Archive for the Newsletters Category
Fort Stevens Review
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park.
Excerpt from this newsletter:
The Long Road From Cast Iron Coast Defense Guns To Ones Of Forged Steel And The Impact On The Harbor Defenses of The Columbia
By D. Lindstrom
As the United States fought the Civil War, both the Union and the Confederacy, as did many other nations, defended their harbors and coastlines with cannons made of cast iron. Furthermore, early on the Civil War demonstrated that fortifications made of masonry were history, as enemy cannon balls quickly demolished them. The new technology was to construct earthen parapets behind which cannons were installed. The hope was that most of the enemy’s incoming cannon ball shots would simply bury themselves in the dirt. Regardless of more reliance on earthen parapets to protect cannons and cannoneers from the enemy, there was mortal danger lurking inside the surrounding parapet. Once in a while a cast Iron cannon had a defect causing it to burst on detonation, wounding and killing the cannoneers..
Spring 2019 Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park.
Excerpt from this newsletter:
In Their Words, Recollections of Those Who Were Fired Upon
– Edited by D. Lindstrom
This is the season to remember the 1942 attack on Fort Stevens by the I-25, a Japanese Submarine. By this time most readers are probably asking, “What else is there to say?” Rather than interpreting it again, first hand experiences are presented here without interference! These individuals were at widely separated locations and as expected, the reader will find differing views of the incident. The following recollections were made fifty years later, so memory and the “fog of war” is at play….
Winter 2019 Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park.
Excerpt from this newsletter:
“The World Must Be Made Safe For Democracy” – Story by D. Lindstrom
The Winter and Spring newsletters for 2018 carried parts one and two of a three-part story outlining the experiences of John Ferguson and the 65th Artillery, Coast Artillery Corps during World War I. The series was interrupted by an article outlining the US Army’s Spruce Division which appeared in the Summer 2018 newsletter. (The afore mentioned newsletters are available on the FOOFS web site.). This story is part three and the conclusion of the series…..
Summer 2018 Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park.
Excerpt from this newsletter:
“Fort Stevens And The World War I Spruce Production Division” – by D. Lindstrom
2nd Lieutenant John Ferguson has not been forgotten. The spring issue left John wondering if he would get to the front and see some action, and as he was boarding a train, the terms of an armistice drawn up by the United States President Woodrow Wilson, were about to be signed by the Central Powers. The 2019 winter issue will bring John’s story to a conclusion.
In the meantime, the summer issue takes up a fascinating aspect of the World War story that took place in the Pacific Northwest and in several respects, albeit minor, involved Fort Stevens.
Winter 2018 Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park.
Download Our NewsletterExcerpt from this newsletter:
“The World Must Be Made Safe For Democracy”
Statement by President Woodrow Wilson, 2 April 1917 during his address to Congress asking for a declaration of war against Germany – by D. Lindstrom
Summer 2017 Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park.
Download Our NewsletterExcerpt from this newsletter:
What’s In A Name?
By D. Lindstrom
Day after day visitors walk by Battery Pratt, situated in the middle of the gun line at Fort Stevens State Park. Battery Pratt emplaced two 6-inch rifles on disappearing carriages and was active between 1900 and 1943. The battery’s most notable event occurred….
Friends of Old Fort Stevens Summer Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review is published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, an Oregon 501(c)3 Organization, helping to preserve the history Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park. Select here to download the full Summer 2016 newsletter.
Excerpt from our newsletter:
For The Record: A Discussion of the Men and Their Early War War II Era Units At The Harbor Defenses of the Columbia
By D. Lindstrom
As World War II loomed and became a reality, where did men of the Harbor Defenses of the Columbia come from and how did they feel about things? Let’s find out.
Our story begins with Battery E, 3rd Coast Artillery. This unit kept the harbor defenses on life support during the so called quiet years. Battery E had a rich history dating back to 1799 as part of the 3rd Artillery. During the War of 1812 Battery E saw action against the British. When the Mexican War came along, Battery E was part of the Brownsville episode and withstood a siege of 160b days. At the Battle of Buena Vista Batteries E and C saved the day. During the Civil War, Battery E distinguished itself in Florida and later joined Sherman’s Army as it chased Confederate General Joseph E. Johnson. After the Civil War, the 3rd Artillery was transferred to the West Coast…… (Select here for the full newsletter)
Spring Newsletter
Fort Stevens Review Spring 2016
Published by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, An Oregon 501(c)3 Organization. Helping To Preserve The History Of Oregon’s Fort Stevens State Park. Three Issues: Winter, Spring, Summer. Teaser:
The Reluctant Japanese Submarine: A Look At Why the Enemy Submarine Remained. In The Area Hours After Attacking Fort Stevens On June 21, 1942. By D. Lindstrom
Fire Control Hill, or H Station, was situated at a location isolated from the center of Fort Stevens. It overlooked Battery Russell, a 10-inch disappearing gun. From its vantage point, the station had a broad view to the northwest revealing the entrance to the Columbia River flowing into the Pacific Ocean. This view included the North Jetty on the Washington State side of the river, and the South Jetty on the Oregon side. The jetty’s provided more or less safe passage for shipping into the Columbia River Harbor with deep access into Oregon and Washington. The view then swept from west to south revealing nearby ocean beaches….. Read more here by downloading the PDF
