Paterson Armory
Encyclopedia
The Paterson Armory, an unused armory
in Paterson, New Jersey
, was formerly a facility of the New Jersey National Guard
and an arena
. The building at 461-473 Market Street is in a state of disrepair, though studies are underway to determine viability of future use.
.
The laying of the cornerstone
of the Paterson National Guard Armory took place on Memorial Day
in 1894, built for the state's Second Regiment. Completed in 1896, the 53,800-square-foot crenellated three story brick and steel armory is situated on 1.2 acres in Downtown Paterson
., and has been compared to a fortress or castle. Soldiers were deplyed for combat in the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II from the armory which housed a unit descended from the old Second Infantry until 1956. The arena was a site of rallies during the 1913 Paterson silk strike. It was also used as a venue for the circus, concerts, boxing matches, and basketball games. Native son Lou Costello
, before beginning his career, once won a competition imitating Charlie Chaplin
at the armory. The facility was last used by the military in March 1983. and the building not been in use since 1990. It was later sold to a private-owner, and then taken over by the city for non-payment of taxes.
estimates the cost of renovation to be $12 million. The roof is leaking, and many of its inside walls and floors suffer from water damage. While the building is structurally sounds repairs would necessarily include asbestos abatement
and new fire stairwells and electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems. The plan calls for state-of-the-art, green
recreation and community center and as seen as a way to reduce juvenile deliquency. A 2009 geologic survey found the site to be contaminate-free. A non-binding referendum to provide $1.2 million in funding for the restoration project was approved in November 2009. Julio Tavarez
, city councilman, envisions, a recreation and entertainment center for the municipal property. During the flooding due to the 1903 New Jersey hurricane, 1200 people took shelter at the armory. Unvailable to house evacuees during Hurricane Irene (2011)
, Mayor of Paterson Jeffery Jones cited it's potential in such situations as another reason to be renovated. The armory has played an important role in New Jersey
's pugilist past. Louis "Lou" Duva
, boxing
trainer and manager who began his career in the city, when looking for locations to establish in 2011 to locate a training center cited the armory as a potential venue for a boxing club.
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, was formerly a facility of the New Jersey National Guard
New Jersey National Guard
The New Jersey Army National Guard consists of over 9000 Guardsmen. The Guard is currently engaged in several worldwide and homeland missions. Units have deployed to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Afghanistan, Germany and Egypt...
and an arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
. The building at 461-473 Market Street is in a state of disrepair, though studies are underway to determine viability of future use.
Architecture and history
Paterson was the first place in the state to apply for the construction of an armory under a law passed in 1889, and is built on ground which was originally 12 city lots and tranferred to the state by Passaic CountyPassaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
.
The laying of the cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
of the Paterson National Guard Armory took place on Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
in 1894, built for the state's Second Regiment. Completed in 1896, the 53,800-square-foot crenellated three story brick and steel armory is situated on 1.2 acres in Downtown Paterson
Downtown Paterson
Downtown Paterson is the main commercial district of Paterson, New Jersey and was once a shopping mecca for the northern part of the state. Downtown Paterson is bounded by Straight Street on the east, I-80, NJ 19, Oliver Street and Spruce Street on the south, the Passaic River, West Broadway, Cliff...
., and has been compared to a fortress or castle. Soldiers were deplyed for combat in the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II from the armory which housed a unit descended from the old Second Infantry until 1956. The arena was a site of rallies during the 1913 Paterson silk strike. It was also used as a venue for the circus, concerts, boxing matches, and basketball games. Native son Lou Costello
Lou Costello
Louis Francis "Lou" Costello was an American actor and comedian best known as half of the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, with Bud Abbott...
, before beginning his career, once won a competition imitating Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
at the armory. The facility was last used by the military in March 1983. and the building not been in use since 1990. It was later sold to a private-owner, and then taken over by the city for non-payment of taxes.
Preservation and re-use efforts
Interest in restoring the city-owned building grew after the city council rejected a proposal to sell the building to a self-storage company. A 2008 feasibility study by Grad AssociatesGrad Associates
Grad Associates formerly Grad Partnership and Frank Grad & Sons, was an architectural firm based in Newark, New Jersey. Founded in 1906 by Frank Grad , the company was later run by his sons, Bernard and Howard...
estimates the cost of renovation to be $12 million. The roof is leaking, and many of its inside walls and floors suffer from water damage. While the building is structurally sounds repairs would necessarily include asbestos abatement
Asbestos abatement
Many buildings contain asbestos, which was used in spray-applied flame retardant, thermal system insulation, and in a variety of other materials. Asbestos was sometimes "flocked" above false ceilings, inside technical ducts, and in many other small spaces where firefighters would have difficulty...
and new fire stairwells and electrical, plumbing, and ventilation systems. The plan calls for state-of-the-art, green
Sustainable architecture
Sustainable architecture is a general term that describes environmentally conscious design techniques in the field of architecture. Sustainable architecture is framed by the larger discussion of sustainability and the pressing economic and political issues of our world...
recreation and community center and as seen as a way to reduce juvenile deliquency. A 2009 geologic survey found the site to be contaminate-free. A non-binding referendum to provide $1.2 million in funding for the restoration project was approved in November 2009. Julio Tavarez
Julio Tavarez
Julio Tavarez is a Dominican American politician who represents the 5th Ward in the City of Paterson, NJ.-Background:Born in the Dominican Republic on December 16, 1976, Councilman Julio Tavarez attended Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey and then graduated from Kean University with a ...
, city councilman, envisions, a recreation and entertainment center for the municipal property. During the flooding due to the 1903 New Jersey hurricane, 1200 people took shelter at the armory. Unvailable to house evacuees during Hurricane Irene (2011)
Hurricane Irene (2011)
Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada in 2011...
, Mayor of Paterson Jeffery Jones cited it's potential in such situations as another reason to be renovated. The armory has played an important role in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
's pugilist past. Louis "Lou" Duva
Lou Duva
Louis "Lou" Duva is a boxing trainer and manager who has handled some of the most famous boxers in the world including 19 World Champions. The Duva family have promoted boxing events in over 20 countries on six continents...
, boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
trainer and manager who began his career in the city, when looking for locations to establish in 2011 to locate a training center cited the armory as a potential venue for a boxing club.
See also
- Jersey City ArmoryJersey City ArmoryThe Jersey City Armory is located at 678 Montgomery Street near McGinley Square in Jersey City, New Jersey. In addition to being a military training and mustering facility of the New Jersey National Guard , the WPA era armory has long been used as a sports arena, particularly for boxing,...
- Teaneck ArmoryTeaneck ArmoryTeaneck Armory at 1799 Teaneack Road is an armory and arena located on a site in Teaneck, New Jersey. A facility of the New Jersey National Guard, it is home to the Soccer Coliseum.-History:...
- National Guard Militia Museum of New JerseyNational Guard Militia Museum of New JerseyThe National Guard Museum of New Jersey is headquartered in Sea Girt, with an Artillery Annex in located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and operates under the auspices of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs....
- Hinchliffe StadiumHinchliffe StadiumHinchliffe Stadium is a historic 10,000-seat municipal stadium in Paterson, New Jersey, built 1931-32 on a dramatic escarpment above Paterson's National Landmark Great Falls, and surrounded by the city's National Landmark Historic District, the first planned industrial settlement in the nation...