The Battle at "The Fort"!

The Fort is a small peninsula marking the entrance of Gloucester's inner harbor. It got it's name from a fort built to protect the harbor during the revolutionary War. The fort itself is long gone replaced with a mixture of residential and commercial properties. The Fort's strategic military importance was taken over by fishing interests over the years.Beginning in the early 1900's Italian fishing families moved in being supported by the fishing industry. In 1925 Clarence Birdseye the inventor of frozen foods built the plant that dominates The Fort's property. Sitting neglected for a number of years and changing hands several times the property is ground zero of a new battle. Jim Davis of New Balance Shoes and also the Cruiseport Gloucester facility now owns it and has plans to develop a hotel complex on the site. A group of Fort residents and a Fort business owner are fighting the development. The Fort is also home of the annual St. Peter's Fiesta and recently the Gloucester Triathlon.
Instead of taking sides with this post I decided it's best to give a photographic tour of what's involved.



The Birdseye tower is ground zero.

The Fort as seen from City Hall tower.

From Pirates Lane.

Ocean Crest Seafood wharf

Beach Court

Birdseye roof!

Beach Court from the water.

During Fiesta time.

104'Ferris Wheel!

Greasy Pole

Portable facilities!

Fiesta food stands.

Carnival ride.

Foggy Fiesta!

Crowd waits the finish of the Seine boat race.

Bikes lined up at St. Peter's Square during the Gloucester Triathlon.

Looking down Commercial Street.

Long stairs.

Tight packed homes along Fort Square.

Looking up to Fort Square.

Cape Pond Ice

Neptune Harvest

Pavilion Beach

Metal Shed

Birdseye Plant street view.

From the parking lot.

Almost empty parking lot.