musings about armories

[snowman]

I took my lady friend out to eat for her birthday this evening. We've been on a search for the area's best pizza, and the place we stopped tonight was recommended by my barber, so my lady decided she wanted to try it. It is an authentic Italian restaurant whose chef is from Sicily, and it was pretty good.

However what interested me most about the place is that it is located in an old armory, in a college town of about 6000(also the home of the Wilson Sporting Goods NFL football manufacturing facility). I'm interested in old buildings, from both artistic and historical standpoints. I have only a casual acquaintance with armories, but have noted that most of them look alike; being sizable cavernous facilities similar dimensionally to gymnasiums, with fort-like facades and often having steel bars covering the windows on the outside. This one simply had the word "ARMORY" above the front entrance. There was a very similar structure immediately across the street, which I'm guessing was originally the temporary living quarters for soldiers. Both buildings appeared to me to be approximately WWI vintage. The armory/restaurant had brick walls about a foot thick.

As you military and military-oriented fellows can see, I don't know much about these facilities. I'm interested in their original purpose, why they would be located in a small town like this, what would have precipitated their abandonment by military units, whether they were all built for the National Guard or also for reserve and other units, and so on. A Google search didn't tell me much of anything.

Thanks for your interest, friends.
Andy

 

[Drm50]

Armories

I worked construction on power lines across northern Ohio. I
think you will find a whole string of them across the region. They
looked Army to me. But I was told a lot of them were Navy.
One we use to pass was turned into a recreational area. It was
between Brecksville and Streetsborough, I think, that was years
ago.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

A friend of mine's grandfather was the AG (Adjutant General) of Ohio in the 20's and part of the 30's. Which is when most of those armorys were built. The "Old" Ohio Armory was in downtown Columbus about half a mile South of the capital building and midway between that building and the river. It predates the Civil War (the war of northern aggression) and almost looks like a mid-evil castle. It is a "Artisan" center now. I consider myself too normal to enter those old walls now!

The old weapons vaults were chambers beneath the floor. The floor/ceiling were foot thick slabs of stone that had to be lifted for entry. In the 1960's a Reg Army Lt Col, was sent to account for numerous BAR's, Thompsons, and M-2 30's. A guard officer had a private jack up each section of the floor and they took innovatory. Along with the guns in question were several Trapdoor Springfields in 50/70 (never an official Ohio weapon), a few Gatling guns in 1" Navy (also, never an Ohio weapon) and 50 Sharpe's Cavalry Carbines, complete with coffee grinders (These were an Ohio issue weapon in 1850's and 60's)! The full Auto weapons were transferred to National Guard armories and the antiques disappeared, wonder who got them? Ivan

 

[THE PILGRIM]

If you get to Deming, NM be sure and see the museum.
They have an amazing amount of items for a small town including a display of Skeeter's stuff.
Yes, it's in an old Armory.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deming_Armory

 

[bullmack]

I grew up in a town half that size that had an armory. It was actually pretty newly built. The local guys in the Guard would go there to fulfill their obligations. A small number of military vehicles were also on site. It had a simple but effective indoor range at which I took my hunter safety course. Oh ya - they had dances for the high school crowd most Friday evenings!

 

[Arik]

In Easton Pa there is an old Armory that is going to be either a single family or multi family dwelling. In upstate NY there is another old Armory that was turned into a home. It has 40,000 Sq ft of space. Even the old shooting range is still in the basement. The armory/house takes up a city block. Looks really cool. You can find it online

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

If you get to Deming, NM be sure and see the museum.
They have an amazing amount of items for a small town including a display of Skeeter's stuff.
Yes, it's in an old Armory.

Deming Armory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The museum also contains one of the finest collections of Mimbres pottery and artifacts in the Southwest.

 

[Marshwheeling]

The Minneapolis Armory was built in 1936 for the Minnesota National Guard using a PWA grant. In the fifties it was home to the NBA Minneapolis Lakers (does Los Angeles have any lakes at all?).I also saw the Harlem Globetrotters play there, and watched all the motorcycle short-track races I could get to. I might have gone to one or two gun shows in there as well.

The building is presently used for parking, and is on the historic register.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis_Armory

 

[THE PILGRIM]

The Armory term in a small town usually means a Army National Guard Building. Or used to be one.
There is of course also the Air Force National Guard. Until They are Federally activated the Guard report to the individual states- Governors.
Last Sunday I was out at the Kirtland Commissary. I see a Army One Star.
Strange? Maybe not. The rule is Reserve Personal can only go to the commissary while they are on active duty.
Weekend warrior General is on active duty.
His wife probably gave him a list and told him to move out! So he's shopping on Sunday.

 

[snowman]

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen. If anyone can provide any more information I would be interested. What I'm scratching my head about in particular right now is how exactly the buildings were used, and why the large, high open space. I know nothing about what Guardsmen do on their weekends away. From what has been said thus far I gather that weapons were(are?) stored in these buildings and that, in many cases, there are ranges inside. It doesn't seem to me that such a large, high central space would be necessary for those purposes.

Oh, well, it's not that important, of course; but if anyone in the know would like to fill me in a little further, that would be great.

Regards,
Andy

 

[okiegtrider]

I enjoy these old buildings as well. In my part of the country (Oklahoma) a lot of the armories were built in the depression years as WPA projects to put people back to work. Often the WPA construction included material native to the area. Many of the WPA buildings here include native sandstone construction giving them a very distinctive appearance.

If I find one in my travels around our state, I usually stop and and look it over and snap a pic or two. Many of these old buildings are still in use, either by the Guard or other public entities, others have fallen into sad decay.

The Oklahoma Historical society has a list on their website of all the WPA buildings in each county. I suspect there is some kind of similar archive for such things in your own part of the Country.

When you see one, look for cornerstones, often located at the NE corner of the building, or a plaque near the entrance, they often provide information about the origin of the place.

Good luck!

 

[walnutred]

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen. If anyone can provide any more information I would be interested. What I'm scratching my head about in particular right now is how exactly the buildings were used, and why the large, high open space.

Oh, well, it's not that important, of course; but if anyone in the know would like to fill me in a little further, that would be great.

Regards,
Andy

Many of the pre-WW2 versions would also have originally had stalls for horses. As far as the high ceilings, you ever hang a GP Small or GP medium up to dry? I have.

 

[snowman]

As far as the high ceilings, you ever hang a GP Small or GP medium up to dry? I have.

Thanks for the reply walnutred, but I'm afraid you'll have to explain to me what a "GP Small or GP medium" is. I have no idea.

Thank you,
Andy

 

[Stevens]

There is one in Thibodaux, I believe it is still used by the National Guard. Last time I drove by there were some of their military vehicles parked there. Social functions were held there years ago too.

 

[schgsd]

Thanks for the reply walnutred, but I'm afraid you'll have to explain to me what a "GP Small or GP medium" is. I have no idea.

Thank you,
Andy

Tents. And he ain't talking about a pup tent like when you were a kid.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

GP Small and or Medium is a military term for General Purpose Small or Large. These are big green canvas tents, I believe a small is 12 x 16 feet. dry they are very heavy, wet; it could weigh up to 1000 pounds. I believe "The Swamp" in the TV show "Mash" was a GP Small on the outside and a movie studio on the inside! Ivan

 

[snowman]

Tents. And he ain't talking about a pup tent like when you were a kid.

No wonder I was clueless; never owned or slept in a tent in my life -don't even know what a pup tent is. My family weren't campers, and I never knew anyone who was.

Thanks again for the education, all of you.

Andy

 

[Frank46]

There is one in Saint Martinville,La. Red brick and is a national guard armory. Trucks out back and high chain link fences. And as other have said is used for social functions. Attended a wedding there some years ago. Frank

 

[Cyrano]

The museum also contains one of the finest collections of Mimbres pottery and artifacts in the Southwest.

The museum at Silver City has an immense amount of Mimbres pottery too. Well worth the visit.

 

[Cyrano]

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen. If anyone can provide any more information I would be interested. What I'm scratching my head about in particular right now is how exactly the buildings were used, and why the large, high open space. I know nothing about what Guardsmen do on their weekends away. From what has been said thus far I gather that weapons were(are?) stored in these buildings and that, in many cases, there are ranges inside. It doesn't seem to me that such a large, high central space would be necessary for those purposes.

Oh, well, it's not that important, of course; but if anyone in the know would like to fill me in a little further, that would be great.

Regards,
Andy

They probably had the wide open space for close order drill. If they cound do it inside, without regard to the weather outside, it would help when they were only there on weekends.

In 1917, my father enlisted in the 7th Regiment,NYNG, and did quite a bid of drill in their armory before they were sent to Camp Wadsworth for training. You need a lot of space to do close order drill for anythng bigger than a squad (8 - 12 soldiers),