A TALE OF TWO ARMORIES:
PRESERVATION POLITICS IN NEW YORK CITY
by
Cristina R. Nelson
B.A. Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
(1977)
Submitted to the Department of
Urban Studies and Planning
in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirement of the
Degree of
MASTER IN CITY PLANNING
at the
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
May 1985
c
Cristina R. Nelson
The author hereby grants to M.I.T. permission to reproduce and to
distribute copies of this thesis document in whole or in part.
Signature of Author
Department of Urban Studies and Planning
May 28, 1985
Certified by
(4
Robert M. Fogelson
Thesis Supervisor
Accepted by
Phillip L. Clay
Chairman MCP Committee
gisISL
Jl
c/
11I 1985
Rotch
A TALE OF TWO ARMORIES:
PRESERVATION POLITICS IN NEW YORK CITY
by
CRISTINA R. NELSON
Submitted to the Department of Urban Studies and Planning
on May 28, 1985 in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of Master of City Planning
ABSTRACT
The fates of two National Guard armories are examined. The Squadron A
armory, with the exception of its
front wall, was demolished in the
1960's and replaced by a public school and playground.
This followed
a spirited debate over what should be built
on the site.
The Seventh
Regiment armory was declared a landmark by the City and State of New
York, and by the federal government.
It is still
standing, despite
efforts by real estate interests to acquire and re-use the highly
desirable site.
As background, a short history of the historic preservation movement,
and of the forces that led to the building of the armories in the 19th
Century, are presented.
Special attention
is paid to the political
and social pressures which affected the status of each armory.
Thesis
Supervisor:
Title:
Dr. Robert M. Fogelson
Professor of Urban Studies and History
This thesis
is
whose support was
Robert
M.
judicious
this
dedicated
loving and unwavering;
--
Fogelson
critiques
were
patience,
invaluable
in
Reynolds,
and to my thesis
indulgence,
good
the development
thanks go to my readers,
Boyer,
who provided
Louise
Dunlap,
guidance
who provided
and to Carol Escrich,
duty.
his
Leonard D.
Jr.,
advisor,
humor,
and writing
and
of
paper.
My special
whose
to my husband,
typing and editing
and
Marx and Christine
encouragement
ample support
Mary Grenham,
efforts
Gary T.
along the
way;
to
during the writing process;
Meg Gross,
and Jackie
LeBlanc,
were above and beyond the call
of
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ......................................................
1
Chapter I .....................................................
4
Armories Come Under City Control
Chapter II ........................................................... 15
Historic Preservation
Chapter III....................................................... 32
The Squadron A Armory
Chapter IV
.....................................................
48
The Seventh Regiment Armory
Conclusion ......................................................
59
Bibliography ...................................................
65
Notes on Methodology............................................
67
INTRODUCTION
Late
in
National
armory,
March
1966,
in
Guard officials
preparation
for demolition,
New York
removed the cornerstone of the Squadron A
a grand and imposing building on the corner of 94th Street and
Madison Avenue in Manhattan.
For more than seventy years the cornerstone proclaimed "Boutez en
Avant" ("Charge Forward")
to
tear
from the Kaiser-Nelson Steel
trusses,
uniforms.
the
after
armory was
being
razed with
Madison Avenue
riding hall
the ones in
the Gare
cut by acetylene
the exception of
St.
torches.
estate
interests
proposed
entered the premises,
interiors,
The
were built
the state,
designed
ford White,
to
The
fell
whole
demolish
onto
of
the
of the
and
1980,
Seventh
by,
among others,
the
Louis
It
still
Squadron A,
the years 1880 and 1910,
fears
of
class
warfare
1
when
Regiment
No demolition crews ever
in
Comfort
stands
tumbling
landmark status
and the federal government.
Seventh Regiment,
between
the
fate in
through the years been given
have never been bruised.
unrest
Lazare,
no majestic walls or trussing ever came
This building has
by the city,
clad in
facade.
armory, at 66th Street and Park Avenue.
labor
had been
the wall and turrets
Another armory was threatened with the same
down.
of the roof
Now the pounding came as sections of steel
so reminiscent of
floor
real
Corporation began
the removal
Once
East
demoli-
by the hoofs of horses ridden by Guardsmen colorfully
their regimental
the
and Salvage
armory's riding hall.
Upper
of the cornerstone,
the building down, starting with
timbers over the
pounded
passing by the
Shortly after the removal
Side structure.
tion crews
to New Yorkers
Its exquisite
Tiffany and
104 years
Stanlater.
and many other armories
a period
the
United
of increasing
States.
These
buildings
invariably
building
style
warfare
felt
was
same
ing
fortifications
threats
were declared
grandeur,
that
beauty,
were no calls
though,
of
the
perhaps
felt
fear
and
and historical
under
to build similar
look-
transferred
significance
became obsolete;
from
been
such
of
to save it;
this type of
always
of class
they were
some of these armories
by preservationists
had
of the
This
pagan hordes.
seldom been met with any protest
most
They
Middle Ages.
the
The Squadron A armory is one of those.
or no precedent for
conditions
of the
prompted Norman signeurs
surplus property
of New York.
castles
classes.
against
Eventually,
the
probably a manifestation
by the upper
the
City
resembled
action.
that plans
or second
State
to
the
Despite
the
the structure,
indeed
The
there was
real
estate
to demolish
thought.
It
armory had been demolished that there
towards preserving the Madison Avenue facade.
they
there
little
market
property had
was only after
was a movement
That section of the
armory is still standing.
Proposals
for
the
required demolition.
of
They included
middle income housing,
park.
re-use
the
site
were
recommendations
a combination of both,
These proposals,
varied,
luxury housing,
and the arguments about
school
virtues
integration,
of building
middle
on elite
unfruitful.
to
over
luxury housing rather
income housing,
Efforts
dominance
and on the
demolish
A proposal
or
change
the
for the re-use
half after the Squadron A proposals.
Seventh
of the
site
and a
the merits of each,
Debates focussed
the non-elite,
than government
pressing need
all
to build a school,
highlighted some of the prominent issues of the day.
on
and
for urban open
Regional
on
the
funded
space.
armory were
came a decade and a
The armory had always been owned
2
by the regiment,
and thus had never been declared
surplus.
proposal was put forth by a real estate development
for erecting a high rise
to
the
feeble
voice
this
proposal
Armory,
hotel-luxury
apartment
of preservationists
in
caused a veritable
preservation initiatives.
However,
a
firm, which called
complex.
In contrast
the case of the Squadron A
storm of controversy
and
Within three months, the proposal
of
was
abandoned.
The
prominent
issues
in
this
debate
were
servation versus real estate development.
of the one in
hood
the
1964,
residents
real
estate
and
because it
pitted
preservationists)
developers.
those of historic
pre-
The debate was the converse
one group of elites
versus
The elite/non-elite
another
(neighbor-
group
conflict
of
elites,
present
in
the debate over the Squadron A armory did not exist in the debate over
the
Seventh
I will
not.
Regiment
armory.
explore the paradox of why one armory was saved and one
This exploration
will
examine
various
and historic preservation.
3
issues
in
urban
politics
CHAPTER I:
On February 20,
recovered
Queens,
ARMORIES COME UNDER CITY CONTROL
1964,
from the State of New York four
one in
Brooklyn,
at 94th Street
and
two
in
surplus armories,
Manhattan,
and Madison Avenue,
33rd and Park Avenue.
that it
the City of New York announed
the
had
one in
Squadron A armory,
and the 71st Regiment armory at
At the heart of this
divestiture
was the fact
that these cavernous and forbidding buildings were no
longer needed by
the militia.
This announcement capped four years of testy negotiations between
and state.
the city
in
the
turbulent
Built
years between
and radical
strife
city maintained
1880 and 1910,
agitation engendered
and operated
a
a period
were erected
in which
fear of class warfare.
the armories
Guard units.
took over National
city was allowed
these armories
by the city,
until
1942,
when
labor
The
the state
Under the terms of the agreement, the
as it
to use the properties
saw fit.
The Armory Movement
The heyday of armory building was between 1880 and 1910.
of those armories expected that
sponsors and builders
used
in
ty.
Because riots could happen quickly,
preserving
should be
of
The
they would be
the peace and protecting private and public proper-
located near rapid transit,
they also
to facilitate
felt
that
armories
a speedy assembly
the militia.
Why did
on an essentially
existed
that
thought
could
ask authorities
private military building?
such a degree
society's
citizens
prominent
elite
of
felt
collapse
labor strife
a strong
momentarily
to spend public
The answer is that there
and violence
threat
unless
4
funds
to
its
proper
during that period,
world,
which was
defensive
measures
A historian
were taken.
of the militia
wrote
about
the
turbulent
nature of the times:
"The last thirty years of the nineteenth century were a
period of increasing industrial warfare.
Most of the time
in that conflict, the states maintained law and order by
using the Guard to protect the property of entrepreneurs
from employees organized into unions fnd striking for higher
wages and better working conditions."
The new economy of industrialization
industries made it
consolidate.
necessary
Hence,
the
and the consolidation
for fledgling
last
labor organizations
quarter of the
American labor movement which was struggling
vehicle
to
improve
The
nomic depression.
$9
per week,
workers'
which
situation,
enough
difficult
times,
to strikes,
boycotts,
The year
starting in
strikes
these activities,
struggle
tions
Similar
and
the
and cutbacks.
violence.
its
where
less
than
working condioften brought
These
actions
upheavals
to gain fair
million members was marked
took place
in
as
other unions had,
led
in
at
a series of wage cuts
Many residents joined
the workers
wages
and working
in
The
condi-
by many such confrontations.
Buffalo,
The American Federation of Labor,
Francisco.
was
of eco-
to violent protest.
Pittsburgh,
labor movement
occurrences
hesitate,
of the economy
time
and the result was $5 million worth of damages.
of
for
and sometimes
laborers
1877 saw a wave of bloody and costly
least ten cities,
provoked
layoffs,
for
in
for subsistence;
The cyclical nature
financial
19th century saw an
particularly
tions were abysmal.
to also
to be recognized as a
average weekly wage
was barely
of
to regard
Toledo,
founded
strikes
Chicago,
and
San
in
did
not
1881,
and boycotts
as
legitimate bargaining tools.
The riot
1886,
during
and bombing at Chicago's Haymarket
a demonstration
by anarchists
5
against
place occurred
police
brutality.
in
The
incident
and
tainted the
labor movement with the
labor was regarded
frequent during
brought wage cuts and layoffs.
the
major
railroad
factory workers rebelled
instituted
in
one year.
light of the fact
feeling
that
that
took place
in
which
Pullman's
against the five wage cuts that
had been
as high as
thought it
that
it
by Pullman in
they were before
destruction,
the elite
situation
class
the wage cuts.
was facing a violent,
had never
war was imminent,
his model
and demonstrations by self-
faced before.
especially
a similar state of affairs existed in
in
light of
Europe at that
armories
built
during this
unrest had occurred:
Chicago,
period,
Scranton,
in
cities
St. Louis,
Their purpose was to serve as headquarters for
companies,
to provide an area in
to serve as a social
membership,
abounded
case
in
club.
quasi-
There was a
the fact
time.
The Seventh Regiment and Squadron A armories were just
several
which
1894.
the presence of riot,
revolutionary
the depression of 1893,
that the high rents charged
declared anarchists,
Strikes and
The infamous Pullman strikes,
strikes,
,
These wage cuts were even more painful in
factory town were still
In
of anarchism
with suspicion and hostility.
boycotts were especially
triggered
label
2
two of
where
labor
and many others.
the
local militia
which guardsmen could drill,
and also
Some of the companies were exclusive in
and an atmosphere such as one might find at a men's club
within the elegant
interiors
of some armories.
This was
the
the Seventh Regiment and Squadron A armories.
The armories were built
Montgomery Schuyler
"harking back to [the]
picturesque
purely and
in
a style
which architectural
found imbued with a sense
obsolete,
precedents." 3
simply examples
Schuyler
[and] partly
recognize'd
of poetry, a style
on that account,
that
of military architecture.
6
critic
armories
were
He wrote:
[to]
not
"Most of our armories show some such concessions to past modes of
warfare by way partly of acknowledging their impotence
In the
architecturally
to cope with actual modes of warfare.
main, they suggest warfare of the bow and arrow period, or, at
most of the ballista
and catapult period." 4
The
armories
resembled
of
the
castles
late
of
19th
the
strongholds
of
superiority.
This symbolism
and aims
the
and
early
early
Middle
aristocracy,
of the elite
20th centuries
were
Ages,
invariably
edifices
reminders
of
its
which,
as
power
and
is not a surprising expression of the
of that
fears
time period.
Divestiture of Armories
By
the
1960's,
the old
needs of the militia.
These
armories
needs
were no
included
classrooms
on various topics of emergency preparedness,
store
tanks
by the
large,
ended,
for instruction
and increased space to
modern military equipment.
In
addition,
as demands to train
and house militia
units in
were
three
primary
placed on the militia.
reasons
that
there
were
fewer demands
These were:
1.
labor restored to strategies other than violent strikes,
so there was less labor strife;
2.
the army became larger and more mobile,
police began to deal with labor strife;
3.
the militia
workers
impact
on
threatened
Union,
while
the state
became an adjunct of the military.
Lessened Labor Strife.
ficant
a
location ebbed.
There
way
suited to the
1960's the 50-year-old movement to build armories to look like
fortresses
central
and other
longer
the
The failure of the Pullman strike had a signiAmerican
to strike
headed by Eugene
labor movement.
in 1894,
Debs,
When
Pullman
factory
their union, the American Rail-
refused
unless the company subjected to arbitration,
7
to handle
Pullman cars
which George
Pullman
Various union support eventually resulted
rejected.
all
railroad workers west of Chicago on strike.
being
delayed,
against
the
the
union,
U.S.
and
Attorney
some
two
General
thousand
by President Grover Cleveland to enforce
the mail.
died.
an
led
The strike
leaders,
Court
This
to violent
was broken,
including Eugene
upheld
those
Debs,
sentences,
obtained
essence,
important strike-breaking tool.
an
to Chicago
in
which twelve people
troops.
to prison.
legitimizing
the
In
the government's
addition,
injunction
trade restraints
the
device
disputes with labor.
Union
The Supreme
definition of this and other strikes as illegal
Sherman Anti-Trust Act was
mail was
injunction
sent
by federal
were sentenced
thereby
were
U.S.
injunction and to protect
confrontations
in
having almost
Because
troops
the
in
an instrumental
These government
sanctioned
in
as
under
management's
actions noticibly
weakened the labor movement.
A Larger and More Mobile,
distrust
of a large
was rooted in
Standing Army.
There has been a traditional
the United States.
standing army in
This distrust
a fear that any one sector of society or of government
could accumulate a degree of power sufficient to overwhelm other
sectors.
At the Constitutional
described
a standing
army as an "Engine
so often and so successfully
dom."
5
Convention, delegate Luther Martin
Also indicative
of arbitrary
power,
which has
been used for the subversion of free-
of this
seminal
distaste
for a
large
standing
army were Governor Randolph's comments to the Virginia convention:
"With respect
the
Federal
tution."6
authorized
to a standing army,
I
convention who did not
However,
to call
believe
feel
at the Constitutional
the
state
there
was
indignation
not a member
at such an insti-
Convention,
militias
in
Congress was
for federal service on only
8
to carry out
three grounds:
federal
laws,
to
put down
insurrections,
and to defend against invasion.
Nonetheless,
resulted
in
a larger and
World War I,
The
throughout the years, mobilization
larger
less
Guard
civil
army.
Finally,
during and after
the American standing army reached a sizeable
Militia as a an Adjunct
National
federal
for various wars
inched
to the
by often
Military.
tiny
authorized
a
militiamen
were
force
of
put
on
In
authorized a draft.
important precedent:
50,000
it
towards
surely, the
a more military,
During the War of 1812,
volunteers,
alert.
In
response,
drafted
Slowly but
increments
defense oriented status.
level.
pver
and
1862,
the
a
total
Congress
of
100,000
Confederate
Congress
the Union Congress acted
to set an
160,000 men,
thus
establishing
the right to draft nationally.
By
the post-Civil
Guard had
as
an
shifted
war period,
its
leadership
view of the Guard's mission.
internal (civil)
tegral
the
police
part of the United
force,
Rather than acting
the militia
States armed
forces.
of the National
was seen as an
in-
Mahon writes:
"They considered their system to be an integral part of the
United States military establishment [at the same time considering] the state connection of the Guard to be indispensable to the ultimate security not only of the states, but
also of the nation." 7
The misfeasance
of the
was instrumental
1900,
War Department during
in changing the role
Spanish American War
of the militia.
From 1885 to
Congress was becoming more concerned with the civil
Because of the volatile
its
the
situation in
concern by appropriating
expected
that
that
country,
Congress
$60 million for coastal
forts.
the estimated 100,000 men needed to garrison
defenses would come
from the National Guard.
were only 114,000 men in
the Guard,
However,
that plan necessitated
9
war in
Cuba.
expressed
The army
the coastal
since there
a higher
level of federal coordination
quently,
in
1895,
than had previously
the Guard was assigned a role;
existed.
it
Conse-
would guard the
coastline against invasion.
Unfortunately,
American War.
the
volunteers
They were eager
the training needed
War Department
did
fare
to fight a war in
typhoid,
scarce.
ment
the
to provide this
few doctors
addition,
Spanish
such
as
The
Accommo-
Many volunteers died
were knowledgeable
equipment
but the
training.
problem plaguing the volunteers was long.
because
In
tation.
in
Cuba or the Philippines,
dations were primitive and flooding was rampant.
of
well
to serve, but not only did they lack
lacked the personnel
litany of physical
not
about public
rifles
and
sani-
uniforms,
was
It became clear, as this war progressed, that the War Depart-
was
incompetent,
delinquent
officers.
crippled by
and
staffed by
Congress investigated the situation.
After some
machinations,
political
named after
its
the
sponsor,
antiquated
federalization of the National Guard in
governor's
acceptance
of
resulted
investigation
Major General
federal
methods,
in
the
Dick Act,
It
began the
Charles Dick.
several ways.
aid meant
For instance, a
acceptance
of federal
requirement for the Guard in his state.
The Guard's primary mission
had
of men who
now become
volunteers
The
years.
the
of
The National
level
of military
Guard.
of the
controlled
the National
Defense Act of 1916,
manpower,
It stated
United
the
training
would
serve
as
wartime.
federalization
National
part
in
the peacetime
through the
a measure passed
increased
federal
to raise
power over
the
that the National Guard was an integral
States Army,
states'
Guard continued
disbanding
and mandated
of
their
10
the
units,
length of training,
gave
the
president
power
to assign officers,
an oath of
as well.
loyalty not
and a required
individual
just to their state,
During World
War
I,
individual
was enacted,
lapel
Guard
to
National
Guard
federally
render
finally
was
by the
Defense Act
a component of
of Personnel
of
were met
in
the
up the militia
Guard
-
had
been
force
transformed
to a back-up force
rather
than city
-
stated
in
civil
the
a regiment's presence
of
the
1960's,
the
peace-keeping,
for the army.
oriented
This status as
organization
in
large,
the
During
the control
By
a 1933
that
States Army.
Forces.
from a
army in
which
the United
tended
urban,
and paved the way for the state
to
outmoded
designating
surplus property.
Even before the announcement that
tiate
uniforms
services to fight
regular
1916,
of the Army Service
superfluous,
armories
up.
Service system
War II
necessary to call
absorbed
National
a squadron or
buildings
the Selective
States,
broken
on their
the National Guard Bureau came under
strike-breaking
a
was
the
World War II,
National
longer was it
were
take
the standing army had been established.
amendment
Director
1917,
The manpower demands of World
No
same manner.
The
In
insignia
bringing 2.8 million men into the armed
in World War I.
wartime:
pins.
to
but to the United
state units
Guardsmen were required to discard state
and wear the U.S.
Guardsmen
the transfer
the city and state would nego-
of the armories,
various groups were announcing
plans for the Squadron A armory site.
By the time the armory bill
passed in
1964,
several
groups put forth plans for use of the site,
which will be discussed
later. The assumption
that the amory would be torn down.
this
vious
assumption,
as
several
common to all
plans was
There was nothing unusual about
New York armories
decades.
11
had been
razed
in
pre-
Twenty years
recycling
of buildings,
the building
perfect
real
later
in an era of enthusiastic
perplexing.
light of the proposals
estate conditions which existed
This
was
the
prominent,
and
the
New York Times
headlined,
era
reporting
synonymous
of
of action in
1929,
congested
at
with "demolition."
of the armories
The
was in
fact
Not only did it
not
preservation,
but
regards to armories pointed clearly
in
that
an effort
point" 8
to an unspecified party.
"to widen Park Avenue,
In
1956,
the
Lincoln
Square
been designed
the wrecker's
ball
addition,
of constant
atmosphere
in
to be impregnable
July
redevelopment
as will
building
The building
from outside
be noted in
more detail
and re-building
in
existed in
The destruction
was
not
unusual.
dealing with expansion within the
and crowded.
attack
fell
to
Chapter Two,
the "boom-town"
to make way
This was a traditional
confines
Consequently,
12
a
of a building, a group
or even square blocks of neighborhoods,
new construction,
was attractive
which was very
1958.
of New York Ci-ty.
of buildings,
The armory
for the demolition of the Twelfth Regiment (212th Coast
armory on Columbus Avenue at 61st Street.
In
became
the City of New York sold the old 71st Regiment armory
called
Artillery)
that had
buildings
demolition.
was to be razed
state
re-use
the disposal
at Park Avenue and 34th Street
project
adaptive
that the Squadron A armory necessitated
the previous pattern
In
New York.
"Four Armories Here Face Demolition."
occur to anyone
towards
before
Yet the assumption made
that were put forth and of the
in
word "dispose" was
story
widespread
the existence of the unanimous assumption that
would be razed is
sense in
and
of
Manhattan.
for
method of
Manhattan
land prices had consistently
gone upwards since at least
the
Squadron A armory,
I loosely
the
chance
to put
large (nearly one acre)
term "civic-oriented"
which they could enlist
forth their
this
parcels.
site
is
quired a
plans.
large
The
and creativity
civic
more schools,
whether
and more parks,
land area.
13
took
groups advoca-
agencies)
size of the
for
jumped at
site
would
not often available with
Another reason for the high degree of interest
that there was a need,
more housing,
site,
proposals (proposals
help from different
afford a degree of flexibility
smaller
In the case of
when the city and not a private developer
ownership of a unusually
ting what
the turn of the century.
real
or perceived,
developments
in
for
which re-
FOOTNOTES:
CHAPTER ONE
1.
John K. Mahon, History of the Militia
York: Macmillan Publishing Company,
2.
The Second Paris Commune, with all
its
anti-capitalist
rhetoric,
Despite ferocious repression activities
was established in 1871.
on the part of the bourgeoisie, by 1880 many countries had
socialist
parties, all
Marxist in inspiration.
3.
Architectural
4.
Ibid.
5.
Mahon,
6.
Ibid, p. 48.
7.
Ibid, p. 118.
8.
New York Times,
Record,
April
1906,
p.
and the National
1983), p. 264.
259.
History of the Militia and the National Guard,
March 12,
1929.
14
Guard
p.
48.
(New
CHAPTER II:
The
tion,
tearing
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
down of old buildings,
to make way
for new projects,
This often
American society.
such as the
has been a constant
thoughtless
demolition
heritage led eventually to institutionalized
In
the
early years of the
the old with the new in
tions
led people
alized
especially
an economic
building and rebuilding.
tion of familiar
ordinary.
The
highest
buildings
to
save
land
In
the
economic
relentless
theme
of our
slated
longing
them occurred.
to replace
condi-
In an industri-
longing
for better
the destruc-
and had
When the most majestic
sporadic
Occasionally,
and well
protests
and
these preservation
was disappearing,
flourish.
It
even though the rest
1980's
preservation
organizational
instrumental
the preservation
progressed to the point in
able
to
save
the
historic
movement began to
the early
facade of
network,
so firmly entrenched
and as a popular
the
Coincident-
the
1960's that preSquadron
A armory,
of the buildings had been demolished.
was
in
attempts
efforts met
with an awakening by New Yorkers to the fact that their
were
loved
throughout most of New York's history,
environment
the
to be put to
move to replace old with new overwhelmed them.
servationists
physical
and social
this "boom town" atmosphere,
for demolition,
in
took the form of constant
they occupied was valuable,
and best use.
were
sense,
ques-
landmarks was neither unexpected nor out of
with success. More often,
al
States,
further and further west.
in
in
preservation activities.
and urban area such as New York City the
conditions,
its
United
search of better
to settle
armories
as a movement,
state of mind,
that
By the
as an
it
was
turning back the development plans for the Seventh
Regiment Armory.
15
The Preservation Movement in the United States
The movement
to
the
18th
for historic preservation
An August
Century.
British-American
architect
3rd,
in
1796,
entry
similar sentiments
In
structure.
1816,
the
led to
local
citizens
Society made an unsuccessful
in
purchase
effort
In
1834.
in
1856,
of
the
attempt
to
were
The Rhode
save
the
tone for the next several
decades
Legislature
site,
victorious
Caddington
the Hermitage.
The
successful
headed by Miss
ancestral
on the site,
Instead of relying
or on the generosity
effort to secure the necessary funds.
and it
still
home
from
set the
of preservation activity.
on a state
or
of a benefactor,
Miss Cunningham's Ladies Association was a well-organized
Vernon,
in
authorized the
to put a hotel
was a novel one.
of the
Every decade
Governor
to save George Washington's
a group of businessmen who wanted
purchase
of
Island Historical
1858 by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association,
Their tactic
diary
to save an important
Philadelphia
Tennesse
of Andrew Jackson's home,
Ann Pamela Cunningham,
city's
the
Virginia.
attempts
their efforts to save Independence Hall.
home
in
Benjamin Latrobe expresses sorrow at the
impending destruction of an old manor house in
or two,
the United States dates
private
The Association purchased Mount
owns and maintains
it
to this day.
An important preservation effort of the 1870's was the successful
fight
to save the Old South Meeting House in
By the
built
1870's,
the building was doomed.
a new church in
Old South stood,
Boston,
in
1729.
Not only had its congregation
the Back Bay section,
but the land upon which
near Newspaper Row and the financial
extremely valuable.
built
district,
was
Sentiment to save the historic edifice, where the
Boston Tea Party meetings had been held, ran high, fueled as it was by
the
oratory
of Wendell
Phillips.
Demolition was dramatically halted
16
at the last moment.
A subscription drive raised
to purchase the building.
effect on
fledgeling
funds soon thereafter
This preservation fight had an important
preservation
movements.
It inspired preserva-
tion-minded people facing similar situations in their communities,
it
demonstrated
It
odds.
that idealism could win over seemingly
also caused citizens to notice,
other historic structure
in their city,
and
insurmontable
perhaps for the first time,
and to push for their restora-
tion or protection.
The early 20th century saw another important milestone in the
history of the preservation movement,
Sumner Appleton
founded
for it
the Society
England Antiquities in Boston.
for
was in
1910 that William
the Preservation of New
The SPNEA differed from historical or
patriotic societies such as the Mount Vernon Ladies Association.
Instead of saving only
patriotic associations,
those buildings
or
beauty and uniqueness.
Further-
these buildings were kept in use and not used merely as museums.
In
the 1920's,
area-wide
restoration efforts began
burg, the old capital of Virginia.
Bruton Parish,
and
historical
Appleton's SPNEA purchased and restored build-
ings on the grounds of architectural
more,
with clear
the Rev.
the parish house,
in
Williams-
The rector of Williamsburg's
William Goodwin,
had restored
his own church
and aspired to preserve the entire town.
He
succeeded in enlisting the financial help of John D. Rockefeller,
Jr..
In
the
1927,
Rev.
Goodwin began purchasing
property,
and
in
1928
restoration plan for more than 200 properties was announced.
This
project had no American precedent in both scale and concept, but
served as an inspiration of sorts for the fabrication of Henry
Greenfield Village
near Dearborn,
Michigan.
17
Ford's
Whereas Williamsburg had
once been a thriving and vital
create
town,
the "typical" 19th century
on exhibit.
village
Period buildings were
site
to Greenfield Village;
were
ignored.
structures
displayed
Village
attempted
to
in which a synthetic past is
either
This "well-walled
Muir Whitehill,
Greenfield
built
or moved
not relevant
illusion",
in
a totally
prefabricated
situation
of the
from another
to the project
the words of Walter
and
synthetic
environment.
The
dismal
chapter
in
employment
the history
of
the
preservation
Building Survey
in
1931.
in
documentation was a cooperative
National
diverse
tion
Trust.
as
up
the
The
Society
the decades
effort
to come.
involving
of Architectural
survey had a wide
1700's.
Later
scope.
It
preservationists
information when trying to justify
The 1930's
continued
the Historic
also marked
lished in
South Carolina,
1931.
Rockefeller
Charlestown
and
topics
The
it
as
a
of the historic
a special
committee,
of
preservation
funded
and to assist
By 1947,
Its mandate
in
the Historic District.
18
was
by the
on over
a Historic
to
educate
their preservation.
also created a revolving loan fund with the
lay outside
base
first of these districts was in
incorporated.
these buildings,
that
as
saving a building.
Charleston buildings.
was
the
Swedish explora-
and Carnegie foundations commissioned reports
Foundation
people about
buildings
addressed
Insti-
whose Old and Historic District was estab-
Furthermore,
1,000 other unprotected
frame-
This effort at
Historians,
used
the beginning
use district movement.
Charleston,
American
the American
historic buildings dealing with Dutch and
to
Unemployed
This document provided an evaluative
work for preservation activity
of Architects,
led to another
movement.
were hired by the WPA to conduct
architects
tute
1930's
It
intent of preserving
By 1961,
the HCF
had bought 26 pieces of property,
for
renovation
by other
"return buildings
the
which were either
parties.
The
to dignified uses,
Charleston
renovated
concept
even though
they are
or sold
has been to
not
always
envisioned by their builders."1
purposes
Historic Preservation Legislation
The War Department was the first
The earliest
preservation.
military
federal agency to be involved in
federal attempts to commemorate great
men and the ground upon which they fought (or in which they
were buried)
was
inspired by a sense of competition
way of commemorating its heroes.
derived
from
those
of
the
In turn,
with the
European
the European practices were
legendary military
cultures
of
Greece
and
Rome.
Congress
It
passed
established
estate
the National
the Arlington
by the same name,
The estate,
located near
opportunistic
choice
Battlegrounds
National
which had been
on the
for
the
Federal
choosing
al
served
this Act also
the historic preservation business.
in
grounds
owned by Mrs.
the Antietam battlefield,
expediency and symbolism in
cemetery,
Cemetery
and Cemetery
1862.
of
Robert E.
the
Lee.
was a symbolic and
government.
Despite
this
the Arlington estate as a nation-
to place
the Federal
government in
A growing concern for military
history led eventually to the preservation of several
sites
associated
with battles.
In 1906,
Congress passed
establishment of national
dential
proclamation,
the Lacey Act.
monuments on federal
It
provided
property by Presi-
and has a strong archeological
particular Act resulted in
the establishment
19
for the
bent to it.
This
of the Mesa Verde Nation-
al
Park in
Colorado,
American cliff
which contains
dwellings
in
The year 1916 saw the
some of the best
ments
of acres
on
holdings
of
Native
the United States.
creation of the National
the aegis of the Department of the Interior.
millions
preserved
land,
but also
the
It has acquired not only
historic buildings
land which has come under its
control.
include
battlefields,
monuments,
cemeteries,
Park Service under
and monu-
The Park Service
and
the
White
House.
The
National
Historic Sites Act of 1935 institutionalized
and more complex aspects of preservation.
a
national
historic
policy
of
preservation
sites and buildings,
Because
ficance.
for
sites,
Survey
preservation
efforts
for the development
and encouraged
public
the Secretary
conducted
on
solid
four years
footing.
of educational
co-operative
Buttressed
of
the
in
only
for
signi-
Interior to
parks adminis-
by the Historic Amerithis Act placed
addition,
programs
preservation
not
of national
previously,
In
announced
use,
a majority of them were in
tered by the National Park Service.
can Building
legislation
but also for objects
this Act empowered
designate historic
This
broader
the Act
historic
arrangements
called
preservation,
between
states,
and even with Canada and Mexico
Congress
1949.
created
the
Trust for
Inspired by England's National
public participation
Trust
National
to
in
site
receive donations
administer
them
this
preservation.
legislation
It
of significant
sites
also
and
in
provided
empowered the
of
funds,
and
to
for public benefit.
The advent in
velopment,
Trust,
Historic Preservation
the
1950's and 1960's of urban renewal and rede-
and of massive
highway construction,
marks and threatened scores of others.
20
In
1959,
destroyed
many
land-
Congress set up the
National Registry of Historic Places,
Building
Survey,
given to
historical
1961
which
further
federal
later,
mandated
and aesthetic
and 1965,
and
the
that
values.
Historic American
official
Under
recognition
the
funds were made available
projects for preservation
Housing
in
projects.
passed the Historic Preservation Act of 1966,
ing preservation
of
urban renewal
The 89th Congress became known as the "Preservation
It
Acts
be
activities
Congress."
declaring
were inadequate
that exist-
to ensure that
future
generations would have an opportunity to appreciate the national
heritage.
ter,
The Historic
Preservation
authorized the Secretary of the Interior
states
and the National
Historic Preservation,
advise
and created
an Advisory
-
recommend
recommend
-
encourage public
tion activities.
Congress, agencies,
on historic preservation legislation;
to
to withhold
since
historic
interest
so much
and
and
individuals
participation
in
landmark destruction
the Transportation
sites by requiring
funds
Regis-
Council on
ways to coordinate preservation activities,
studies in the area of preservation legislation;
addition,
historic
National
to make grants to the
the President,
highway construction,
spare
Trust,
the
whose purpose was to:
-
In
tion
Act expanded
and
preserva-
occurred
Act of 1966 provided
the
Department
for highway programs unless
during
protec-
of Transportation
provisions
were made
to
sites.
Various attempts to save structures or locales in the United
States can be grouped
into stages,
"reason" for preservation.
These
ticular
phy.
stage,
but
weave
Consequently,
they
each with an overriding theme,
themes are not confined
themselves
are
throughout
integral
21
themes
preservation
in
modern
a
to a parphiloso-
preservation
The eminent preservationist
attempts.
Whitehill
defined
these
stages
1)
associative
3)
"frozen-in-time" educational
values;
2)
Far from being discrete,
carry forth
The
with buildings
first
appeal
inherent
being
physical
values;
these
predicated
Walter
Muir
on the grounds of
and architectural
beauty;
and 4) historic continued use.
stages overlap and elements of them
to this day.
earliest
exemplified
as
and historian,
preservation
associated
by
were,
with great
the attempts
to preserve
efforts
to
save
by and
large,
people or events.
Mount
Vernon.
the estate contained
the
concerned
This
was
Miss Cunningham's
following
passage:
"Can you be still with closed souls and purses, while the
world cries 'Shame upon America,' and suffer Mount Vernon,
with all
its
sacred association,
to become, as is spoken
of and probable, the seat of manufacturers and manufacturies?...Never!
Forbid it,
shades of the dead!" 2
The appeal
Washington
to preserve
(the
another building
Hasbrouck House
served as his headquarters)
in
Newburgh,
exemplifies
the
associated
with George
NY,
for
which,
strength
a time,
of associative
values in preservation efforts:
"...how much more still the flame of patriotism burn in
our bosoms when we tread the ground where was shed the
blood of our fathers, or when we move among the stones
where were conceived their noble achievements.
[The visitor to this
site]
will
feel himself a better
man; his
patriotism
will
kindle with deeper emotion; his aspirations of his country's good will ascend from a more devout
mind for having visited
the 'Headquarters of Washington.' "3
The
pleas
oratory.
South
to
Britain."
the
Old
South
Church rang with
the
same
Harvard President Charles Eliot reminded people that the Old
Church was
it...our
save
forefathers
loved because of "the
[who
resisted]
famous men associated
the
4
22
fearful
power
of
with
Great
The subsequent
buildings
stage of preservation concerned
on architectural
associative
criteria
Appleton
of New
stated
England
and/or aesthetic
the mandate
Antiquities
also
of the
with saving
grounds.
was by no means forgotten,
that
itself
to
the
for William Sumner
Society
extended
However,
for the Preservation
buildings
of historical
importance.
A significant
aspect of the SPNEA's approach was
that buildings should be
"objets
d'art,"
preserved
Weston,
ty
to be
through
advocates
houses
The
of preservation
next
stage
activity
Williamsburg
is
unless
changed
the
it
serves
"frozen-in-time"
from saving
a building,
a
that
took (and
is
continues
stage.
a complex,
self-contained
as has been mentioned,
the
town was capital
of
word "preservation" is
a misnomer in
major buildings needed
to complete the period
preservation
This utili-
environ-
Williamsburg.
to
take)
place
The
in
concerned with turning back the clock to the 18th
during which
structed.
in
and reconstruction of Williamsburg
of preservation,
prime example,
preservation
century,
Tavern
American philosophy which
to preserving and enhancing a whole
The
Smith
town and community offices.
re-creation,
the
ment.
the
are
purpose.
initiated
or a site,
than as
SPNEA properties
instance,
a function of a peculiarly
The preservation,
focus
For
Many
a property's return to the tax rolls
recognizable
attitude
for continued use, rather
merely admired.
occupancy.
Massachusetts,
factor is
saved
its
Whether one
or fabrication,
considers
Virginia.
In
the case of Williamsburg,
fact,
the
as many
setting have been recon-
the Williamsburg experience one of
one cannot deny that it
23
pioneered the
outlook that
an entire unit such
as a town,
district,
or neighborhood
could be preserved.
The
historic
district/continued
previously mentioned
use
Old and Historic
phase,
District
which began
of
with
Charleston
the
project
in 1931,
has been, like Williamsburg, concerned with the preservation
of
large
areas.
in
which people
in any other
The difference
live,
locale.
work,
is
ance,
this effort
deals
with
and carry on with their business,
areas
just as
The purpose of these historic districts, such as
Back Bay and Beacon Hill in Boston,
Beverly/Morgan
that
College Hill in
Park area of Chicago,
is
enhanced by proper improvements
Providence,
not restoration,
or the
but mainten-
and additions.
Goals of the Preservation Movement
What did people active in various phases of the preservation
movement expect to accomplish?
ies of early preservationists
It is obvious by reading the entreatthat they believed if
share some part of George Washington's
contribute
flame.
to its
patriotic
The New York
life,
the public were to
that association
would
education and kindle an inspirational
legislators
who were
in
favor of saving
the
Hasbrouck House hoped that patriotic inspiration engendered by a visit
to
the house
19th
would minimize
Century. This
Andrew H.
Green,
Reservations,
North-South
factionalism of
is exemplified by a statement made
the
while
the
president
addressing
of
the
Commissioners
the New York
State
of
legislature
the mid-
in 1895 by
the
State
on the
subject of preservation:
"It
cannot
objects and
ism to act
of care of
localities
be but that intelligent
administration of these
areas will tend to quicken a spirit
of patriotas an example and stimulus to a higher standard
public grounds...and to cultivate
attachments to
- a most desirable influence to be fostered." 4
24
This "patriotic
was preserved
the building
One,
offered
spirit"
Two,
siderations
it
was preserved because it
the values and harmony of a nostalgic
were
thought to
In
among visitors.
encourage
addition,
people's patriotism.
preservationists
"laugh
Wendell
hoped
War heroes
hope was
Phillips'
or demagogues
at money-rings
past.
good citizenship
a building associated with Revolutionary
could,
for preservation.
of the difficulties
to remind people
faced and conquered by forebears.
exemplified
two reasons
These con-
and
patriotism
that contact with
would
strengthen
that such people
armed with sensual
tempta-
tions. "5
The motivation of preservationists
such as William Sumner Apple-
ton was basically to save buildings of architectural
to re-use them.
Although,
the associative
philosophy,
and
he was not immune to
as I have mentioned,
it
significance
was not of primary importance.
Much
like an archivist retains significant documents for present and future
research,
phases
various
Appleton hoped to retain buildings which represented
of architectural
styles or
which had
original
or unusual
features.
The goal
of the Williamsburg
restoration effort has been to turn
back the clock to a certain period
This restoration
period of its
terested
in
highlights
history.
those
plants,
Century.
Men in
many aspects of
Exhibition buildings
period furniture,
and needlework.
of history and
pottery
preserve
life
breeches
and herbs,
and women in
draw many visitors
in-
and china, metalwares,
which were
long
guides.
25
state.
of that glorious
Crowds are drawn to authentic gardens,
flowers,
its
popular
corseted
glass,
which grow
in
dresses
the 18th
serve
as
The
aim of historic districting
a term preservationists
"bad"
architecture
renovations
is
to
the
is
use to denote
preserved
exterior
as
preservation "tout
a totality
is.
ensemble,"
where both "good" and
For example,
19th Century
of a 17th Century building would be pre-
served and protected to the same extent that the unadulterated 17th
Century
buildings
preserving
visitors
more
are.
There
are
no
claims made
that,
instance,
the configuration of Beacon Hill will make inhabitants
more
noble
valuable
they are all
in
and
patriotic,
or
that
terms of preservation
preserved.
a particular
than the
ones
of historic
districting,
some claims
that historic-districting
total
next
and
building
is
to it,
for
There are no attempts to dress inhabitants in
period costumes or have them grow "correct" herbage.
allowing
for
though,
is
financial.
An unwritten aim
Although there are
lowers
property
values
freedom of action with one's property,
districting
maintains
activities
have engendered.
the
increased
locale extremely attractive
property
values
Furthermore,
districting
in
terms of its
social,
by
dis-
on the whole,
that
preservation
renders
the
architectural,
and
developmental predictability.
The Philosophy of Preservation
The
philosophy
through its
one's
for
culture
and
vocabulary.
ancestral
also
has
One concept
its
most dogmatic,
to save
only
this
preservation
of historic
not
this
buildings,
to maintain
this
these indications
that
26
calls
heritage.
patrimony;
A
this
who have a moral
their property,
significance.
preservation is
concept
of a
al'so to acquaint themselves with its
obligatory
can be examined
the preservation of patrimony,
obligation
to owners
responsibility
movement
is
uncompromised
a moral
extends
profound
preservation
inheritance. At
the unimpaired,
obligation
of the
but
The reason for
of the past
present a powerful physical,
makes an indispensible
Landmarks
rootlessness,
Responsibility
not lie
solely
charged
with
impart
cultural
sibility,
for
preservation
and
with the individual.
initiating and/or
to participate
zoning,
in
establishment
special
regulations
district
tax
a distinctive
educational
Local private
supporting
and many significant
Greenfield
also appeared
of old and
in
from the
of appropriate
agencies,
nine
from the
occasional
Village,
in
New York City.
contains
landmarks.
fund-
enactment
of
and historic
However,
the
post
in
relentless
on pretty
1626,
historic
much
chapter.
and
as
the
1924.
districts,
destruction
unabated
first
American
no buildings from the 17th Century,
Sporadic
efforts
It
wasn't until
succeeded
the late
and sustained effort
This was an urgent
27
time,
for
New York City,
building such as the Van Cortlandt Mansion in
in
respon-
such as
and
it
restored Williamsburg,
legislated
New York went
1960's that an organized
preserving
Furthermore,
The Old South Church,
New England,
and which
18th Century.
Hamilton Grange
are
in New York City
as a trading
1789,
does
standpoint of civic
reasons discussed at the beginning of this
in
to
imper-
activities
preservation via activities
buildings
significant
established
such as
groups also
projects.
The sentiments which saved Mount Vernon,
capital
character
programs.
The Preservation Movement
created
and artistic
such as demolition containment
abatement
This power
and apathy.
the duty of local government,
ing,
to the
power.
and counteract characteristics of modern life
sonality,
is
and spiritual
contribution
aspects of civilization.
an area,
moral,
in
and only
saving
1896,
the
and the
1950's and early
became successful
a period during
in
which
property
speculation
activities)
was becoming
tion of
the
first
New York City,
began
(with
index
its
attendant
an obsession.
of
plaques on
This period
architecturally
and an organization
installing
tearing down
and
rebuilding
saw the
significant
buildings
in
called the New York Community Trust
landmarks.
A temporary Landmarks
vation Commission was appointed by Mayor Robert Wagner in
first,
publica-
the agency had only advisory duties,
which included
Preser-
1961.
At
cataloguing
landmarks, sounding the alert when a historic building was threatened,
and developing preservation
programs with public and private
By 1963,
the Commission had compiled a list
required
landmarking.
of
the Landmarks
statute
The
In
May
1964,
Preservation
was enacted
in
April
the
of 300 buildings
Commission
Commission
law.
perpetuation
use
or use
or appearance
[of
to "provide
landmarks]
of...private
a
draft
This preservation
the Landmarks
Law under a New York State enabling statute
powers
submitted
which
1965.
New York City Council established
which gives cities
agencies.
known as the Bard Law,
for the protection,
which may
property
Preservation
enhancement,
include...control
within public
of
view." 6
The Landmarks Preservation Law seeks to:
(a)
effect and accomplish the protection, enhancement and
perpetuation of such improvements and of districts
which represent or reflect
elements of the city's cultural, social, economic, political
and architectural
history;
(b)
safeguard the city's
historic,aesthetic,
heritage, as embodied and reflected
ments and districts;
(c)
stabilize
tricts;
(d)
foster civic pride
ments of the past;
and
improve
in
property values
and cultural
such improve-
in
such dis-
in the beauty and noble accomplish-
28
the
(e)
protect and enhance the city's attractions
and visitors
and the support and stimulus
and industry thereby provided;
(f)
strengthen the economy of the city; and
(g)
promote the use of historic districts
and landmarks for
the education, pleasure and welfare of the people of
the city.
It
is
present
clear that this
legislation
embodies the various sentiments
in preservation thought.
of the associative
further,
Sections (d)
landmark and
Sections (a)
and (b)
its
reflect
aspects
criteria,
capacity to
inspire
and ennoble
take Appleton's philosophy one step
and mandate preservation
aesthetic
and (g)
philosophy of preservation, by making the tenuous
connection between a
visitors.
to tourists
to business
using not
but also social,
just architectural
political,
and/or
and economic stan-
dards.
Clause (e)
which attracts
continuous
relates to the Williamsburg tradition of preservation,
so many visitors,
use
high property
preservation,
month
and
in
approach
districts.
estate
were
interests
discussed,
maintains
property disposition
declaring
a
property
when each
allowed.
for a
thirty-six
This "truce" was
complained that the LPC could
a
at any time by indicating an
landmark.
to designation was institutionalized
in
This
intermittent
the early days of the
six-month designation period would be followed
month non-designation period.
take place
been
Thereafter,
no further designations
a cloud over
interest
LPC,
historic
because real
create
as has
district/
the Commission designated one hundred and sixty
five
period,
called
which,
reflects
values.
When set up,
buildings
and clause (c)
at any
Presently,
time.
29
however,
by a 36
designation can
The
LPC is
architecture
former
by unsalaried
commissioners
appointed by
These commissioners are usually professionals
the Mayor.
of
administered
and
preservation,
LPC Executive
Director,
those
people
in
whom Alan
the field
Burnham,
called "those best qualified
a
to desig-
nate what should be preserved."7
The
Commission's
Following
hearing.
the
LPC publishes
designations
the hearing,
a report
owner
about designation,
City's
Board
In
its
buildings
of
are
and if
of its
which
made
only
designation
findings.
then must
is
after
a public
still
pursued,
It then notifies the
be
approved
by New York
Estimate.
selection of landmarks,
generally
the LPC does
regarded as landmarks.
not
Rather,
limit
it
itself
to
attempts to
also designate
buildings
In
attempts to bring preservation to various communities,
and
this way,
to tailor
it
it
that are
to the residents'
valued
by
specific
specific needs
30
constituencies.
and desires.
FOOTNOTES:
1.
CHAPTER TWO
Walter Muir Whitehill, "The Right of Cities to be Beautiful," in
U.S. Conference of Mayors, With Heritage So Rich (New York: Random
House,
1966),
p. 46.
2.
Walter Muir Whitehill,
"'Promoted to Glory...' The Origin of
Preservation in the United States," in U.S. Conference of Mayors,
With Heritage So Rich, p. 38.
3.
Ibid.,
4.
Ibid., p. 49.
5.
Charles B. Hosmer, Jr., Presence of the Past: A History of the
Preservation Movement in the United States Before Williamsburg
(New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1965), p. 265.
6.
John Pyke, Jr., Landmarks Preservation
Research Foundation, no date) p. 15-16.
7.
Ibid., p. 16.
p.
37.
31
(New
York:
Citizens
Union
CHAPTER III:
THE SQUADRON A ARMORY
The History of Squadron A
Squadron A was established in
club,
In
calling
1889,
itself
1884 as a private mounted political
the "First New York Hussars"
the Dragoons were incorporated
Guard as Troop or Squadron A.
bers were men of wealth,
It
social
or "First
Dragoons."
into the New York National
was a prestigious
prominence,
unit,
whose mem-
and equestrian prowess.
The troop often escorted Presidents and other dignitaries, the members
sporting
yellow
their
dress
trimmings,
strikes
They also
1900.
were dispatched
blue
topped by busbies decorated
horsehair pompoms.
Streetcar
uniforms of pale
tunics
with gilt
Members of Squadron A saw riot
(1892),
and
served in
at
the
Croton
with black and
duty in
and a year
later,
Belgium and France as the 105th Machine Gun Battalion.
and
the Buffalo
Dam Quarrymen's
the Spanish American War.
to the Mexican border,
insignia
strike
in
In 1916, they
were
sent to
The 105th was
reorganized as the 101st Cavalry after World War I.
The armory was completed in 1895 at the corner of 94th Street and
Madison Avenue.
Aside
from usual
armory housed equestrian activities,
of the indoor riding hall
shows,
Guard
activities,
the
especially after the construction
field.
It
held polo matches,
horse
and mounted military tournaments.
Ironically,
equestrian
101st
and polo
National
it
activities
was partially
which
this
emphasis
led to the decline
on those glorious
of the armory.
The
Cavalry was mechanized in 1942, and the horses owned by the
federal
government were sent
the indoor stables
to Virginia.
were converted
After World War II,
into motor pools,
eventually became obsolete.
32
many of
but even those
Even before
city was
the transfer
finalized,
of the armories
proposals
were
put
from the state
to the
forth regarding
the
for
site.
These
were
to build:
re-use
of
the Squadron A armory site.
Proposals for the Squadron A Armory Site
There were
in
proposals,
a park;
five
basic
order of
luxury housing;
proposals
their prominence
middle
the
and
armory
success,
income housing;
middle
income
housing
combined with a junior high school; and a junior high school.
A Park.
the
71st
Shortest-lived of all
Regiment or
suggested by Eli
Society.
the
Squadron
Jacques Kahn,
proposals,
was one
A armory site
former
into a park.
president
A New York Times editorial
to turn either
of
the
This was
Municipal
echoed those feelings,
Art
stating
that:
"Central Park needs satellites...A
beginning can be made by
turning (either
armory) into little
parks...Surely one of
the two armories could become a starter in a program of
little
parks.
It is time that people replaced polo
ponies."I
Several months
later,
Mr. Kahn wrote to the Times,
saying,
"...once again an earnest plea is registered
to fight
down
the enormous pressure of using these potential green spots
for
commercial or other utilitarian purposes...Unless
strong public interest
is aroused,
these sites
will
be
covered with massive masonry blocks that will merely add to
the intensity of an already crowded city." 2
Apparently,
no one heeded
not
again.
surface
Luxury housing.
proposal was the
Kahn's "earnest
Nearly as short
idea to erect
York Times reported on June 21,
plea,"
lived
for
the
proposal
a movement as the park
luxury housing on the site.
1962,
City's Commissioner of Real Estate,
that
told
property owners,
33
did
Paul
T. O'Keefe,
The New
New York
a group of Upper East Side
"...that
he believed middle income housing,
which often
enjoys property tax abatement,
should
not be built
in the
area.
He said middle income developments would deprive the
city of badly needed taxes that normally would be levied on
the valuable land there."
O'Keefe was also quoted as
estate"
for middle
saying that to use that "most valuable real
income housing "does
story goes on to say that
not make
the Yorkville
any
sense."
The
Community Planning Board
issued a statement saying that it,
"deplores Commissioner O'Keefe's lack of understanding of
the great need for middle income housing in the Yorkville
area and reaffirms its
support for a balanced community..."
Despite O'Keefe's enthusiasm,
progress
was made
in
erecting
Middle Income Housing.
middle
there
is
no
luxury housing
could comfortably accomodate
tion of
the Upper
luxury housing,
a proposal
at least 500 moderate-cost
East
Side had seen
his belief
bute
to the 'economic
a
and racial
integration'
last
decade."
Club,
housing units.
construc-
would contri-
of an area
that had seen
3
D. Hemenway,
who wrote in
a letter
the Presito the
editor of the New York Times:
"This community has lost
a major portion of its
middle
income residents in recent years, due to the massive demolition for new buildings.
Third Avenue, once a largely middle
income area, has emerged as an almost unbroken row of luxury
buildings...Community organizations such as ours have been
34
to
On April 12, he reiter-
feeelings were echoed by Russell
dent of the Lexington Democratic
that the site
effect on attempts
that "a housing development on the site
luxury housing boom for the
Dudley's
site.
far too much
which had a detrimental
integrate the area socially and economically.
ated
on the
that
On March 8, 1962, Manhattan
Borough President Edward R. Dudley said in
that
evidence
More important was the pressure to build
income housing on the armory site.
He contended
further
seeking to prevent
for the rich." 4
the East
Side
from becoming
The editor of the Park East News,
Morton B. Lawrence,
for the construction of moderate housing.
said
a place
only
also called
In an interview,
Lawrence
that he had hoped construction of middle income housing would
lower housing costs
remain
in
the area
and enable
in
young
people
starting
which they had grown up.
families
However,
to
he said that
co-op owners were concerned that middle income housing would
lower
their property values.
Middle
Income
other proposal
unique
land for a school.
struction
three
ly,
It
the Robert F.
1963,
that
the Board
acquires
for
the
schools
in
school's
Manhattan,
various
activitists
The
of
are
ironical-
standing on the
armory.
The Board of Education had recommended
to the
be used for a
(Unfortunately, the Board of Education refused to
Intermediate
reasons,
There
one of them,
Kennedy School on 34th Street,
release any information on the
to build
a parcel
construction.
Mayor's Site Selection Committee that the armory site
junior high school.
this creative
The money goes into an educational con-
site of the old 71st Regiment
By April,
is
allows
A
leases the air rights over the proposed school
which pays
such "combination"
being
works
or developer.
fund,
An-
was to combine housing and a school.
Board of Education program
The way it
combination.
Combined with a Junior High School.
for the site
New York City
to a builder
Housing
site selection process.)
This proposal
School 29 was applauded by many people for
which will be discussed
further
on,
and
pro-housing
began to push for a combined school-housing development.
proposal
to combine both middle
was much more controversial
income
than previous
35
housing
proposals.
and a
It
school
was also
imbued with the
Robinson,
district
idealism and doctrine current
in
Chairman of the Community Planning
the armory was located,
the
1960's.
Board No.
wrote to the editor
8,
Phyllis
in
whose
of the New York
Times:
"Here is
an ideal site.
It
is
publicly
owned,
and so
located that it will promote an integrated student body.
It
is a site that will not result
in a single tenant eviction,
an important consideration in a community that has already
seen thousands of its
residents evicted for luxury housing.
Because of the bulldozing [of Yorkville] and the decimation
of its
middle class population there is a strong community
drive in Yorkville for middle income housing on the site
of
the armory.
The need for a new junior
high and for middle
income housing can both be met there." 5
Ms.
Robinson's
body" was more
Morton
Side
with "promoting
than a popular
Lawrence,
policy
integration was
times,
an issue
Lawrence recalled,
if
the 1960's.
integration
cure for social
was
student
According
dear to the hearts
The hope
was to build integrated
Provision of adequate school space in
importance
in
an integrated
They were stirred by a moral drive.
liberals.
idealistic
concern
strategic
to occur.
to
of East
in
those
schools.
areas was of utmost
Integration
was seen as a
problems:
"Parents, ministers, local school board officials,
political
leaders, and members of civic
groups from Manhattan, the
Bronx and Queens also warned [at a capital budget hearing in
front of the City Planning Commission] that unless the
school problem was solved, the problems of school dropouts,
delinquency,
unemployment and crime would continue to
mount . "6
At that meeting,
districts
Mrs.
encompassing
Norman Eddy,
the
a local
school board member of the
Squadron A armory
site,
urged
the commis-
sion,
"to give the highest priority to a new junior high school to
be built
on the site
of the armory....She said that the
communities of East Harlem and Yorkville both favored the
site, which would produce a naturally integrated school." 7
36
There was another reason that
the
site.
According
district,
the
generating
to Robert
school
Low,
population was
a strong demand
both the elite
a school was widely supported on
white
city
council member
sharply
increasing
for more schools.
population,
and
in
for
that
the 1960's,
The demand came from
from the Black and
Puerto
Rican
communities north of 96th Street.
The argument
activists
of students compelled parents and
to demand more schools no doubt has some merit.
the number
lived
that sheer numbers
south
of people
of 96th Street,
points to pressure
By
active
August
in
the movement
as is
illustrated
on the part of elite
1964,
under
co-chairmen
the
this pressure,
that
sprung
for the Joint Use of the 94th Street
(J29) and
Middle
Income Housing."
Barbara Blum and Alice
in
the area
school.
Sachs wrote
for both middle
next
who
paragraph,
the Board of Estimate
This
had
the
29,
voted
and to set aside funds for the
Squadron A armory.
of a committee
in
I.S.
to build a new school.
to acquire the four surplus armories,
demolition of
to build
However,
move was applauded
up,
called
by the
the "Committee
Armory for a New Public School
In
a
that
letter
there
to
the New York Times,
was a "desperate"
need
income housing and a new intermediate
Blum and Sachs stated that a combined school/housing
complex,
"...would satisfy
a vital
school and housing need on the
East Side of Manhattan without necessitating any relocation.
And, hopefully,
it
would achieve the sort
of economic,
cultural
and ethnic integration
which is essential
to a
balance and healthy community." 8
Blum and Sach's
it
was the East
next statement
Side
liberal
supports Morton
elite
Lawrence's
opinion that
community which pushed
for the
school:
"Many of our community's most distinguished
citizens
formed a committee in support of these aims." 9
37
have
In
names,
ler,
fact,
the
among
list
of committee members
them Douglas
Dore Schary,
Mrs.
Fairbanks,
Jr.,
David Sulzberger,
is
Myrna
Mrs.
full
Loy,
of prominent
Rodman
Rockefel-
David Susskind,
the
Marietta
Tree,
there is
the notation "Supported by Community Planning Board #8,
and
and Political
Mrs.
Victor Wouk.
The
same arguments
of building a school/housing
support of plans to build just
site would
promote
ethnically
racial
and socially.
been utilized
in
Yorkville
tee for
complex,
a school.
integration
It
and
would help
diversify
a practice
put
on this
the
forth
in
in
"border"
neighborhood
that had
A new school
overcrowding
in
nearby
and would not require demolition of
that had plagued the area in
the late
50's
60's.
as there was a committee
the Use
of the 94th
Street
for joint use,
Armory
Manhattan."
An open letter,
support for
the school.
Although we
members were (there is
some salient
"(1)
were also
A school
to relieve
School 29 -
made
Civic
that were presented
would render "useful" a site
and Harlem schools,
housing units,
Just
name on the list,
by a small group of polo-playing citizens.
the neighborhood
and early
last
Groups."
A Junior High School.
support
After the
Hon.
no list
there was a "Commit-
Solely
for Junior
dated March 3,
don't
know who
of sponsors on the letter),
1963,
High
seeks
the committee
the group
points:
The two existing
high school...are cripplingly
overcrowded.
By 1966, these schools will be overenrolled by
some 1780 children - enough students to fill
JHS 29 were
it to open tomorrow!
(2) The entire
(site)
must be used for school purposes in
order for a new junior high school to function properly.
There is no physical space for anything other than
school facilities
on this
already small site.
(Any
other building) would be at the expense of the school
and to its
ultimate detriment...the major portion of the
38
block should be devoted to a high-rise school building
and the remaining footage to its indespensible (sic)
playground ...
(3) Immediate site
designation and construction
funds are
necessary so that the Board of Education can begin
construction of this desperately needed facility...
(4) We parents of East Harlem and Yorkville feel that (this)
site
affords a singular opportunity for the creation of
a quality integrated educational institution."
The
letter ends with a plea that area children not be short-
changed of their educational opportunities.
Because
Board of Education records are unavailable,
determined at what specific
Board
decided
to
point and for what specific
scrap the joint
junior high school.
complex project
Minutes from the Local
7-9, meeting on February 23,
1965,
School
it
cannot be
reasons
the
and to build just
Board,
a
Districts 5-
suggest some of the objections:
"Mrs. Lane reported on a meeting held in the Boro President's Office concerning J-29.
The difficulties
with dual
use are:
a. time -
it will take longer;
b. lack of space - the area...is
small...dual use will
[eliminate] a playground for the school [and will
mean
the addition'of] several additional stories and the need
for elevators;
c. legalities
- ... plans for dual usage require...extensive
legal procedures involving time delays."
A clue as to the Board of Education's plans to proceed with only the
school can be found in the next sentence:
"d. problems of getting
a sponsor.
Mr. [Eugene] Hult [the
Director of Design and Construction for the Board of
Education]
said that if there is no private sponsor for
an apartment building by April 1st, he will
hire an
architect
and proceed...without dual usage."
Further opposition to placing middle
site
came
non-profit
from
the Community
organization
income housing on the armory
Housing and Planning Council,
supporting
low and middle
39
income
a private,
housing.
In
a
letter
to Mayor
Director
discussed
Robert Wagner,
his
organization's
dle income housing on the site,
I.S.
Roger
Starr,
the
"implacable
CHPC Executive
opposition"
whether by itself
or in
to mid-
tandem with
29:
"We favor this
site
for Junior High School use.
The site
is...smaller
(than has proven to be) satisfactory
in experience.
Its location, however, the acute need for a
Junior High School for 1800 students in the area, and the
certainty that if
such a school is to be established elsewhere in the area, demolition of dwelling units
would be
involved -- all
these facts make the armory site
attractive
for Junior High School use." 1 0
The CHPC echoed other proponents
of building a school
on the site:
"We feel basically that this school can be of rare value in
attracting
a racially
integrated clientele....To complicate
[the school's physical requirements] with a design...providing a base for a large apartment house above it is to
compromise them fatally....Parents of children in the local
public schools want a good Junior High School.
They want it
quickly. They want a high school good enough to attract
pupils from both sides of 96th Street. They insist
on quick
action [because this
school] can make a contribution
to
racial
concord..."Il
Apparently,
the
organization
erate income housing was taken
school
stance,
purporting
to task
to support
low and mod-
for its anti-housing, pro-
for Starr wrote,
"Our credentials
should entitle
us to be heard about (the
armory) without exposing us to the label of 'reactionary' or
'bigot,' two labels which have been hurled loosely about by
some of the proponents of middle income housing there."12
Starr presented
an additional
argument
in
opposition
to siting middle
income housing on the site,
an argument unique to his organization.
He
the
argued
location,
that
it
because
of
high value
of
would be assessed at such a value
the
land due
to
that charging moderate
rents would have been impossible.
"Our experts...predict
that
family incomes would run well
above $13,000 for families occupying a two bedroom apartment.
It is a clear fact that there are many apartments in
40
its
the immediate neighborhood... which are now occupied by
families paying similar rents and full
real estate taxes in
older buildings.
[Locating
subsidized apartments in a
luxury area] has ominous consequences...Already we have
heard attack(s) on the middle income housing program on the
grounds that it requires poor families to pay full
taxes in
order to support wealthier families who are escaping their
full
share of taxes."13
Despite
Eugene
Hult's apparent
statement
to the
local
school
board that unless a sponsor were found for an apartment complex by
April
1,
1965,
he would
proceed with plans
usage,
the controversy over dual usage still
July.
In
Rutledge,
tively,
a letter
for a school
without
dual
seemed to be raging in
to the New York Times, Algernon Black and Edward
the Chairman of the Board and Executive Director, respec-
of
the
National
Committee
Against
Discrimination
in
Housing,
wrote in reference to Manhattan Borough President Constance Baker
Motley's support of dual usage,
"...(dual use) would cut across considerations of race and
class
to establish
an integrated...deve
lopment...in
a
section which is now occupied almost exclusively by white
citizens residing in luxury apartments." 4
The Site Selection Board
controversy
school
only.
editorial,
Board
in
late
August 1965,
Pro-joint use
wrote
of the
Board of Education ended the
by deciding to use the site
Morton Lawrence,
for a
in a Park East
that the decision was "shocking"
News
and berated
the
for being "unimaginative" and for showing the characteristics
"the stagnant bureaucracy that
tion."
The editorial
infests
City Administra-
ends by accusing Mayor Wagner of "allow[ing]
triumph of reactionary
planning,"
Board
victory
for
the present
allowing
"a
and berating
for
of
the Site
'know-nothingism'
in
the
Selection
the
com-
munity. 15
It is interesting
marks
Preservation
to note
that eve.n at this
Commission had
not
41
said
late date,
anything
either
the' Landabout
the
demolition process or about designating
a
the armory (or part of it)
as
landmark.
The Preservation of the Front Wall
Sometime during the controversy over whether to build a school/
housing complex,
or just a school,
another controversy arose over
whether to save the facade of the armory or not.
It
is
difficult
pinpoint the exact origin of the idea to save the armory.
to
A 1972
letter from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission Chairman,
Harmon G. Goldstone,
points of the
facade preservation process.
states that Lindsay,
the total
to Mayor John Lindsay,
prodded by his counsel,
outlines the main
In the letter,
Goldstone
Michael Dontzin,
demolition of the armory at the eleventh hour.
stopped
A coopera-
tive agreement to save the walls and tower for "a unique school playground" was forged between the City Planning Department,
Preservation Commission,
indicate
and the Board of Education.1 6
the Landmarks
This
seems to
that preservation interest did not originate from the LPC.
A letter from Eugene Hult to Alan Burnham,
the Executive Director
of the LPC states that, "the idea of the preservation of the facade
emanated
from your office."17
On the other hand, Morton Lawrence
attributed the idea of retaining the facade to Morris Ketchum,
the
architect
and
of J.S.
29,
and he credits
innovative" administration
Mayor Lindsay's
"adventurous
for allowing and encouraging such a novel
idea.
The retention of the facade was also on other people's minds.
a letter
to the editor of the New York Times,
assistant professor at the Pratt Institute,
42
Gabriel Laderman,
wrote,
In
an
"...Would it not be possible to build
the Madison Avenue
facade into the projected junior
high school?...the character of the north facade of the armory would blend with the
style
of (contemporary) architecture...the
facade is picturesque and adds a little
bit
of pepper and salt
to the
neighborhood and to the city.
Would it not be possible
to
build
the Madison Avenue facade into the the projected
junior high school?" 1 8
Files
from the Landmark Preservation Commission point to a degree
of public
feeling
set forth
some relevant
public
feeling
Morris Ketchum,
for saving the facade
for
points.
saving
and,
the
of the armory.
These
records
There was apparently considerable
towers.
to some extent,
Additional
support
from Eugene Hult.
records point out that the Mayor's authorization
came
However,
from
these
was needed to stay
the demolition.
There also seems to have been some kind of letter
paign to designate the facade of the armory a landmark,
records
the
contain a sample
armory's
letter
which sets
writing camfor the LPC
forth some reasons
to save
facade:
"We
have noted with sadness...the
demolition of [the
armory].
For as long as we can remember this
imposing
building has been a landmark in our neighborhood, and,
indeed, for the whole city....We see...that at this moment,
the great tower and massive front wall on Madison Avenue are
still standing, and it occurs to us -Can we not have the
best of both?...the monumental vaulted
entranceway could
make a magnificent entrance to the school playground...The
city
would not only have a most interesting
and original
adjunct to a playground, but would be able, at the same
time, to preserve for future generations a beautiful
and
absolutely
irreplaceable
landmark of our city....We would
like
to request, therefore,
that
(the front) be designated...a landmark..."
Eugene
Hult's
Executive
support
was
evident
Director of the LPC,
in
dated
his
letter
July 18,
to Alan Burnham,
1966:
"Mr.
Paletta [the Board of Education's Director of Architecture] and I visited
the armory several
times, and concur
with the suggestion that the facade and towers be retained
as landmark preservation (sic) and, although this
concurrence is a matter of personal opinion since others might not
43
the
agree, we do feel
that there are elements of architecture
that deserve to be saved. With this spirit in mind, I have
assured Mr. Dontzin that we would cooperate as best we can
to make the facilities
of the Board of Education, and such
funds as are available, work towards this end...
As
facade
time passed,
became more
August 9,
it,
1966,
why not?"
the
idea of
and more
retaining and
entrenched.
was headlined,
incorporation
the
A New York Times story dated
"Turreted Playground?
Come to think of
It stated:
"Children who live
in the east 90's near Madison and Park
Avenue may not completely lose their 'cast le'....The
armory
is being torn down to make way for a junior high school, but
city
agencies, responding to pleas of the area residents,
may leave standing the last remaining wall with its
turrets
and battlements."
As far as the city
agencies involved
tions that the preservation
was
Furthermore,
considering
ground.
Eugene
incorporating
of the armory was
the Board of Education,
Hult
is
the
quoted
wall
the story men-
out
on the August
as saying that his office
into
11,
a
and the Mayor's
the
new
schoool's
Apparently, many other agencies became interested
facade's preservation,
pointed
the process,
of the front wall
collaboration between the LPC,
Office.
in
1966,
playin the
the Park East
News,
that,
"The chairman (of the Local Community Planning Board) Landmarks Committee already has voiced support for the plan.
Support has also come from the mayor's office, which ordered
demolition on the site halted a day before the facade was to
fall... Other city
agencies encouraging the...plan are the
Landmarks Preservation Commission, the Board of Education,
the Department of Real Estate, the Bureau of the Budget, and
the City Planning Commission."
The
Above
preservation
and beyond
was crucial.
"[Richard]
architect
of
the
departmental
armory's
facade
support,
An undated note in
the
gained
the approval
LPC files
support
steadily.
of Mayor
Lindsay
reads:
Bader [of the City Planning Commission] called up
& Gene Hult and Demolition Co... They were all
44
willing to do something,
approval of the Mayor."
It
is
clear
from the results
preservation plan.
armory's
but no one
the
By October 1, 1966, the hearing on designating the
facade was held.
14, 1966,
without
that the Mayor did indeed approve of this
Support was by no means unanimous.
the most vocal opposition came
October
can act
he wrote
from Roger
Starr
to Geoffrey Platt,
and the
Perhaps
CHPC.
On
the LPC Chairman:
"I am instructed
by the Board of Directors [of CHPC] to
record our strenuous opposition to this
frivolous
suggestion... I was incensed by the suggestion that
[the Board
of Education's] architects are so lacking in ingenuity that
... school design can be achieved only by incorporating a
useless relic
into an already scanty playground."
The
CHPC's explained
its
oppositon as
follows:
"The bulldozers, frustrated and querulous, have been halted
at the brink of the last assault... This mechanical frustration was not imposed by any shortage of funds, but by a
decision [to preserve the facade]....The proponents of this
expenditure of money, playground space,
and afternoon sunlight, have argued that saving the Armory's west wall constitutes
an appropriate genuflection towards architectural
variety ..."119
The crucial argument that the CHPC made was as
follows:
"The Squadron "A" armory was not on the list
[of structures
originally
designated worthy of retention during the first
18 months of the LPC's existence].
If the Armory had been
designated as a landmark, the designation would probably
have included the entire
building,
not one wall to which
tradition has not assigned any particular significance." 2 0
Despite
this opposition,
as a landmark on October 19,
that
there were twelve
against.
raged,
LPC
1966.
speakers
designated
the
in
favor of designation,
school-versus-housing
the
facade may delay
construction of the
following historical
and
armory's
facade
The designation document states
controversy
the four speakers brought up only one point -
the armory
gave
Despite the
the
architectural
tion:
45
and
that
four
had
that retaining
school.
reasons
The
Commssion
for designa-
"Although the turrets
and battlements are reminiscent of
twelfth century prototypes, the result
as expressed here is
a product of American inventiveness....The details
[are]
vigorous and rugged... the LPC finds that [the facade] has a
special character, special historical and aesthetic interest
and value as part of the development [of New York City]
is an outstanding example of military architecture
... [it]
massive size and bold detail...."2 1
that is notable for its
This designation was
of
Committee
strongly
the New York chapter
supported by
Historic
the
of the American
Institute
Building
of Archi-
Its representatives stated that the towers and connecting wall
tects.
provide
would
a unique background
for the soon-to-be built
school
and
playground.
Resolution
After the front of the armory was designated a landmark, it would
the project would be fully
be years before
executed.
The Board of
Estimate had to appropriate the extra funds needed for the project.
story
in
February
the
11,
1971
issue
of Park East
mediate School 29 cost $7.9million,
$400,000.
The school opened in
the playground,
the fall
school
It
facade.
is
is
situated
a castle-like
no windows.
Inter-
and the tower restoration
September of 1971.
cost
Construction on
the towers and the front wall,
reflect
on Park Avenue,
brick structure,
The asphalt
the school and the facade.
playground
direcly
five
began in
Jr. and Associates,
playground,
opposite
stories
high,
the
with
occupies the space between
It is ringed by brick terraces, which
the building materials of both structures.
Ketchum,
Avenue
that
of 1972.
The
almost
which included
states
A
The firm of Morris
which designed both the school
won an architectural
award
Association.
46
and the
for this project from the Fifth
FOOTNOTES:
1.
New York Times, June 11,
2.
Ibid., January 28, 1964.
3.
Ibid., April 13, 1962.
4.
Ibid., May 15, 1963.
5.
Ibid., April 9, 1963.
6.
Ibid., December 18, 1963.
7.
Ibid.
8.
Ibid., August 12, 1964.
9.
Ibid.
10.
CHAPER THREE
1963.
Roger Starr to Mayor Robert F. Wagner,
letter
dated January 12,
1965.
11.
Ibid.
12.
Ibid.
13.
Ibid.
14.
New York Times,
15.
Park East, August 26, 1965.
16.
Harmon H. Goldstone to Mayor John V. Lindsay, "Report on Cityowned or -aided Landmarks," memorandum dated April 28, 1972,
pp.
1-2, Landmarks Preservation Commission, New York.
17.
Eugene
18.
New York Times, March 22,
19.
Press release,
Citizens' Housing and Planning
York, Inc., October 14, 1966.
20.
Ibid.
21.
Landmarks Preservation Commission,
Number 6, October 19, 1966.
Hult
July 24,
1965.
to Alan Burham,
letter
dated July 18,
1966.
1966.
47
Designation
Council
Document
of New
LP-0398,
THE SEVENTH REGIMENT ARMORY
CHAPTER IV:
and
units
as
remained
is)
Seventh was (and
character" and
of
periodic
with the
to deal
the National
elite
streets
of the harbor.
known as
great
1834,
from Whig-Democratic
of
fire
the
1835,
In
arms to protect property.
Regiment
It
In
labor
In
strife
1857,
occurred
that occurred
the Seventh
in
to Washington
66th and 67th Streets
in
of
D.C.
to
occasions,
It
was also active
in
quelling
was
headquartered
at
Tompkins
1877.
Regiment
at 64th Street and Central Park.
where
the fall
after
served at Civil War fronts on three
Market on Sixth Street and Third Avenue,
between
took up its
New York's police
1861,
from Annapolis
and helped to suppress the Draft Riots.
the
which saw hungry
and the Seventh was called
a mob of some 20,000 rioters.
capital.
the
patrolled
the New York Opera House,
only 300 strong, was overwhelmed,
defend the
helped
turmoil.
the Seventh
food,
an English actor named Macready was performing.
the regiment marched
was also
when it
the Astor Place riots
1849,
attacked
when a mob of Irish-Americans
Fort Sumter,
The
Point
the "West
election
looting. During the Panic of 1837,
people roaming the streets and demanding
to disperse
1847.
in
Seventh Regiment
time was in
The first
resulting
York's
the
club,
as a social
duty.
to prevent
force,
Four
members of "good
selecting
became
City
Guard."
a riot
New
After
and
New York
in
Regiment
Seventh
unit,
background,
called out to riot
to quell
the
a prestigious
serving
Besides
blockades
British
became
formed
were
companies
sixteen militia
1806,
In
In
and
1874,
after moving
it
from an arsenal
obtained its
present
plot
Fourth and Lexington Avenues
build a new armory.
48
to
armory.
Like many New Yorkers,
it was
less
attend
or to assemble
harder to recruit members.
location made
The remote
called.
to
it
second
Members were dissatisfied with the
and
companies
insurance
dollars.
the funds needed
Various subscriptions, a loan, and funds
a new armory.
fair
an armory
over
totalled
The present armory was erected in 1879.
admired
interiors
as
a
substantial
designed
by
paintings
ornate
travel down to Sixth Street
to
the Regiment set about to raise
Consequently,
much
if
and
room of the Thompkin Market site.
floor drill
for
for a new
regiment members were moving north,
convenient to have
drills
Regiment pressed
that the
other reasons
There were
by
Rembrandt
White
Peale and
Thomas
and
Louis
Nast,
and
paneled walls,
walnut
a million
It was (and is)
with
structure,
handsome
Stanford
mantels,
fireplace
and
half
from
elegant
Comfort
Tiffany,
elaborate
friezes,
and
ceilings
inlaid
with silver and mother-of-pearl.
block between Park and Lexington
The armory covers the entire
Avenues,
one of the most elegant and expen-
and 66th and 67th Streets,
sive parts of Manhattan.
The Landmarks Preservation
nated the armory as a landmark on June 9,
New York State Landmark,
Historic
Places.
This
and is
triple
listed
1967.
In
Commission desig-
on the National
designation
it
addition,
would
is
a
Register of
prove
to
be
a
stumbling block for developers.
The building
was originally
This
section
Seventh
ball
has two parts. The front, which faces Park Avenue,
four stories
is
high.
a crenellated
Regiment,
dining
and squash courts.
A fifth
fortress
and reception
was added
in
1931.
which houses the ofices of the
rooms,
The rear three-fourths
49
floor
a gymnasium,
of the site
and
hand-
is
con-
vered by the 80-foot-high drill
shed,
in
which people play tennis
and
military exercises are held.
The
armory
has been
organizations.
there
The National
from 1900 to 1963,
Charity
club.
armory.
In
used both
for schoolboys,
and
and non-military
Indoor Tennis Championships were held
and the armory still
affairs
addition,
by military
fashion
houses a private
shows
also
the Knickerbocker Greys,
has held drills
take
place
a junior
at the armory since
tennis
in
the
cadet corps
1902.
Proposals for the Seventh Regiment Armory Site
The
it
is
Seventh
Regiment
owned by its
armory
trustees.
differs
from other
Originally
elected
senior officers are now appointed by the
ding was never turned over to the city,
In
January
1980,
DeMattis Organization,
the
armory with an
walking
state.
it
Even
though
a vice
that
these
the buil-
president of the
firm,
walked around
survey consisted
through and around the building.
familiar with
by members,
a real estate development
This
in
too came under attack.
Anthony Vaccarello,
architect.
armories
The DeMattis
of basically
Organization is
the concept of air rights construction,
a method whereby
construction takes place over and above an existing building, and has
built
several
survey
schools in
undertaken
constructing
by
high-rise,
New York utilizing
Vaccarello
was
market rate
to
this
ascertain
technique.
the
The
feasibility
housing , or an office
of
building
utilizing the air rights over the armory.
Vaccarello's
visit
though he stated
save-the-armory
who was
aroused
concern among
the
there were no plans to raze or alter
campaign was
the First
soon
launched.
Colonel
Regiment,
even
the armory.
Benjamin
A
Fowler,
Vice President of the Veterans of the Seventh Regi-
50
ment
organization as well as a retired
Corps
officer,
(and
eventually,
the Seventh Regiment Armory)
Carey
II
Air
the Chairman of the Committee to
Save
sent a
banker
and World War
telegram to New York
Govenor
Hugh
which stated:
"Proposals regarding alterations
of the Seventh Regiment
Armory are causing great consternation. Any action supporting these proposals will be vigorously opposed, if necessary
by legal action." 2
Supporters of the regiment signed petitons which were circulated at an
antique show taking place at the
tures
were
gathered,
Onassis and
of the
Mrs.
time in the armory.
including
Douglas
those
MacArthur,
of Mrs.
who was
Some 6000 signa-
Jacqueline
named
honorary
Furthermore,
Committee to Save-the-Seventh.
Kennedy
Chairwoman
Representative
Mario Biaggi sent a letter to Governor Carey, arguing that he was
"strongly opposed to any crass commercialization of this architectural
treasure
landmark." 3
and great
The DeMattis
Organization got no further
"walk through" survey.
consisted
words,
It
was overwhelmed by the opposition,
of the officers of
were "fanning
keep any sort
than the preliminary
the Seventh Regiment who,
flames" by
leading
of development at bay.
the
community
because "They have a private world there,
of Araby'...
they have
opposition,
the
the
fight
domain." 4
private
to
the
of giving up their
headquarters
potential
in
Vacarello's
According to Vaccarello,
members of the Seventh Regiment had no intention
their
in
which
like the 'Sheik
Sensing
the degree
of
DeMattis Organization abandoned any plans
for the site.
The next
proposal
to develop
the armory site
vigorous opposition from Regiment members
1979,
the Tishman-Speyer Properties,
51
and
local
a prominent
generated
even more
supporters.
real
estate
In
firm,
informed
New York
ment armory
site was
use." 5
and best
Governor
underutilized
On November 24,
of Tishman-Speyer,
"substantial
area
1981,
state and
three
This
developer
live
in
Jerry
price
tearing down the
landmark,
a high rise
the
fourths of the
proposal
hotel
Speyer,
to its
Partner
made a
added
but would raze
proposals
of
to pay a
He
and residential
the
Regi-
highest
Managing
rights." 6
that
only the
building.
On
announced that
to erect a hotel
armory,
which
or
occupies
block.
tremendous
amount
of economic
previously.
parts of Manhattan.
and high-paying
sense
The armory is
to the
in
one
of
There has probably never been
of both buyers willing to pay enormous
such a plan,
Seventh
used
Robert Morgado,
drill-hall
for reasons discussed
the area,
the
that his group would be willing
the city were evaluating
the most desirable
a shortage
1979,
building
over
that
and "not being
Carey's secretary,
luxury apartments
about
office
for
and erect
January 19,
the
stated
eight-figure
he did not suggest
drill
Hugh Carey's
tourists.
It
is
amounts
of money to
no wonder then,
that
which would also create construction jobs and bring
goodly amount of tax revenues was backed by Governor
Carey and
in
a
Mayor
Ed Koch.
After
replied
Speyer's
to his
contact
proposal
in
with
the
Governor's
a December 9
letter,
"I
office,
Morgado
have directed
the
Urban Development Corp. to work with our agencies for a development
plan."7
(The
by the
legislature
blight,
UDC is
encourage
under
and
Governor's
apartment
office,
Governor
development,
began preliminary
hotel
a New York State authority
design work
tower.
the
UDC
Rockefeller
and
for
Despite
revitalize
which was
in
established
order to cure
urban areas.)
urban
The
UDC
the construction of the high-rise
Speyer's
proceeded
52
initial
contact
to develop criteria
with
the
for
the
In addition,
of a developer.
selection
generate
it
began to explore ways to
and to develop property disposi-
funds for preservation work,
tion guidelines.
for the storm of opposition
No one was prepared
erated
by
on
grow exponentially and quickly defeat
The magnitude
of antagonism
the organizations
tactics
they
the
proposal.
plans for the
towards any development
to "Save
contrast
This Armory!"
lack of action surrounding the razing of the
sharply with the near
and
Squadron A armory,
with
experience
the Tishman-Speyer
level of activity
and the
armory site,
their
were quick to organize a movement which would
activists
DeMattis plan,
Drawing
proposal.
this
was gen-
that
of that
the development
which opposed
site.
Let
us explore
shed,
the razing of the drill
and the
used.
The Veterans Groups
Several
tion to plans
Legion
offices
and
the armory.
to alter
Seventh Regiment,
which had
organizations
veterans
the
and the Military
in
of
the
previous
fight
of opposition was
Speyer
was
with
in
formulating
press release,
Support
immediate
the
Hence
order and ready
plans.
also
came
Revolution.
Colonel
DeMattis.
its
and
These included
the American
"commander" of these troops was
strong
Fowler,
the
to fight
opposi-
Veterans of the
Order of the World Wars,
the armory.
Sons
led
both of
from the American
Once
who had
framework
again, the
learned
and
from
reasoning
by the time Tishman-
A Veterans of the Seventh Regiment
signed by Colonel Fowler,
states that:
"....no public meetings have been held...this seems like
good under-the-table
work for a fait
accompli....
The
National Historic Landmark status
of the Armory, with so
much history
attached to it should not be violated
by our
governments and a business without the knowledge of the
53
community citizens who should approve or combat the forces
at work.... We know what has been done in the past to demolish memorials and buildings
that have protective laws.
It should not happen to the spirit
of service the Regiment
8
gave the Nation, State, and city..."
Colonel
Fowler
argued
that
the Armory
should be protected
stands as a commemoration of the patriotic
Seventh
Regiment.
A week
additional argument,
a peace-keeping,
later,
service
because
it
rendered by the
another press
release
added
an
based upon the functions of the National Guard as
riot-quelling
force:
"Cities with less populations (sic) than NYC have had millions demonstrate and riot when national and/or local tensions explode. Should similar demonstrations or riots
occur
in New York City with its
much larger
population, but a
small police force (25,000), added forces would be necessary
to protect the UN embassies, foreign legations, citizens and
property. New York needs an armory located where the 7th
Armory is... only seconds to minutes away from major targets.
History repeats itself
and we should be ready for any
eventuality." 9
Despite the opposition on the part of the veterans
Governor Carey continued his support
Morgado
ordered
January 1981.
request
ments and
for the
project.
plans drawn up for a hotel
According to the Daily News,
of Jerry Speyer. However,
interests was
preparing
organizations,
At his urging,
and apartment
this
move was made at the
a second party with its
to enter
the
tower in
own argu-
fray.
Neighborhood Groups
The opposition
of
veterans
Carey's and Tishman-Speyer's
involved
and
community
residents
in
to join
order
group called
contribute
met
plans.
the
was
opposition.
to oppose
of the
not
However,
with representatives
forces
Neighbors
to
alone
sufficient
soon others would get
In
early
of the
54
Regiment
February
Seventh
the Tishman-Speyer
Seventh
to stop
to Save
1981,
Regiment
proposal.
the
A
Community
was
According
formed.
Robert
committee member,
story,
to a newspaper
Werner,
"pointed out that if a hotel were constructed in a resideneven
area, the property assessments would escalate
tial
find
would
of
coops
Owners
declined.
style
though life
their maintenance increased substantially."1 0
The story points to further action on the part of the committee:
of
the mail to presidents
churches, clubs and associato preserve the
the fight
are in
time, letters
"At this
local co-op buildings, schools,
tions urging them to join in
Seventh Regiment armory." 1 l
politicians
Impressed by the sources and numbers of the opposition,
were quick to enter the debate.
Borough
Manhattan
stating
study
to protect
will
be
the seed of
lead to the end of the neighborhood."'2
from any type of development was
the Carey administration called
1981,
of proposals or
due to the opposition,
the armory,
and meaning to go
it
permitted]
to save the armory
by March 5,
such that
further
that will
pressure
legislation
building has too much heritage
[If demolition is
down the drain.
The
President Andrew Stein and City Councilman Robert
Mario Biaggi sponsored
that "this
destruction
February,
late
protested the demoliton of any part of the armory.
Dryfoos publicly
Congressman
At a meeting held in
plans.
Morgado
attributed
but
the
claimed
decision
that
to
off any
it
the
was not
fact
that
the UDC was busy with the construction of the West Side convention
center and Battery Park City,
ownership of the armory.
opponents
of the plan.
and
to a "lack
He discounted
This,
however,
the effect
seems
of the organized
unlikely.
On the evening of March 5, over 1000 people braved
fall
to
attend
a meeting
for an intense publicity
which was
as to the
of clarity"
originally
planned
a heavy snowas a
kick-off
drive to oppose the development plan.
turned into a victory celebration.
Despite
55
the
cheer,
Colonel
It
Fowler
expressed disbelief
posal.
that the state
Furthermore,
had really
Fowler and Neighbors of the
Gordon Stevens said that they planned
effort
in
case
of future
development
tinue to keep the pressure on,"
like
the
Seventh
New York
tion,
Seventh chairman
to continue
actions.
their
"We're
organizing
going
to con-
said Fowler. "I'm an old soldier,
I
the weapons shiny." 1 3
to keep
The
given up on the pro-
Regiment
Landmark
to aid in
and the Neighbors
Conservancy,
a
of the
private
the future preservation
Seventh called
preservation
of the armory.
on
organiza-
A document
released by Conservancy states that,
"It
is imperative that a careful
analysis
be undertakenat
this
time in order that we are all prepared for future
threats to this landmark building." 1 4
The activities
of Conservancy calls
group of actors.
strongly
in
attention
There was a group which made its
the Seventh
seldom
surfaced
views,
for instance).
and
Regiment
then only
fight,
indirectly
This group
Regiment armory was derived
group
borhood and
organized
was
(when
the
agitated
veteran groups did.
seeing how the
to
fight was to preserve
controversy
impenetrable
influenced,
began,
shield
if
when
around
only partially,
drop what development
out for
the
lexicon,
extent
armory.
Governor
56
inter-
the Seventh
no
preser-
that the neigh-
little
a landmark building.
plans they had.
very
sector.
for saving
peculiar,
In reality
armory was done years before
the preservationist
the
felt
preservationist
This may seem a
the work to preserve the Seventh Regiment
the
sought
from the preservation
and
presence
but whose representative
Even though much of the rhetoric and sentiment
vationist
to yet another
erected
This
Carey
a nearly
protection no doubt
and
Tishman-Speyer
to
If
they had wanted to press on with
would have been as follows:
one,
the Regiment and ordered it
to move
thereby rendering
tion.
Two,
plans,
the
process
the Governor could have de-activated
from its
present headquarters,
the armory surplus and possibly weakening opposi-
the LPC would have had to decide
or destruction of the
since
their
landmark,
something
the inception of the LPC in
1967.
to allow the alteration
that has only happened once
Three,
Division of Historic Preservation would also
permission to alter
or destroy the
the New York State
have
building.
to have granted
Public hearing are
integral components of the last two processes.
The armory is
ings.
is
also
on the National Register of Historic Build-
Although this designation carries no weight unless the building
owned by the federal
government,
affiliation
Register gives a building a special cachet,
by groups trying
It
is
quite clear
years
which was readily invoked
to save the armory.
that the fight
to obtain permission to alter
the armory would have been hopeless.
passed
with the National
before
imbued
the armory
The protective
supporters
with
even more political power than they already possessed.
57
legislation
legitimacy
and
OTNOTES:
CHAPTER FOUR
1.
Seventh
2.
The Columbia Press,
3.
New York Times, February 18,
4.
Interview with Anthony Vaccarello, March 1984.
5.
New York Daily News, January 19, 1981.
6.
New York Times,
7.
New York Daily News,
8.
Committee to Save the Seventh Regiment Armory,
December 22, 1980.
9.
Veterans of the Seventh
December 29, 1980.
Regiment,
The Grand Old Armory (pamphlet)
February
(no date)
9, 1980.
1980.
January 20, 1981.
January 19,
1981.
Regiment,
Letter
Press Release,
to Members and Friends,
10.
Our Town, February 15,
11.
Ibid.
12.
New York Times February 18,
13.
East Side Express, March 12, 1981.
14.
Brendan Gill, Chairman of the New York Landmarks Conservancy, to
the New York Landmarks Conservatory, letter
dated December 16,
1981.
1981.
1981.
58
CONCLUSION
Why did the Squadron A and
different
fates?
Seventh Regiment
come to such
There are different reasons for the outcomes.
One of the
reasons
the
Squadron
A armory was
demolished while the Seventh Regiment
iron-clad
armories
preservation,
has
to
armory still
do
with
nearly
totally
stands,
the
status
swathed in
of
historic
preservation.
The
New York City Landmarks
as preservation
the
Preservation Law was enacted
sentiment was growing.
fate of the
1966,
been passed earlier,
just
and the National
a considerable
degree of protection
firm accepted
tearing
significant
not
that at this
have
down
only
against
occurred
before
future
as a
shed
front part of the building
preservation
threats.
fact
and
standing.
became
of
(and,
accompli,"
the
demolished.
and
In
significant
ments put
hence,
Seventh
fact,
political
Regiment
forth by citizens'
develop-
life.
It
This
the
sugmore
probably would
entrenched.
Had preser-
to have
its own
muscle) and be considered "fait
armory
the preservation
building was
of
It seems
leaving
vationist sentiment not become so established as
legislation
1967
along with that
even the Tishman-Speyer
drill
in
provided this building with
preservation
the
landmark
when preservation sentiment
Register,
later date,
historic
a
The LPC designation,
New York State
gested
Had the legislation
declared
LPC designation period,
was becoming more entrenched.
ment
later.
The facade of the
the whole building might have been retained.
the initial
significant
decided.
one year
The Seventh Regiment armory was
during
1965,
It was during this period that
Squadron A armory was
armory was saved in
in
virtually
of
might
the front
taken
and veterans'
59
have
been
of this historic
for granted.
groups
totally
The
argu-
intent on preserving
the building
assessment,
centered
and
first
around
neighborhoods
issues
integrity,
of
public
safety,
and
second
around
property
preserva-
tion.
Another
reason
armories is
that
accounts
for
the
to look at the different
different
fates
of
the
two
amounts of power and prestige
held by various factions concerned with the armories.
The process by which the Seventh
quite clearly
the effect
of power.
Regiment
armory was saved
Both the residents
of the elite
neighborhood around the armory and the members of the elite
Regiment
did
prestigious
not
want
the
organizations
armory
such as
as by notable individuals.
organizations
ment
of
sprang
society,
In
up for
wealthy,
the
altered.
the
They
Landmarks
addition,
duration
well-organized,
the
well-educated,
that
Tishman-Speyer
is
and well-connected
firm,
powerful,
that wasn't enough to overcome
In
contrast,
the inhabitants
have been futile.
build
Intermediate
well
This
has
seg-
a great
Even though
development
forces.
of the area around the Squadron A
and
they were
to save the whole armory.
not
all
united
Such a proposal would
This leaves the question of why the proposal
to
School 29 and to incorporate the armory facade into
the playground won out over other proposals.
because
felt.
the anti-development
armory did not wield as much power,
behind a proposal
power
as
by
the armory"
conflict.
and knows how to make
large,
aided
Conservancy,
deal of power
a
Seventh
were
various "save
of
shows
prominent achitect
tured
the imagination of
likely,
considering all
Morris
local
The
Ketchum's innovative
neighborhood
the evidence available,
about because building a school,
facade
especially
60
activists.
was retained
design capIt
that
an integrated
is
also
I.S. 29 came
one,
with a
playground where children
of all
races could mingle, was something
desired by a large segment of local
Lindsay's adventurous and
Lawrence
phere in
put
it,
was
Furthermore, Mayor
and innovative administration,
perhaps
responsible
as Morton
for establishing
reason that
the Squadron A armory was demolished was that
many people feel that building
desirable,
and
gain.*
something
possibly morally
For instance,
for "the
superior,
public good" is
to building
contend with changes of elitism.
benefit
sing need
a much
it
while plans
would have had to
Opposition might have taken
of an antiquated building
only a small segment
the form
(which may
of the population) to the pres-
for more schools (or housing),
which are seen as benefitting
larger segment of the population.
Other differences in the
situations of the two armories bear
mentioning as we search for explanations as
The
Seventh Regiment armory had in
opposed to development
anti-development
to their different fates.
place
a network of people
plans when Tishman-Speyer made its
This dated back to the De Mattis
to
for
had a serious move to save the entire
were being made for building a school or housing,
of comparing the preservation
more
something
Squadron A armory on historic preservation grounds arisen,
directly
an atmos-
which such an unusual project could be undertaken.
Another
private
activists.
organizers.
of the Squadron A armory,
survey,
No
initial
and was immediately
such
network
existed
in
bid.
available
the
case
which had never been threatened with altera-
tion or demolition.
*I use the term "public good" in this
particular
instance in the
classic liberal/reform tradition sense, in which things such as education, transportation, public health, etc., are seen as benefitting the
population as a whole.-
61
The
it
Seventh
fulfill
Regiment
National
armory
shows
existence
is
connected
It
is
and art exhibits,
of importance
previous
members
In
1984,
only does
the needs of other
gathering
spot,
club.
On the other hand,
and one which
emphasis
it
hosts
Hence, its
I visited
had
fallen
the Squadron A
on hard
times
on the equestrian aspects of its
importance
of Squadron A that no one protested
early
serves
and houses a tennis
The building was of so little
unit.
it
Not
to a wide group of people not even remotely
an armory,
because of its
but
a social
to the National Guard.
armory was just
multi-functional.
Guard functions,
people and groups as well.
fashion
is
the site
its
to members
and
former
demolition.
of the Squadron A armory,
and
the Seventh Regiment armory, and came away with a sense of irony.
For all
the work and emotion expended over the course of nearly a
decade,
the
promises
only partially
plans
for
IS
the egalitarian
children
of the Upper East
awareness,
their
1975....
and]
kids
and
fulfilled.
McCarthy,
ween 1972 and
29
innovative
According
school
Yorkville,
was a time
playground
to the Principal
that was to have
Side and
[This
its
integrated
[any
further
flavor of their community."
It
is
south]....they
wanted
The school building itself
attended by gifted
children
City.
62
school-
of rising minority selfdid not want
to
retain
was
by nearby Hunter College and turned into a college-affiliated
school.
Karen
"failed sometime bet-
the people to the north of 96th Street
sent
were
from all
the
taken over
exam
over
New York
As far as the prize winning design of the school,
said,
The
"...it
is
well-hated...no
innovative
building's
design has had
few windows
glass and
thus,
are in
its
should
look like
the
stairwells.
scratched,
The school
relies
Most of the
They're made of plexi-
giving the stairwells
an eerie,
on a ventilating system,
lowest bidder,
and hence,
There
according
are no solid walls
folding partitions
McCarthy
an armory."
share of problems.
after a decade of being cleaned of grit
thoroughly
correctly.
school
Dr.
and dirt,
are
semi-lit
look.
which was installed
to Dr.
McCarthy,
between
allow noise to travel
by the
never works
the classrooms,
and
the
from one classroom to the
next.
Sadly,
the
towers
which some had
once envisioned
as
part of the
playground are closed off to the public for insurance reasons.
festivals
and plays
that
some hoped would
utilize
The
the towers as a
backdrop never materialized.
There is
also something ironic about
A stroll
through
surprise
after
display
in
its
richly panelled
another.
one room.
In
and mother-of-pearl.
interiors
A magnificent
another,
Handsome
Breathtaking
stained glass panels
atmosphere.
This richness
and
the Seventh Regiment armory.
brings
collection
the ceiling
portraits
of silver
is
inlaid
are
hung
and windows also
splendor
one enchanting
indicate
is
on
with silver
on
the
walls.
lend to the plush
both a physical
and
social permanence and immutability.
A walk up the grand staircase
It
is
here
that, by law,
threadbare,
hemmed
in
by
and
sickly,
reveals a totally
homeless people are
they
sit
on rows
Unshaven,
of chairs or on benches,
velvet ropes and guarded by MP's.
63
sheltered.
different world.
The
Seventh
Regiment
and
its
allies
fought
variety of reasons,
the development
not the
some
of
contrast
armory,
New York's
poorest
and
Now they find
most disturbed
between the wealth of the first
and
the
for a
least of which was an aversion to changes
in the armory or in the neighborhood.
to
plans for the armory site
poverty of the
residents
in irony.
64
floor
themselves
residents.
of this
of the second
hosts
The
magnificent
floor
is
rich
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Avitabile, James Anthony.
The Landmarks Preservation
the City of New York.
Master's Thesis.
Ithaca:
sity School of Architecture,
1966.
Commission of
Cornell Univer-
Hosmer, Charles B..
Presence of the Past: A History of the Preservation Movement in the United States Before Williamsburg. New York:
Putnam,
1965.
King, Moses.
King's Handbook of New York City:
An Outline and Description of the American Metropolis.
Boston: Moses King, 1892.
Mahon, John K..
History of the
York: Macmillan, 1983.
Militia
and the National
Guard.
New
National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Historic Preservation
Today:
Essays Presented to the Seminar on Preservation and Restoration.
Charlottesville:
The University Press of Virginia,
1966.
National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Preservation and Conservation Principles and Practices.
Washington, D.C.: The Smithsonian
Institution Press, 1976.
Pyke,
John S., Jr..
Landmark Preservation.
Research Foundation, Inc., no date.
United States Conference of Mayors.
Random House,
1966.
The Consolidated Laws of New York,
Edward Thompson, 1953.
New York:
Citizens Union
With Heritage So Rich.
Book 35:
Military Law.
New York:
Brooklyn:
Journal Articles
"The Armory," The New Yorker, No. 42, May 14,
Koch,
1966.
Robert, "The Medieval Castle Revival: New York Armories,"
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Volume XIV,
No. 3, October 1955.
Schuyler,
No.
Montgomery,
"Two
New Armories," The Architectural
91, April 1906.
"Institution
Row,"
Avenue,
November 1982.
65
Record,
Pamphlets
The
New York State National
Regiment," 1875.
Guard,
"The
New Armory of the
The Seventh Regiment, "The Grand Old Armory," no date.
Interviews
Lloyd Garrison, March 1984. (phone)
Morton Lawrence, March 6, 1984.
Robert
Low,
March 6,
1984.
Karen McCarthy, March 8, 1984.
Roger Starr, March 7, 1984.
Anthony Vaccarello, March 1984. (phone)
June Wilson, March 9, 1984.
66
Seventh
NOTES ON METHODOLOGY
I employed various methods in carrying out this research.
I
familiarized myself with
mainly
through
Second,
I
armories.
ducted
Third,
also gathered
am)
I
traveled
fruitful
a
and
of historic
discussions
interviews,
in
as
both in
of June Wilson,
was very active
with
I
Boyer.
could
find
on the
there,
I con-
the fight
person and by phone.
from the
who,
preservation
Christine
to New York City. While
lot of written material
and the files
Club,
philosophies
read as many New York Times articles
several
files,
readings,
the
First,
CHPC files,
the
I
LPC
through the Cosmopolitan
to Save the Seventh.
I was (and
dismayed that the Board of Education did not grant me access to
the records concerning
neither
the time nor the
Intermediate School 29.
resources
to
fight
67
it
out.
However,
I possess
Elf
DOE
I-1
-w
Ti
1C..
nr
-W
O
t
..
JS-
...
-N
- -, 'f ,
-7Seventh Regiment Armory
--
1960's
Squadron A Armory --
1960's