F-f-f-foolin'

Wicked_Dark

This bizarre structure is at Ft. Stark in New Castle NH - now decommissioned. It lies right on the headland facing out to sea and is supposed to look like a boat and fool enemies into...what? I don't really know, but it's a very cool building and one I wish was restored, but it's a wreck and I didn't feel like jumping the fence.



a softer version taken last year at sunrise -


and the backside -


I have no idea if any other forts around the country had anything like this. probably not. It seems so silly.

On one side of it are a couple of these empty gun mounts. A lot of this fort is fenced off, thus limiting photographic composition, but it's a very cool place that has no admission and is in a beautiful spot.



Anyway, thanks for looking. comments welcome.

TrigPhotography

Wow, cool find and you got some good photos even without jumping the fence. I'd love to get in there someday. What an interesting building.

PS: Now I have Foolin' by Def Lepard in my head!

DonRicklin

F-f-f-foolin'
Great series and find! Will have to check that out.

Makes me think of a Wright house. Complete with oddball swimming pool in the last shot.



Don

rainbow

Looks more like a bunker than a boat. The structure may be to give it a wide field of view for spotting targets for the guns (?).

Wicked_Dark

Thanks guys. It was more boat-like in the past, evidently, but now is pretty ruined. There are more traditional bunkers in the next fort up.
Don - if you ever get up this way you can do Ft. Stark, Ft. Constitution & Ft. McLary in one day - they're all in a row within a few miles of each other. You can see Ft. Constitution from Ft. Stark. Ft. C is by the Portsmouth Harbor Light (not the one on Whaleback). And a few miles down coast is Ordione Point state park, the former site of Ft. Dearborn.

DonRicklin

Wicked_Dark wrote: »

Thanks guys. It was more boat-like in the past, evidently, but now is pretty ruined. There are more traditional bunkers in the next fort up.
Don - if you ever get up this way you can do Ft. Stark, Ft. Constitution & Ft. McLary in one day - they're all in a row within a few miles of each other. You can see Ft. Constitution from Ft. Stark. Ft. C is by the Portsmouth Harbor Light (not the one on Whaleback). And a few miles down coast is Ordione Point state park, the former site of Ft. Dearborn.

Thanks, I have done Odiorne Point park near Rye many times over the years! Will have to check out some of the others.

Don

augustmelody

I know this is an older thread, but I just have to say that these are great! Fort Stark is beautiful, even more interesting nooks and crannies to explore when you DO jump the fence

Here are just a couple of snapshots I picked up there, I hope you don't mind me sharing.

Wicked_Dark

I don't mind. Glad you got to explore it a bit. The shot of the tree from down the bank is nice. Good job.

Firehouses of Ohio

Wow that is really great, it looks like a command and control center for a series of WWII era coastal defensive positions. Where is this located again please?

Wicked_Dark

It's in New Market, NH. This is one of a string of forts protecting the mouth of the Piscataqua which is Portsmouth Harbor. Going from south to north (Maine) there is Fort Dearborn (WWII only), Fort Stark (Revolutionary War on), Fort Constitution (Revolutionary War on), Fort McClary, Maine (Revolutionary War to WWI) and Fort Foster also in Maine. None are really connected and operated independently. You can do them all in one day since they're just minutes from each other. Totally worth it and stay for the sunset at Ft. Foster.

Dogdots

Very interesting place. Will need to look this place up.