Fort Totten Park

The Daily Plant : Thursday, February 26, 2015

Fort Totten Tunnel Tour With The Urban Park Rangers

Photo by Daniel Avila

Join the Urban Park Rangers this Saturday, February 28, for a historic walking tour back to the nineteenth century. Learn the stories of Fort Totten and its role in defending New York City. This walk takes you through the cavernous Endicott Batteries and Main Magazine areas of Fort Totten. Come see an unfamiliar part of Fort Totten, forgotten and mysterious.

Construction of Fort Totten was completed in 1863. Initial construction plans were prepared by Captain Robert E. Lee. It was named in honor of Brigadier General Joseph G. Totten, Chief of Engineers. It mounted 20 guns and mortars, including eight 32-pounders. The fort’s 100-pounder Parrott rifle provided long-range support to Fort Stevens during Confederate General Jubal A. Early’s attack on that for on July 11 and 12, 1864.

Fort Totten was initially charged with defending the eastern approach to New York Harbor. Facing the East River with Throggs Neck in the Bronx across the way. However, with rapid advances made to fortification designs by battlefield engineers and commanders in the course of the Civil War in the South, Fort Totten became obsolete as a defensive structure and its facilities were instead used for casualty support and hospital care (1864-1965).

Saturday’s tour will go through the main magazine section which was constructed in 1862, which is usually not accessible to the public. The main magazine is the storage room for all the artillery used at the battery is part of the Water Battery.

Fort Totten Tunnel Tour

Fort Totten Visitor’s Center (in Fort Totten Park), Queens

1:00 p.m.

FDNY DELIVER WARMTH IN A CHILLY SEASON

Wednesday, February 18, members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) gathered Detective Keith Williams Field House in Queens to deliver some warmth in this chilly season. They handed out coats to youth. The coat drive was sponsored by the International Association of Fire Firefighters (IAFF). The fire officers of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) of local 854 worked on what’s called Operation Warm and has given out coats in the Bronx, and Brooklyn in addition to Queens. With this being their first year, they have already given out 200 coats.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness."

Helen Keller

(1880-1968)