Hoosick Falls Armory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hoosick Falls Armory
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West elevation, 2008
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| Location | Hoosick Falls, NY |
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| Built | 1889 |
| Architect | Isaac G. Perry |
| Architectural style | Richardson Romanesque |
| MPS | Army National Guard Armories in New York State |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000086 |
| Added to NRHP | 1995 |
The Hoosick Falls Armory is a historic building in Hoosick Falls. It's made of red brick and has towers that look like a castle! It was built in the late 1800s.
This armory was designed by Isaac G. Perry, a famous architect for New York State. It's one of his earlier designs. It looks a bit simpler than some of his later, bigger armories. The building has stayed mostly the same since it was built.
Soldiers from the New York National Guard used to train here. These soldiers fought in many important events. They were part of the American Civil War, the 1916 Mexican Border Campaign, World War I, and World War II.
Today, the armory is no longer a military building. It's now the Hoosick Armory Youth Center and Community Coalition, or HAYC3. This center hosts fun community events. It also provides spaces for small local businesses.
In 1995, the armory was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a special building that is important to history.
Contents
Exploring the Armory Building
The Hoosick Falls Armory is a large brick building. It sits on a flat piece of land. The area around it has both shops and homes.
The building has two main parts. The front section is two and a half stories tall. This part was used for offices and administration. The back part is two stories tall and very long. This was the drill shed, where soldiers practiced. All parts of the building have metal roofs.
What the Front Looks Like
The front of the armory faces Church Street. It has two towers on either side of the main entrance. The main door is large and made of steel. It has a rounded window above it with a cool iron design. Other windows on the first floor are tall and rounded.
On the second floor, the windows are similar but come in pairs. The very top of the building has three windows. The roofline has a decorative edge that looks like a castle wall.
One tower on the southwest side is two stories tall. It has narrow windows and a pointy roof. The other tower on the northwest side is taller. Its windows get shorter as they go up. The very top of this tower also looks like a castle wall.
Inside the Armory
Some parts of the armory still look like they did when it was first built. In the front hall, you can see the original oak staircase. There are also old lockers and door frames.
The offices on the second floor are still there. However, new wall coverings have been added. The attic area has been changed a lot over time. Some original metal ceilings are still in the basement. The rest of the basement has been updated.
The drill shed is a large open space. It still has its original wooden floors and brick walls. You can also see the strong steel beams that support the roof.
A Look Back: Armory History
A group of volunteer soldiers started in Hoosick Falls in 1835. They were like a local army.
Civil War and Early Days
These soldiers fought in the American Civil War. They were part of important battles like First and Second Bull Run. In 1885, they became the 32nd Separate Company.
The unit moved into this armory in 1889. It was one of many armories designed by state architect Isaac G. Perry. His armories often looked like medieval castles. But this one was a bit simpler than his later designs.
In 1892, the soldiers were called to help during a strike in Buffalo. Six years later, they volunteered for the Spanish–American War. They became Company M of the 2nd New York Infantry. They stayed in Florida during the war. Many soldiers got sick there, and some sadly died from diseases.
World Wars and Beyond
The unit next saw action in 1916. President Woodrow Wilson called up many National Guard soldiers. This was because of raids by Pancho Villa near the Mexican border. This training helped them get ready for World War I the next year.
They joined with a unit from Troy. They became Company M of the 105th Infantry. They fought in Belgium with British troops. They attacked a strong German defense line called the Hindenburg Line. They faced many dangers there.
One soldier, First Lieutenant William B. Turner, was very brave. He took out enemy machine gun nests by himself. He was given the Medal of Honor after he died. When the soldiers who died returned home, their bodies were honored at the armory.
In October 1940, the unit was called up again. This was before the United States entered World War II. They were now Company A of the 105th. They fought in 1943 at Makin Atoll in the Pacific. Later, they fought alongside the Marines at Saipan and Okinawa. After the war ended in 1945, they returned home.
Changes and Closure
After World War II, the unit changed. It became an armored unit, meaning they used tanks. The Hoosick Falls unit became Company C of the 205th Armored. In 1970, they became part of the 210th Armored.
Fewer soldiers joined the unit over time. Also, not many people in the community used the armory building. So, it closed for a year in 1980. But it reopened because the community still needed the space.
In 1993, the unit changed again to the 101st Cavalry (Armor). This unit was sent to Iraq. After they returned in 2006, the unit was closed down. The armory then stopped being a military facility.
Today, the Hoosick Falls Armory is a busy community center. It helps bring people together in the village.
