Paterson Armory facts for kids
The Paterson Armory was a large building in Paterson, New Jersey. It was used by the New Jersey National Guard as an armory, which is a place where soldiers train and store military equipment. It also served as a public arena for many events.
The building, located at 461-473 Market Street, was very old and in poor condition. On November 10, 2015, a big fire caused a lot of damage. Soon after, the armory began to be taken down. Some special parts, like the keystone above the entrance, might be saved and given to the Paterson Museum.
In 2017, the city made it easier for new projects to happen on the site. This was to encourage new shops and homes to be built there. By 2018, there were talks about selling the land to build new structures, possibly keeping some historical parts of the old armory.
Contents
Building a Historic Fortress
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 placed on Memorial Day in 1894. It was built for the state's Second Regiment of soldiers. The armory was finished in 1896. It was a huge, three-story building made of brick and steel. It looked like a fortress or a castle, with parts that looked like castle battlements (called crenellated).
Soldiers from this armory went to fight in several wars. These included the Spanish–American War, World War I, and World War II. The armory housed a military unit until 1956.
More Than Just a Military Base
The armory was also a popular place for public events. It was used for large meetings during the 1913 Paterson silk strike. It also hosted circuses, concerts, and exciting boxing matches. Even basketball games were played there.
A famous comedian named Lou Costello grew up in Paterson. Before he became famous, he won a contest at the armory. He was imitating Charlie Chaplin! The military stopped using the building in March 1983. After 1990, the building was empty. It was later sold to a private owner. Then, the city took it over because taxes were not paid.
Hopes for the Future
Over the years, many people wanted to bring the armory back to life. In the late 1900s, there were ideas 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 restoring the armory.
Some plans for a big sports center would have cost nearly $40 million. But even basic repairs were estimated to cost about $9.8 million. People became more interested in fixing the building 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 water damage inside. Even though the building was strong, it needed a lot of work. This included removing harmful materials like asbestos. New fire escapes, electricity, and plumbing were also needed.
There was a plan to turn it into a modern, green recreation and community center. This was hoped to help reduce crime among young people. A survey in 2009 found the site was clean from pollution. In November 2009, people voted to approve $1.2 million for the restoration project.
A city councilman named Julio Tavarez imagined it as a fun center for the community. The armory also served as a shelter during the 1903 New Jersey hurricane, housing 1200 people. When it couldn't be used during Hurricane Irene (2011), the Mayor of Paterson Jeffery Jones said its potential as a shelter was another reason to fix it.
In 2018, Mayor Andre Sayegh announced a new plan. A builder named Charles Florio offered $3 million for the site. He plans to build 138 luxury homes there. This could transform the old armory site into something new and exciting for Paterson.
Images for kids
-
Exterior walls were little damaged by fire
-
Fire burned through the drill floor
-
Demolition in progress
-
Keystone, a special stone at the top of an arch
-
Strong, elegant arched "bones" of the building
-
Curved wall and roof frame members of the drill floor
