World War Two (1939 - 1945)

With the outbreak of World War Two in 1939 the United States began to mobilize and modernize its defenses. The Endicott period batteries were obsolete by this time and replaced by 16 and 6 inch guns mounted in large bunkers located in Little Compton, Beavertail and Narragansett. The only guns remaining at Fort Adams, during the war were three 3-inch anti-aircraft guns (these were replaced later in the war by two 90mm guns on mobile mounts). However, the fort was retained as the headquarters of the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay. In addition to the gun batteries, the defenses included mines covering the approaches to the bay as well as anti-submarine nets stretched across both the east and west passages. A thorough treatment of this subject is found in the book Defenses of Narragansett Bay in World War Two by Walter K. Schroder of Jamestown.

Unit Crest of the 243rd Coast Artillery Regiment.

On September 16th, 1940 the 243rd Coast Artillery Regiment of the Rhode Island National Guard was mobilized and sent to Fort Adams. The 243rd, commanded by Colonel Earl C. Webster, supplemented the 10th Coast Artillery Regiment in manning the harbor defenses in Narragansett Bay. In addition to Fort Adams, the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay consisted of the Endicott period Fort Getty and Fort Wetherill in Jamestown and Kearney in Saunderstown as well as more modern installations at Fort Church in Little Compton, Fort Burnside in Jamestown and forts Varnum and Greene in Narragansett.

On July 14th, 1941 a cabin cruiser caught fire in Newport harbor. Private Walter K. Wilberham of Battery G, 10th Coast Artillery heared the occupants crying for help about 1/2 mile away. He then swam to the boat with two other soldiers. Fearing an explosion, he lowered the woman on the boat to the two other soldiers and remained on board, at the risk of his life, trying to extinguish the flames. The boat was towed to shore by mine yawls stationed at Fort Adams where the flames were extinguished. Private Wilberham was awarded the Soldiers Medal, the Army's highest award for non-combat heroism, posthumously in 1942.

As the war progressed, it became evident that there was little need for coastal defenses as neither the Germans nor the Japanese had the power to make a significant attack on the American mainland. As a result coastal defenses were gradually reduced with many personnel being reclassified for combat duty. By the end of the war in Europe in May of 1945 the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay consisted only of four companies down from a peak strength of 18 companies in two regiments in late 1940.

After the war Fort Adams, along with all other coastal defense fortifications, found itself a visage of a by gone era. In this brief interlude between the eras of coast defense guns and anti-aircraft missiles the concept of coast defense revolved around anti-aircraft guns. (Most of the Army's anti-aircraft units were formerly coast defense units.) While Fort Adams remained the headquarters post for Narragansett Bay Harbor Defenses (NBHD) with Forts Church, Burnside and Greene as subposts, it was realized that Fort Adams, along with all other coast defense installations, were no longer needed by the Army.

In November 1945 it was decided by Rhode Island Governor John O. Pastore and a group of citizens lead by philanthropist John Nicholas Brown to offer the fort to the United Nations organization as a site for its permanent home. The UN decided to make its headquarters in New York City and Fort Adams continued as a military installation.

In early April of 1947 Fort Adams, then under the command of Colonel Earl G. Metzger, hosted an Army Week which featured the area forts being opened to the public as well as displays of the the fort's 90mm, 40mm anti-aircraft guns, .30 and .50 caliber machine guns and 60 inch searchlights. Colonel Metzger also had a number of speaking engagements during the week highlighting the Army's contributions to the nation's history.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 13th, 1947 a fire broke out in the upstairs barracks on the southeast wall of the old fort. While the barracks was unoccupied - in fact, the open bay had been turned into a roller skating rink - it was adjacent to a storage area for surplus radar and radio equipment.

The blaze was noticed at 3:40 AM by a sailor standing watch on the destroyer tender U.S.S. Yosemite moored off of Goat Island. The ship radioed the Naval Training Station which telephoned Fort Adams. The fire was subdued by units of the Fort Adams, Naval Training Station and Newport Fire Departments as well as the 250 men in garrison at the Fort.

The result was that the southeast barracks was reduced to a burnt shell - never to be rebuilt. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire but it symbolized that the fort had seen its best days. (For contemporary newspaper accounts of the fire see the Newport Mercury for April 18th, 1947 and Newport Daily News for April 14th, 1947.)

Colonel Earl H. Metzger at his retirement review, August 30th, 1949

On August 30th, 1949 there was a retirement parade in honor of Colonel Metzger. Colonel Metzger was commissioned in 1912 and had served in both World Wars. His retirement marked the begining of the last days of Fort Adams. (Newport Mercury, September 2nd, 1949.)

Color Guard and Battery B, 243d Coast Artillery Battalion,
RI National Guard at Colonel Metzger's retirement review.

Colonel Metzger was succeeded as the fort's commander by Colonel Edward B. McCarthy. Colonel McCarthy oversaw preparations for the deactivation of Fort Adams. The Rhode Island General Assembly sent a protest to Congress but this was to no avail.

One April 7th, 1950 three launches assigned to Fort Adams myteriously burned with no cause or culprit being found. On April 15th Colonel McCarthy was reassigned as commander of Fort Devens, Massachusetts and the remaining garrison, under the command of Major B.H. Schimmell, proceeded to prepare the fort for deactivation.

Fort Adams was finally closed as a coast defense installation in June of 1950 - the same month of the outbreak of the Korean War. This is symbolic of the fort's obsolessence. In the wars of the late 20th Century the United States homeland would not be threatened with attack.

On August 27th, 1956 Rear Admiral Ralph Earl, Jr., commanding officer of the Newport Navy Base, wrote the Newport City Council to inform them that the Navy was planning to tear down Fort Adams and using the stone and brick of the old fort to build a 2,500 foot breakwater at Coddington Cove. A copy of this letter is in the Newport Historical Society library. This plan led to a public outcry, led by the Newport Preservation Society, and the fort was saved from destruction. (See Newport Daily News, September 12th, 1956.)

The demolition crisis led to public interest in saving to fort. However, it would take some time before decisive action was taken.

President Eisenhower tees off his Newport vacation on August 30th, 1958.

For several weeks in 1958 and 1960 Fort Adams was the home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower while he vacationed in Newport. (President Eisenhower vacationed in Newport in 1957 as well, but stayed at the Newport Naval Base.) The president lived in Quarters One, previously the fort's commanding officer's quarters. Due to this connection Quarters One is now known as the Eisenhower House. The use of Fort Adams as the "Summer White House" was appropriate for a number of reasons. First, the President undoubtedly appreciated being at a former Army base - especially one featuring fantastic views of Narragansett Bay. Second, due to the fort's status as a military installation, relatively remote location and limited access, security was of minimal concern for the Secret Service. Finally, and probably most important, Fort Adams was only a short drive from the Newport Country Club where the President could indulge in his favorite recreation at his leisure.

Restoration Efforts (1965 - Present)

Fort Adams from Southwest circa early 1960's.

In May 1965 the fortification complex and the adjacent waterfront property was given by the Navy to the state of Rhode Island for use as a state park. This cleared the way for efforts to have the fort restored and opened to the public. These efforts were led by Newport State Senator Eric A. O'D. Taylor, Senator Claiborne Pell, Antoinette Downing of the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission and philanthropist John Nicholas Brown among many others. This resulted in the State of Rhode Island creating the Fort Adams Foundation charged with the redevelopment of the fort in 1976.

Around 1972 Fort Adams was chosen to be documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). The plans of the fort made by this effort will be invaluable in any restoration effort and are on file with the Rhode Island Histoic Preservation Commission and the National Archives.

Military Pagentry at Fort Adams circa mid-1970's.

In 1972 Mr. George Howarth was appointed as the fort's commandant and he oversaw daily operations which were hoped to have the fort redeveloped for the public benefit. On Monday September 4th, 1972 the fort was opened for tours for the first time since it was closed. About 2,000 people toured the fort that day. (Newport Daily News September 5th, 1972.)

This was the start of the fort being used as a major tourist attraction and events center until 1980. The Newport Jazz Festival began using Fort Adams as its venue as it does to this day.

One highlight was on July 6th, 1975 when the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra performed a concert inside the fort with the legendary Arthur Fieldler conducting.

In 1977 Fort Adams was declared by the Secretary of the Interior to be a National Historic Landmark which is the highest distinction a structure can have in the nation in relation to its historical and architectural significance. Fort Adams is one of fewer than 2,300 structures in the nation to have this designation.

Another was the filming of the movie "The Scarlet Letter" for the Public Broadcasting Service in the summer of 1978.

In 1980 Senator Taylor died and the fort lost its biggest supporter in the state legislature. A number of other factors including budget shortfalls, concerns about safety and Mr. Howarth's reassignment led to the fort being closed to the public.

Fort Adams viewed from the East circa the late 1970's.
(Image Courtesy of the Rhode Island Film Commission.)

In 1993 the Army Corps of Engineers announced that it was going to spend half a million dollars to remediate (i.e. clean up) the fort to make it accessible to the public. This led to renewed interest in the fort and the Fort Adams Foundation was revitalized under the leadership of Mr. Edwin Connelly of Jamestown, Colonel Frank Hale of the Newport Artillery Company and State Senator Theresa Paiva-Weed of Newport who served at the fort as a tourguide in the late 1970's.

The Army Corps remediation project was executed in the summer of 1994. It involved removing debris from the casemates, emplacing safty railings in hazardous areas and planting a "shubbery fence" to limit access to the fort's delapidated west wall. The effort coincideded with a State of Rhode Island initiative to install several ramps to improve the fort's handicapped accessibility. The end result was that Fort Adams could safely host visitors.

In May of 1995 Fort Adams was reopened for tours and public events during the summer months. The fort's potential as a major events center was demonstrated on May 18th, 1997 when a crowd estimated at 8,000 turned out for the first annual Fort Adams Adventure Day. Other major events in recent years have included the Jazz, Folk and Irish music festivals.