FIRST REGIMENT ARMORY, 0. N. 0. 870
It should be provided with modern guns, one hundred feet wide, with bastions on
or gatlings, and the authorities owe it opposite corners. The roof is supported
to the people and the members of the bat- from the sides by heavy cross beams and
tery, to properly equip them for the ser. iron rods, giving a drill room on the
vice they may be called upon to render, second floor the entire sizo of the build
To the added interest in military af- ing, free from posts or other obstructions,
fairs at the time of the organization The lower floor is divided into two scc
of K Company is due the present high tions by a wide assembly hall, running
state of efficiency of the regiment To two-thirds of the way back from tho
this company belongs the credit of so- entrance on Ninth street Tho remain
curing the splendid armory building il- ing third is partitioned off for tho Tort
lustrated on page 831. In the summer land Light Battery, with a large entrance
of 1886, seven members of the company, on 0 street On the left of the assem
Captain Beebe, Lieutenant Ladd, John bly hall are a large room for the Roard
0. Lewis, W. B. Ayer, H. J. Corbett of Officers, and five company rooms, oo
F. R. Strong and F. K. Arnold were ap- cupied respectively by A, E, 0, 1 and K
pointed a committee on armory. The companies. On the right are tho library,
committee prepared a petition to the headquarters room, non-commissioned
county court, which was presented by staff room, two company rooms, band
Messrs. Strong and Arnold, and sup- room and a largo drill room for squads,
ported by Mr. Strong in a brief argu- In the center of tho building is tho
ment showing that it was cheaper for magazine for storing ammunition. The
the county to build an armory than to rooms are all suitably furnished, at
pay monthly allowances, besides placing the expense of tho regiment, some of
the militia in a better condition for ser- the companies having gono to consider
vice. Judge Catlin held that the conn- able expense in furnishing and docorat
ty had no authority to purchase proper- ing their quarters, which present an ap
ty and build an armory. A bill to ac- pearanco of eleganco and comfort which
complish this end was drawn up, and is extremely inviting to tho visitor. Tho
passed the legislature early in 1887, an- citizens expect much from a regiment so
thorizing counties to build armories in elaborately provided for, and they will
towns of more than ten thousand peo- not bo disappointed, as it is. combed
pie. Under this law, the county com- of as fine a body of men as can bo found
missioners, Judge John Catlin, Hon. in the National Guard of any stato. It
H. W. Corbett and J. A. Newell pur- is in most excellent hands, its field ofli-
chased the half block on C street, be- cers (seo portraits on page 832) king
. . ...
tween Ninth
tract for
llwaH v VMS vu - ( t inin 1 I
nvercom- where he was born in 1819, and wnero
ing the most formidable obstacles and ho entered into business npon compteU
discouraging delays, the final arrange- ing his education. In lebruary, 1H7I,
menU with the court being perfected by he enlisted in the famous Seventh Regi-
Captain Beebe, Captain Farrar, Lieuten- ment, National Guard, Btato of hvw
ant Arnold and Mr. H. J. Corbett York, from which he wulioimU; d,s-
The armory is a compactly built brick charged in August 1878, after nearly
structure, with a solid foundation of eight years of service, November
stone. It is two hundred feet long and 1878, he wpj appointed Aido do Camp,
and Tenth, and let the con- men of largo ana vanca experience.
the present building at $30,000. Tho commandant Colonel Charles i .
nf tho AnmnritfoA in secnr ncr Beebe, is a native oi iiow iur