| Fonte Plateau on Nimitz Hill Part III |
| Fonte Dam |
Constructed in 1910 by the Navy, Fonte Dam used to be the
primary water source for Hagatna (Agana). William Howard
Taft was President of the United States, and the U.S. had only
owned Guam for 12 years at this time. The dam was built with
an interesting red brick spillway. Today the Fonte River no
longer supplies Agana's fresh water, and the dam is an
abandoned relic that is, as of these March 2005 photos, 95 years
old.
Right: Tim McDonald, prior Marine and current Director of
the Christian Servicemen's Center, sits atop the dam during a
quiet boonie stomp.
Below: The dam is located in a magnificent grove of beetle
nut palms. One of the more obscure places on island, the area
is incredibly clean and litter-free. Huge fresh-water shrimp
four to five inches long, can be seen trundling around the
Fonte River (inset photo).
primary water source for Hagatna (Agana). William Howard
Taft was President of the United States, and the U.S. had only
owned Guam for 12 years at this time. The dam was built with
an interesting red brick spillway. Today the Fonte River no
longer supplies Agana's fresh water, and the dam is an
abandoned relic that is, as of these March 2005 photos, 95 years
old.
Right: Tim McDonald, prior Marine and current Director of
the Christian Servicemen's Center, sits atop the dam during a
quiet boonie stomp.
Below: The dam is located in a magnificent grove of beetle
nut palms. One of the more obscure places on island, the area
is incredibly clean and litter-free. Huge fresh-water shrimp
four to five inches long, can be seen trundling around the
Fonte River (inset photo).
Right: Looking down the red brick spill way
of the dam.
Below: The concrete dedication plaque, set
into the face of the dam, is worn and hard to
read after nearly a century. However, you can
make out a lot if you really study it, including
President Taft's name.
of the dam.
Below: The concrete dedication plaque, set
into the face of the dam, is worn and hard to
read after nearly a century. However, you can
make out a lot if you really study it, including
President Taft's name.
| Libugon Radio Station |
The Libugon Radion Station, circa 1940. The gigantic
antennas (one of which can seen here on the far left) were
a critical part of Operation MAGIC--the interception and
decoding of Japanese codes. This super-secret operation
provided a critical advantage to U.S. war planners once
hostilities broke out in 1941.
When the Japanese invaded Guam in December of
1941, the eight men assigned here destroyed their gear and
codes and paperwork. For the nearly four years they
spent as POW's in Japan, they never gave up the secret of
their true mission. The station was completely destroyed
during the fierce battles of 1944, and today lies in ruins.
Photo courtesy of RADM J. N. Wenger.
antennas (one of which can seen here on the far left) were
a critical part of Operation MAGIC--the interception and
decoding of Japanese codes. This super-secret operation
provided a critical advantage to U.S. war planners once
hostilities broke out in 1941.
When the Japanese invaded Guam in December of
1941, the eight men assigned here destroyed their gear and
codes and paperwork. For the nearly four years they
spent as POW's in Japan, they never gave up the secret of
their true mission. The station was completely destroyed
during the fierce battles of 1944, and today lies in ruins.
Photo courtesy of RADM J. N. Wenger.
Libugon today: (above) a foundation pad for one leg
of a massive antenna and (right) the station's
pumphouse lie buried in dense jungle growth. Once in
the jungle, there are trail markers to follow to find the
ruins (there are more than what is pictured here).
However, the jungle is thick and difficult to traverse,
even on the trail. A machete is required. Mar. 2005.
of a massive antenna and (right) the station's
pumphouse lie buried in dense jungle growth. Once in
the jungle, there are trail markers to follow to find the
ruins (there are more than what is pictured here).
However, the jungle is thick and difficult to traverse,
even on the trail. A machete is required. Mar. 2005.
