More Mowing Ft Adams...

[Buzzard Wing]

Life is good when all ya need to wonder is how you can get turf grass to grow on something that seemed almost overwhelming in the beginning. Yesterday the Navy NAPS folks helped out a lot! Even got one guy working over some stumps that were bugging me. Great, because they were on the edge in my 'no mow' zone.

Some before and afters. The after ones are more than two weeks since I mowed it last, but it's been dry and there were zombies at the fort last weekend. Oh, the Lo Boy has been under the knife (wrench?).

[Boss Hog]

That looks great Larry

[Bill Hudson]

Larry,

Really looks like an enjoyable, worthwhile effort on your and other's parts.

Bill

[Tezell]

It sure looks a lot better than it did a few years ago.

Great job!

[Rudi]

You sure are brave ... awful close to them edges bud .. be careful, have fun and well ... congrats on giving to such a worthwhile project.

[ScottyD'sdad]

Don't worry, Rudi! Larry has a thick skull, so it won't shatter,on impact! I've suggested goats, for places Larry won't drive.
Looks great, Larry. Ed

[Buzzard Wing]

Fort Adams surely is a national treasure. It was a training ground for engineers and is the largest and most complex fort in the US. It is sited on a peninsula about two miles from the open Atlantic, so they have very elaborate land defenses to protect from a landing on the south side of the island. It is the land defenses; crown works and advance redoubt, where the volunteers (and the Lo Boy) put forth so much effort.

There is a 'regular' group of volunteers that have accomplished a tremendous job of 'recovering' these earth-topped works from the ravages of time, trees and poison ivy. The Navy schools have been outstanding at helping out. Naval Supply School, Justice school and the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS) have been a huge help. The man hours of volunteer effort is truly staggering, but so it the size of the works generally outside 'public' view.

Some history... look at Joseph Totten and the third system
http://www.fortadams.org/bDiscoverbTheF ... story.aspx

Some pictures of the volunteers in action. Special mention to ScotLem for his outstanding efforts (he 'repowered' the old DR among other great deeds), good shot of him mowing the top.

[Bob Perry]

[Connecticut Calvin]

After serving my time in the CT National Guard I became a huge fan of the WWI/WWII forts. Seeing this is very cool for me. I'd jump on an opportunity to keep such a prescious landmark clean and maintained too! Congrats!

[ScottyD'sdad]

Scot is doing the spot where the goats should be working! Ed

[Buzzard Wing]

Come on over Calvin, always got work around that place, it's pretty huge. If nothing else you should plan a trip for a tour (lots to see in the big city too). Be sure to tell them you know the 'yellow tractor guy'.

Yep Ed, actually goats are what's really needed for the slopes off of what Scot was doing. They do have goats at SVF http://svffoundation.org/, but I think they are too special to eat the poison ivy 40' up. I think Scot found all the chimneys on that end .
Can't figure what kind of 'earth' they used, how can a 45 degree slope not erode after 150+ years?? But it hasn't. Also odd is how it can rain 2" and the next day there are no puddles (all drained) and even a fairly heavy Lo Boy (150# on the front wheels, loaded tires, FH and mower) doesn't ever leave a rut. Guess I should grab a soil sample and test the lab at URI that tests the soil. Surely there must be something that explains what's in that stuff in some archive?

[Connecticut Calvin]

Come on over Calvin, always got work around that place, it's pretty huge. If nothing else you should plan a trip for a tour (lots to see in the big city too). Be sure to tell them you know the 'yellow tractor guy'.

I was just camping at Burlingame over the weekend! We left early as the weather was predicted to deteriorate rapidly. We had a bad storm just a few miles south of us Saturday about 3AM. Missed us "by that much." Yes I'd love to swing by and have a look! I'd definitely mention the "yellow tractor guy" and see if you're around!

[Michael Beck]

Great job of helping preserve history. It looks great.

[Roadmaster71]

Larry,
Great effort at Ft. Adams! I never realized it was so extensive. I've only been there once or twice. A number of years ago a bunch of us ham radio guys set up a special event station at one of the forts. We made plenty of contacts from all over the US and worldwide. We were inside a bunker that had small peep windows looking out on the entrance to the bay. I believe we had to get in through a hole in the roof. Very cool fortifications on Newport and Jamestown.