Fort Terry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Terry |
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| Part of Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound | |
| Plum Island, Southold, New York | |
12-inch mortars, similar to those at Battery Stoneman, Fort Terry
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 Fort Terry
Location in New York
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| Coordinates | 41°10′48″N 72°11′42″W / 41.18000°N 72.19500°W |
| Type | Coastal Defense |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1897-1906 |
| Built by | United States Army Corps of Engineers |
| In use | 1898-1946 (as coastal fort) 1952-54 (as military research facility) 1954-?(as civilian research facility) |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Fort Terry was an important military base on Plum Island, a small island near Orient Point, New York, in the United States. It was built to protect the entrance to Long Island Sound, a busy waterway. The fort was first set up in 1897 and was used on and off until the end of World War II.
After the war, in 1952, Fort Terry became a special research center. Scientists there studied diseases that could affect animals. In 1954, it became a civilian research center called the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. This research continued until 1969, when the U.S. government stopped certain types of animal disease research. Today, people are discussing whether to sell the island or turn it into a wildlife refuge.
Contents
Fort Terry's History
How it Started
Plum Island was originally home to the Corchaug and Montaukett Native American tribes. Later, it was sold to Samuel Wyllys for a small price. The U.S. government bought Plum Island for $25,000 from Abraham S. Hewitt. This is when the idea for Fort Terry began.
Building the Fort (1895-1916)
Construction on Fort Terry started in 1897. It was named after Major General Alfred Terry. The fort was part of a bigger plan to defend the Harbor Defenses of Long Island Sound. It grew bigger during the Spanish–American War and World War II.
In 1898, the Spanish–American War began. People worried that Spanish ships might attack the U.S. coast. So, some guns were quickly bought from the UK and set up at the fort. By 1906, Fort Terry had many different types of guns. These included large 12-inch mortars and 10-inch guns. There were also smaller 6-inch, 5-inch, and 3-inch guns. These guns were placed in batteries, which are groups of guns.
Some of these batteries were named after important military figures. For example, Battery Stoneman was named after Major General George Stoneman. Battery Steele was named after Major General Frederick Steele.
By 1914, Fort Terry had 11 gun batteries. It also had a system to control an underwater minefield. A small railroad was built in 1914 to move ammunition to the gun batteries. The fort was ready to defend against enemy ships.
World War I
When the U.S. joined World War I in 1917, changes happened at forts like Fort Terry. Many soldiers and guns were sent to fight in France. Some of Fort Terry's guns were removed to be used on the battlefield. For example, four 6-inch guns were taken off their mounts. Some mortars were also removed to make them easier to reload. These guns were never returned to Fort Terry.
Between the World Wars
After World War I, Fort Terry was not as active. It was mostly looked after by a small group of people. In 1920, two anti-aircraft gun batteries were built. These guns were used to shoot down enemy planes.
In the 1920s, the fort was used for summer training by the National Guard. They practiced shooting at aerial targets. In 1930, about 133 people lived at Fort Terry. The government also thought about building a prison on the island, but it didn't happen. Some of the older 3-inch guns were removed in the early 1930s.
World War II
During World War II, Fort Terry became very active again. It was used as a training center and a place to store supplies. Soldiers also used it to watch for German U-boats (submarines) and planes.
By 1944, newer, more powerful guns were built at Camp Hero in Montauk. This made many of Fort Terry's older guns less important. Most of Fort Terry's guns were removed and scrapped, except for four 3-inch guns.
During World War II, some new batteries were built at Fort Terry:
- Battery 217: Planned for two 6-inch guns, but never armed.
- AMTB 911: Had four 90 mm guns.
- 155mm: Had four 155 mm guns.
After World War II, it was decided that coastal gun defenses were no longer needed. In 1948, Fort Terry was officially closed as a military fort. All its remaining guns were removed.
Animal Disease Research Center
On April 15, 1952, Fort Terry started a new life. It became a research center for the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. The main goal was to study diseases that could affect animals. They focused on diseases like rinderpest and foot and mouth disease. These diseases could harm livestock.
The research center had many buildings, including labs, offices, a dock, and housing for staff and animals. Many of the original fort buildings were remodeled for this new purpose.
In 1954, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) took over the island. The research continued, but the focus shifted to "defensive" research. This meant studying how to protect animals from these diseases. This type of research continued until 1969.
Most of the old fort buildings and gun batteries are still standing today. Many have been used in new ways for the animal disease research center.
Recent Years (2000-2016)
In 2001, Plum Island and Fort Terry were considered for sale by the government. However, no cleanup for military hazards was needed.
In 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security took control of the Plum Island facilities.
A report in 2008 suggested that the old parts of Fort Terry should be saved and opened to the public. The town of Southold, New York also noted that many buildings on the island could be listed as historic places.
In 2016, a bill called "Save, Don’t Sell Plum Island" was passed. This bill stopped the island from being sold. This means the island and its historic fort could be preserved for the future.
Animal Disease Research
The research at Fort Terry focused on understanding animal diseases. The goal was to learn about diseases that could spread among animals. One important disease studied was foot and mouth disease (FMD). Other diseases included Rift Valley fever, rinderpest, and African swine fever.
Scientists also looked at 11 other animal diseases. Before the facility was given to the Department of Agriculture in 1954, the research became more focused. They mainly studied rinderpest and FMD. The mission changed to "defensive" research. This meant finding ways to protect animals from these diseases.
