NRHP /
Fort Taber
National Register Historic District
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 The Fort Taber National
Register Historic District includes approximately 11 acres of land, the
granite-faced Fort Taber and five Endicott-period batteries, built largely in
the late 1890s, recall the defensive philosophy and technology of the Endicott
era.
The southeastern facing Fort Taber is still structurally sound and
in fair condition. The seven sided polygon is approximately 711 feet in
exterior circumference with a five-sided interior court measurement about 160
feet from northeast to southwest and 45 feet northwest to southeast. Equivalent
to three stories in height, the fort has two casemate levels and is constructed
largely of hand-cut rectangular granite blocks laid in a coursed pattern. All
six seaward elevations of the fort are broken by Totten-class embrasures.
Although not the first gun ports of their kind installed on an American fort,
they may be, according to the Fort Taber Historical Association, the only ports
in the New England region. Breaking the north elevation are small arms
loopholes, the structure's only entrance-a massive, pilastered and pedimented
sally port-and a small, gable-roofed support building that was attached to the
fort sometime prior to mid-century.
Erected on the shoreline between
1898 and 1901, the Endicott-period batteries flank Fort Taber on its northeast
and northwest sides. All these massive structures are made of reinforced
concrete, faced with earth, and fitted with iron and steel hardware. None of
the emplacements retains its armament. |
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33 William St - New Bedford, MA 02740 - Tel: 508-996-4095 - Fax: 508-984-1250
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