Paterson Armory facts for kids
The Paterson Armory was a large building in Paterson, New Jersey. It served two main purposes: it was a facility for the New Jersey National Guard, which is a part of the U.S. military, and it was also a popular arena for public events. The building was located at 461-473 Market Street.
For many years, the armory was not used and fell into disrepair. On November 10, 2015, a big fire badly damaged the building. By November 16, 2015, the armory was being taken down. Some special decorations, like the keystone from the arch at the entrance, were saved. These pieces were given to the Paterson Museum so people could still see them.
In January 2017, the city made it easier for new projects to happen on the armory site. This was to encourage new businesses and homes to be built there. By July 2018, the city announced that the armory site might be sold for new construction. The plans included keeping some historical parts of the old building.
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Building the Paterson Armory
Paterson was the first city in New Jersey to ask for an armory to be built. This happened after a new law was passed in 1889. The land for the armory was originally 12 city lots. Passaic County gave this land to the state.
The first stone of the Paterson National Guard Armory was laid on Memorial Day in 1894. It was built for the state's Second Regiment of soldiers. The armory was finished in 1896.
Armory's Design and Size
The armory was a huge building, about 53,800 square feet. It had three stories and was made of brick and steel. It looked a bit like a fortress or a castle with its crenellated (castle-like) roofline. The building was located on 1.2 acres in Downtown Paterson.
Military and Community Uses
Soldiers from the armory were sent to fight in important wars. These included the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. A military unit, which was part of the old Second Infantry, was based there until 1956. The military last used the building in March 1983.
The armory was also a busy place for the community. It hosted rallies during the 1913 Paterson silk strike. It was also used for circuses, concerts, boxing matches, and basketball games. A famous comedian named Lou Costello, who grew up in Paterson, once won a contest there by imitating Charlie Chaplin. The building was not used at all after 1990. It was later sold to a private owner, but then the city took it back because of unpaid taxes.
Efforts to Save and Re-use the Armory
In the late 1900s, many ideas came up for what to do with the armory. One idea was to use it for sports. Lou Duva, a famous boxing trainer from Paterson, thought it would be a great place for a boxing club. The city's parking authority even looked into plans to fix up the armory.
Plans for a Community Center
Some plans suggested turning it into a large sports center, which would have cost almost $40 million. However, money was found for basic repairs, estimated at $9.8 million. Interest in fixing the building grew after the city council said no to selling it to a storage company.
A study in 2008 estimated that fixing the armory would cost $12 million. The roof leaked, causing a lot of water damage inside. Even though the building's main structure was strong, repairs would need to include removing asbestos (a harmful material) and adding new fire exits, electrical systems, plumbing, and air conditioning. The plan was to create a modern, eco-friendly recreation and community center. This was seen as a way to help reduce problems like juvenile delinquency. A survey in 2009 found that the site was clean and safe.
Community Support and New Development
In November 2009, people voted to approve $1.2 million in funding for the restoration project. City councilman Julio Tavarez imagined it as a fun recreation and entertainment center for the city. The armory had even been used as a shelter for 1200 people during the 1903 New Jersey hurricane floods. When it couldn't be used during Hurricane Irene, Mayor Jeffery Jones pointed out its potential as a shelter as another reason to fix it.
On June 24, 2018, it was announced that Mayor Andre Sayegh agreed to sell the Paterson Armory site for $3 million. A developer named Charles Florio planned to turn the site into a complex with 138 luxury homes.
See also
Images for kids
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Demolition in progress
