In Salem County, there’s a place where history stands preserved—a military site once part of the Delaware River Harbor Defense system, designed to keep enemies at bay.
Back in the 1830s, the U.S. government bought land in Pennsville known as “the Battery at Finn’s Point.” The aim was to construct a fort along the Delaware River to bolster coastal defenses, construction started in 1872 but was paused in 1876 due to funding shortages, leaving the fort partially finished.
Fort MottPhoto byKathleen Butler
Initially, plans for the fort included a mortar battery with six emplacements and an 11-gun emplacement housing 20 guns. It was to be one of three forts defending this stretch of the Delaware River.
Fort MottPhoto byKathleen Butler
Recognizing the neglect of coastal defenses, Congress appointed the Endicott Board in 1885 to assess the situation. Their 1886 report highlighted the need for upgrades, prompting renewed construction efforts at the fort in 1896. With advanced artillery, including disappearing carriages for large-caliber guns, Fort Mott, as it came to be known, became a beacon of military technology.