In the twentieth century Fort Independence evolved from military use to become an important historic and recreational site.
“Hawaiians Wild Over U.S. Flyers”
- Boston Herald June 30, 1927
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Hegenberger’s wife and two sons
On Castle Island, Hegenberger’s wife and two sons listened for news over the radio. It was national news as reflected in this article from the Milwaukee Journal in 1927
- the Milwaukee Journal
Bird of Paradise
The “Bird of Paradise,” an Atlantic-Fokker C-2 trimotor plane was the first to cross the Pacific.
- Aviation Hawaii.govWorld War II
Degaussing at Castle Island During World War II Castle Island was chosen for a special naval project. In a process called “Degaussing,” named after the German scientist Carl Freidrich Gausse, electric coils were wrapped around ship’s hulls to reduce magnetic attraction for mines. In the Castle Island version, called “wiping,” ships passed over coils buried in the harbor for temporary demagnetizing
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National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
From Castle Island to Oahu
After Charles Lindberg’s historic flight, James Dole of the pineapple company offered a prize for the first flight from the mainland to Hawaii. Army aviators Lester J. Maitland and Albert F. Hegenberger made the flight from Oakland, California in twenty-five hours and fifty minutes. Seven others lost their lives in the attempt.
In 1919 Lieutenant Hegenberger married Louise Berchtold in the “only wedding ceremony” ever held on Castle Island. Louise’s family lived on the island in a caretaking role. Hegenberger grew up in South Boston, attended MIT, and joined the army air corps, combining technical and flying skills.
Into the Twentieth Century
In 1890 the city of Boston received permission to improve
and beautify (but not own) the island. By 1892 a wooden
bridge connected Castle Island to the mainland. In 1932 a
causeway opened on land filled with mud, clay and silt. Many
modern visitors don’t realize that the site was originally an
island.
- Artrenewal