolished probably in the 60s. 37:40 guard room. 38:20 officers room. 38:30 storeroom and later plotting room. 38:44 the hooks on the wall ahead were for holding the ramrod and sponges used for loading and cleaning the gun. 38:55 shell room. 39:15 powder room. 40:20 originally it had 6-inch guns but in 1941 a modification was made for 155mm guns. I sent you the conversion drawings with the other fort Baldwin maps. 41:00 this was the shell room and the bricks were for absorbing moisture. 41:25 this was the powder room. 42:06 storeroom and later plotting room. 42:22 guard room. 42:45 officers room. 42:55 tool room. 43:00 it was outdated by WW1 which is why the guns were sent away. Battery Cogan was the only one that remained active until 1924. 44:22 one of the 1941 gun mounts. It was built atop the original. 45:12 battery commanders post. 45:33 as part of the 1941 addition they added two more gun mounts in front of the battery but you can’t see them anymore. 46:23 it is easier for me to identify what type of guns would be in Endicott batteries because they used different construction styles for different gun calibers. 48:05 this tower was started in 1942 and completed in 1943. It had one observation post for Battery Steele on Peaks Island. There was a Depression Position Finder and an Azimuth Instrument. Communication was via telephone. An Anti Aircraft observation post was located in a balcony on the back. This is the most northern Fire Control Tower in the continental US. 49:55 excellent drone shots. This was a great video and I can’t wait for more! Keep up the great work!

[@j-mass]

Oh damn, I think I missed that one! Thanks man, I’m excited to see what you think!

[@julianmalcolm]

@@j-massthe tower at bald head is on private property. I would have mentioned it to you if you can get out to it

[@julianmalcolm]

Alright man I got my comment fixed. Great video dude!

[@j-mass]

Thanks as always dude! Excited to sort through what you have!

[@PeterGuyMyrand1]

You missed out on a good point of interest. There were 2 disappearing 12" bore guns in concrete bunkers put in right there close to fort popham in WWI. Those are the concrete works just near the parking area of fort popham.

[@hamirpathania3855]

I had been near by the other day should have gone

[@j-mass]

If you’re ever up there again, you absolutely should! The best part is that parking is free! 😂

[@hamirpathania3855]

@@j-mass free parking I am sold

[@jamesm.curley3874]

the tower is a sub watch tower the last one on the so shore is in marshfield ma. probably gilded fire as well

[@PeterGuyMyrand1]

You really should have called what you call back of fort popham "the front" and what you're calling front "the back" as that is the layout of the fort in the real sense.

[@PeterGuyMyrand1]

Come on buddy, that round handgrenade like thing is a mine.

[@PeterGuyMyrand1]

From early 1942 to January 17, 1944, a battery of four 155 mm guns was deployed to Fort Baldwin ².

[@zone4garlicfarm]

Popham Beach has surf. Hunnewell beach is the beach next to the fort. It does not have surf.

[@jdgoesham5381]

I'm not surprised ME has old those old forts or sites of them off the coast or up rivers like the Kennebec or Penobscot seeing that ME has the fourth longest coastline of the US states. Which I know might blow the mind of some ppl but the coast juts in and out a lot like Norway in some ways with lots of bays and peninsulas. That and many ppl think Maine is a small state. Being from Maine and having been all over the US over the years I get the funniest views by ppl of Maine and one of the big ones is that they think it's small. Shoot many don't even know of it at all if you can believe it. But hey that might be a good thing? Haha.

[@j-mass]

Oh yeah, Maine is HUGE! Way bigger than people give it credit for. I’m from Massachusetts so I’m pretty used to the small state sizes down here, but then I get up to Maine, and everything is a drive! Very unique coastline too!

[@lorrieburgess8171]

I've ben to fort popham its amazing place

[@j-mass]

I agree, it was such a beautiful site with so much history!

[@lorrieburgess8171]

@@j-mass we have outher forts in Maine

[@j-mass]

I wanna go to more soon! So far I’ve filmed Battery Steele, Fort Williams, Fort Gorges, and now Fort Popham and Fort Baldwin. Hoping to do more soon!

[@julianmalcolm]

@@j-mass id say next Maine fort you should visit is Preble or the Cape Elizabeth Military Reservation. I know a guy at Fort Preble that can let you in the batteries.

[@j-mass]

That would be so cool, I’d definitely be interested in both! I was also looking at Fort Knox up in Prospect, ME… definitely a bit of a drive for me, but it looks amazing.

[@jewelweed5375]

Did you know👉 Sir William Phips was involved with the witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts. His wife was accused of being a witch, and he changed his mind on how things should be handled. He pardoned everyone, including Elizabeth Proctor. Now you do🤓

[@j-mass]

Woah, that’s interesting! I wasn’t aware of that, but that is a fascinating piece of history! Thanks for sharing!