Armory Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Armory Block
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Armory Block
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 39-45 Park St., Adams, Massachusetts |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1894 |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004944 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1982 |
The Armory Block is a special old building located at 39-45 Park Street in Adams, Massachusetts. It was built a long time ago, between 1894 and 1895. This building shows off a beautiful style called Renaissance Revival architecture. It's one of the most fancy commercial buildings in Adams. For many years, it was a place where the local National Guard kept their weapons and trained. Today, it has different shops and businesses inside. Because of its history and design, it was added to the National Historic Register in 1982.
Contents
Discovering the Armory Block's Design
The Armory Block stands in the center of Adams. You can find it on the east side of Park Street. It's almost directly across from the First Congregational Church. This building is one of four big brick buildings on Park Street. The others are the P. J. Barrett Block, Jones Block, and the Mausert Block.
What Does the Armory Block Look Like?
The Armory Block is a three-story building made of strong materials. The front of the building is covered in bright yellow bricks. The sides are made of red bricks. On the ground floor, there are three shop entrances. These entrances are set back a bit, with large glass display windows. The main door to the building is next to the middle shop. It has a beautiful arched design around it.
The upper floors are split into three parts. Above the main entrance, you'll see two round-arch windows side-by-side. To the right of these windows, there's a section that's slightly set back. It has three round-arch windows on each floor. To the left, there's a larger section with two pairs of similar windows on each floor. The very top of the building has a decorative ledge and a low wall.
A Look into the Armory Block's Past
The Armory Block was built in 1894 by a person named A.J. Daniel. He was a builder from a well-known local family.
Serving the Community: From Military to Shops
This building was first made to be an armory for the Massachusetts National Guard. An armory is a place where soldiers store their weapons and train. The building was used for this military purpose until 1914. That year, a new armory was built.
After 1914, the Armory Block changed its purpose. The first floor became shops for people to visit. The second floor was turned into offices. The third floor even had a bowling alley! Over the years, the building has not changed much. Its original look and design are still mostly the same as they were in the early 1900s. There were plans in 2008 and 2016 to invest money in the building, but these plans were not finished.
