About 35 years ago, I walked this island. A man who owned a stand at the Famous Lexington Market took a group of us out there on his boat.

Even way back then, it was Desolate - Devoid - Depressing - but, I truly enjoyed seeing it.

Was like stepping back into History - although I knew Nothing of that which follows!

Fort Carroll, Maryland

© - Tom Hyland - 09-25-09


Nestled in the Center of our Patapsco River,
Due South of Baltimore’s Harbor and
Old Fort McHenry - Birthplace of Our National Anthem -
Sits a Sad Man-Made Non-Wonder.


It was named in Honor of Charles Carroll,
The Last Living Survivor of -
The Declaration of Independence -
With a Noble Purpose in Mind.


Construction was Started in Eighteen-Forty-Seven,
Supervised by a Brevet Colonel
From The Army Corps of Engineers -
By the Name of Robert E. Lee.

YEP - THAT VERY SAME ONE!

He commuted Daily from his Townhouse
In Baltimore, and Construction went very Slow -
By 1851, at a Cost of One Million Dollars,
Only about One-Fourth of the Plans were Completed.


At this point, Congress considered Changing
To another spot in The Chesapeake Bay in Virginia -
While they Failed to make a Decision - Lee took another Job as -
Head of West Point Military Academy!

By the time of The Civil War -
Only Half the Wall Height was Achieved -
And Only Thirty Guns were Mounted -
Ironically - to Defend against Lee’s Own Confederates!

WHO’D A THUNK?


But - Not One Shot Was Ever Fired There!
By 1898, The Spanish-American War was Under Way,
And Revisions were Made Yet Again -
All to No Avail.


By World War One - It was simply a Staging Area -
For Mining the Baltimore Harbor -
By 1921, the Army Abandoned the Post -
And Moved its Armaments to Fort Howard!


During World War Two, The U.S. Coast Guard
Used the man-made Four Acres as a Pistol Range -
And - also as Temporary Quarters for -
Foreign Sailors while their Ships were being Fumigated!


QUITE A DISTINCTION - EH WOT?


After the War Years it Succumbed
To Rot and Decay - and one Baltimore Mayor
Wanted to Erect a Statue of Lord Calvert -
But - It Never Happened Either!


After WWII, both the Fortress and Lighthouse
Were De-Commissioned, and in 1958 -
Our Esteemed Government Sold This Island
To Baltimore Lawyer, Benjamin Eisenberg -


FOR A PALTRY TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!
ONLY BLEW - $ 990,000 -
BRILLIANT - HUH?


He was going to Build a Casino There -
But - It Never Happened Either!
After Mending Walls and Planting Peach Trees -
In 1964 - Eisenberg Leased it to another Entrepreneur.


Robert Jackson had a Hydrofoil Named ‘Baltimore Clipper’
And Ferried Tourists Back and Forth -
Insufficient Profits Ensued and -
This Venture Failed Also!


Its Formerly Landscaped Interior
Is Now a Jungle of Trees, Vines, and Weeds -
Its Parapets covered in Bird-Droppings -
A Manifold Habitat of Bird Species Now!


- FORT CARROLL -

A DOOMED LOSER
FROM THE GIT-GO!
SAD - BUT TRUE!

FROM NATIONAL ANTHEM TO NATIONAL DISASTER!


© - TKH


Post-Script:

I never knew any of these Facts -
Although Born and Bred Here for 69 Years!

It is viewable now from high atop The Francis Scott Key Bridge, part of our Beltway - 695.

Many more details are available at the following URL -


History Buffs Should Visit -


http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=422