Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound

Fort Mansfield, Napatree Point, Rhode Island
February 2006

Fort Name: (Military Name/Harbor Defense)  Fort Mansfield, Napatree Point Rhode Island

Date of Visit:  2/11/06

Current Site Name: Napatree Point/“The Old Fort”

Site Use: (Park, School, Private Ownership, Landfill, Etc.) Private-common area for all property owners within the “Watch Hill Fire District”.

Is the Site open to the Public?: Boaters and anyone willing to walk out to the fort (approximately a 30 minute walk, one way) seem to do as they please.

Dates and Hours of Operation: None

What type of programs are offered at the Site?:

Living History: None
Tours: None
Museum Shop: None
Restoration Projects?: None

Are there events that the Site would like to have advertised in the CDSG?  None established.

Newsletter:? None
Event: None
Description: None
Dates/Times: None

What is the overall condition of the Site?: Good/Salvageable

What is the condition of the Individual Elements?:
Batteries: Good
Buildings:  Good
Other Elements: Some manhole covers for the Tunnels/Passages have been removed, causing some water in lower levels.

What is the protective status of the Site?: Appears to be none.
National Park:? Perhaps forgotten
National Register?: Yes
State or Local Historic Site?: Yes
None?:

Current Site Owner(s): Watch Hill Fire District
Current Site Supervisor: C/O Paul Nardone
Mailing Address: 222 Watch Hill Road, Westerly, RI. 02891
Phone: 401-596-2911

Support Group: None-based on current site conditions

Other Contacts at the Site: (Individuals interested in the history/preservation of the place)
Mailing Address: None- site appears to be abandoned

Is the Site or a responsible individual at the site a CDSG member?: Myself

What information can the CDSG provide to the management of the site?: The significant Historic value of site- it appears there is no site management.

Are there any projects at the Site that would benefit from CDSG funding?: The project scope has not been established.

Is there anyone at the Site that would submit material for the CDSG Journal?: Yes, myself.

Any Special Situations at the Site: (Damage, Imminent Destruction, Etc.) Graffiti, Some erosion of cement, lower levels have some water on floors (this may be caused from open manhole covers around batteries that lead to tunnels between the batteries).  Overgrowth all around fort and sand dune needs to be protected from further erosion or structure will eventually be damaged further by the sea.

If individual batteries, base-end stations, buildings, etc. are in some way significant, please indicate: Batteries and base end stations still intact and in good shape, considering years of neglect. Many underground passages with some manhole covers that are missing.

The history and the scenic views at this site are mesmerizing .