–by Matt Liptak
The New York Army National Guard (http://www.dmna.state.ny.us/nyarng.htm) armory at 184 Connecticut Street in Buffalo is a treasured part of the West Side community. The massive building stands in a section of the city that has seen an economic downturn http://www.answers.com/topic/rust-belt)and a rise in vandalism, but it remains untouched by graffiti.
"Some people have worked in this building all their lives,"said Maj. Dan Walther of the NY Army National Guard's 153rd Troop Command, “The neighborhood is very supportive. The people in the area tend to respect this building very much."
The armory (http://ah.phpwebhosting.com/a/conn/184/tc.html) was built in the 19th century, devastated by fire in the 20th, and has entered the dawn of the 21st century with the Guard undergoing major transition. But the Guard’s relationship with the West Side didn’t begin well. According to the booklet “Connecticut Street Armory Centennial” by Warren R. Baltes in the 1890s many West Side residents spoke out against the construction of the armory, fearing it would lower local property values. Others thought the land should be used for a park.
Finally, in 1895, legislation was passed to make the armory a reality, Baltes wrote. The massive building was designed by architects Isaac Perry and Capt. William Lansing for under $1 million.The cornerstone was set on July 4, 1898 during the Spanish-American War.
Eight decades later, on the evening of July 12, 1982 a fast moving fire of unknown origin devastated the building. This time the neighborhood’s reaction was very different. In a press release from the Guard’s , Maj. Gen. Vito J. Castellano
(http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE5DA1730F93AA15757C0A960948260) wrote
“People actually cried. There were statements like a chunk out of my life, like a death in the family. The fire may have challenged the belief that the armory’s walls were impregnable, but certainly not the will of the community. The architectural beauty of the structure pales next to the beauty of the people in its neighborhood.”
Buffalonians didn’t give up on the armory when it was down and out. Instead of knocking down the ravaged structure they demanded the state repair it. The state appropriated almost $5 million for the project,. Walther is impressed by what was accomplished.
“They brought stone masons in from Italy,” he said “They did such fine work that you don’t even see the changes.”
The neighborhood’s strong bond to the armory and the soldiers housed there continues to be a strong one. Karyn Brade works at the Wilson Farms food store across the street from the building. She said she likes working next to the armory. She has gone to a wedding reception held in the Guard’s home, and called the building beautiful “inside and out.”
“They help out with the community,” she said "they must like our store because they come in every day.”
Guard units at the armory have been keeping very busy. They are involved in operations overseas in the war on terror http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/20010920-8.html), and also helping Buffalo recover from the Oct 13, 2006 snowstorm. Task Force 6 oversaw the Guard’s involvement in the storm emergency. In addition to those activities the units are undergoing structural changes.
“The armory houses several New York Army National Guard units,” Walther said “From engineers and communications, to medical and command and control. We have new units moving in and other units that have moved out. The war on terror is moving the Army into a more mobile type of force. We do support all units overseas.”
Armory facilities are open to be rented by the public too. The buildings halls have seen many celebrations, including the wedding of NFL Hal of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. But there is one possible drawback to rentals there, Walther said: When duty calls, revelers will be removed to make room for Buffalo’s soldiers.
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