Whether or not the former Fort Devens becomes part of Harvard agan, the 90-year-old military post has an interesting history. But as the bulldozers of progress steadily turn it into a historical footnote, there’s still time to see some fascinating landmarks:
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| Just across from the former post commander’s house, Foreman Garden was used for formal outdoor gatherings. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz) |
The former post commander’s house at 2 Buena Vista St. was built in 1931, soon after Camp Devens was upgraded to a fort and needed a permanent commander. The first commander was Colonel Albert W. Foreman; 36 more commanders followed. The front of the house faces away from the road and overlooks terraced gardens.
Created in 1932 for formal gatherings, the Foreman Garden was named after the first Fort Devens commander. The timeworn flora in the garden, located up the stone steps across the street from the post commander’s house, makes for a pleasant stroll. A plaque in the right front corner of the stone wall reads: “Headquarters 76th Division.” The 76th was the first division trained at Camp Devens, and the men fought in Europe during World War I. This plaque indicates that these walls, now surrounding an overgrown garden, once formed landscaping around a circa 1917 compound.
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| The former post headquarters building at Devens now houses Massachusetts-based Learning Express. |
Post headquarters
One of the more elegant buildings on Devens is the former Post headquarters, at 29 Buena Vista St., with an ornate entrance and cupola. Built in 1931, it served as headquarters for the fort until its closing in 1996. The post commander and leaders of various functional organizations had their offices here. The size of the building indicates there was also a large administrative staff. It is now the home office for Learning Express, makers of educational toys.
Built in 1931 as barracks for the 13th infantry regiment, these massive brick buildings were named after their first resident’s motto. The 13th is a proud unit that has fought in almost every American war. During the Civil War, under the command of William Tecumseh Sherman, they attacked Vicksburg, Miss., which Abraham Lincoln had called the “key to the Confederacy.” Despite heavy losses, they fought their way to the earthworks surrounding the city and planted the U.S. flag, earning the motto, “First at Vicksburg.” Vicksburg Square is located on Buena Vista Street, between Sherman Avenue and Jackson Road.
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| A well-maintained World War II memorial stands across from Vicksburg Square at the corner of Rogers parade field. |
Rogers Field is on the corner of Sherman Avenue and Buena Vista Street, across from Vicksburg Square. Named after John Jacob Rogers, husband to Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers, the field was originally the fort’s parade ground. Edith Rogers rescued Camp Devens from certain obscurity in 1932, and helped turn it into Fort Devens. She also launched a beautification program that accounts for all the landscaping and trees that still thrive on the post today. The Fort Devens War Memorial, in the southwest corner of the field, is well-maintained and worth visiting. If you stand at the large flag pole and look directly across Sherman Avenue, you can see a path between two rows of trees that leads to the terraced gardens in front of the post commander’s house.