Paul Drinan, Former ExecutiveDirector of Fort                Gorges, at the Bicycle Coalition Where he is Active  Transportation Director.

Fort Gorges Situated on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay.

“Maybe the city of Portland will sell Fort Gorges to the Friends of Fort Gorges for one dollar,” said Paul Drinan this afternoon. Paul,     the former Executive Director of the Friends of Fort Gorges, was referring to the transfer of ownership from the Department of Defense to the city of Portland for One Dollar.  That happened back in1960.

Fort Gorges is a former US mililtary fort built on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay.    Following the War of 1812, the  Army Corps of Engineers wanted to build a fort at the entrance to Portland Harbor to protect it from wars. It was built between 1858  and 1864.  However, no battles were fought there and  no troops were stationed there either.

The Fort was named for Sir Ferdinand Gorges, an Englishman, with ambitious plans to develop the southern coast of Maine –  mostly unsuccessfully.  The Fort was last used by the Army during  World War 11 when it was used to store submarine mines.  Because of its proximity to Europe, Portland Harbor, with its exceptionally deep Harbor, became a major east coast port in the defense of this nation.

Years ago, three area residents formed a non-profit- Friends of Fort Gorges to restore the seriously deteriorated Fort. The three were Kip Moore, Roger Berle and Joel Eastman; the latter a retired history professorat USM.  Paul Drinan, a former leading man in many Good Theater productions at The Hill Arts under the direction of Brian Allen, was hired as the Friends of Fort Gorges first Executive Director.  The goal of the Friends was to make the Fort    “safe and accessble”to  the public – which it had accomplished until the January storm temporarily  stalled those goals..(Paul, a Boston native, studied acting at the prestigious T Schreiber Studio in New York City.)

However, in May Paul left the Friends and assumed the position of Active Transportation Director, at the Bicycle Coalition, on Diamond Street..  During a storm in January the Fort experienced serious damage to its granite wharf. One million dollars worth of daamage occurred to the wharf making ongoing accessibility risky.  The Fort qualifies for the FEMA funding said Paul this afternoon who remains a volunteer with the non-profit Friends.

In the meantime Paul is enthusiastic about his new position at the Bicycle Coalition.   “It’s important to me that people have healthy transportation options. I mean walking and biking rather than  driving a car,” said Paul.

For more background information on Paul Drinan, please visit post herein dated September 23, 2008.