369th Regiment Armory explained

369th Regiment Armory
Location:2366 Fifth Avenue, New York City
Coordinates:40.8175°N -73.9347°W
Architect:Tachau & Vought; Van Wart & Wein
Architecture:Art Deco
Added:January 28, 1994
Refnum:93001537
Designated Other2 Name:New York City Landmark
Designated Other2 Date:May 14, 1985
Designated Other2 Abbr:NYCL
Designated Other2 Link:New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
Designated Other2 Number:1390
Designated Other2 Color:
  1. FFE978

The 369th Regiment Armory is a historic National Guard Armory building located at 2366 Fifth Avenue, between West 142nd and 143rd Streets, in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. It was built for the 369th Regiment, also known as the "Harlem Hellfighters", founded in 1913 as the first National Guard unit in New York State composed solely of African-Americans. It later became home to the 369th Sustainment Brigade.

The 369th Regiment Armory includes two structures. The administration building, built in the Art Deco style between 1930 and 1933, was designed by John S. Van Wart and Sidney Wein. The attached medieval-inspired drill shed, built between 1921 and 1924, was designed by Tachau and Vought and measures 50000square feet. Both sections are constructed of brick. The armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994, and was designated as a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1985.

History

Context

After the American Civil War ended, the New York state government passed a law, which mandated that armories be erected for volunteer regiments by each of the individual counties. This resulted in the Armory Board of the City of New York being created in April 1884. The board erected many of Manhattan's armories: prior to the board's establishment, only one armory had been built in Manhattan, the Seventh Regiment Armory on the Upper East Side.[1] [2] As such, most volunteer regiments drilled in any available space, such as public markets or rented building lofts.

By the late 19th and early 20th century, the former Dutch colonial settlement of Harlem was being developed into a primarily African-American neighborhood, having become accessible via the newly built New York City Subway.[3] In the 1910s, a hundred members of a community center in Harlem stated their intention to join the military.[4] The 15th Regiment, whose parent unit was constituted in the New York Army National Guard in 1913, was officially organized three years later, in preparation for being deployed to France during World War I. The 15th was the first National Guard regiment constituted based on race, as it was composed primarily of African Americans, but also included servicemembers from Puerto Rico, the West Indies, Canada, and several countries in Europe and Africa.[5] The regiment reached its full strength of 2,000 men by 1917, and trained in New York and South Carolina because they did not yet have their own armory.[6] The 15th Regiment was reorganized as the 369th in 1918. The 369th Regiment had returned from France by February 1919; a parade for the regiment was held on Fifth Avenue.[7]

Construction

The 369th Regiment (also known by their nickname, the "Harlem Hell Fighters") was initially housed at Astor Row on West 130th Street. However, as a result of the unit's reorganization, the Armory Board was now obligated to create an armory for the 369th Regiment. The city's acting mayor promised an armory structure to the 369th Regiment in 1919.[8] Funding for the 369th Regiment Armory was approved by the city in July 1921.[9] The initial plans called for building only the drill shed; an administration building was required for the armory to be fully functional.

The city located a site on Fifth Avenue between 142nd and 143rd Streets and demolished the tenements there. Work on the armory's drill shed was begun with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 1921.[10] This was followed by a request for proposals to design the drill shed, for which five firms submitted bids.[11] Tachau and Vought, who had previously designed the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, won the commission and designed the structure in the Romanesque style. Post & McCord were selected as the contractors. The cost of the drill shed was estimated at $700,000, and the administration building, another $500,000.[12] The cornerstone was laid in November 1923, when construction was already progressing.[13] and the drill shed was finished the following November at a cost of $800,000.[14]

The rest of the block was purchased by the city in 1929, in preparation for the administration building's construction. In 1930, the Armory Board submitted plans for the $1 million administration building to the New York City Board of Estimate. The new building would include a shooting range, auditorium, mess hall, and rooftop tennis courts.[15] Twelve firms submitted designs for the drill shed,[16] and the commission was ultimately given to the lowest bidder, John S. Van Wart and Sidney Wein.[17] Work started in 1931 after the C & W Construction Company were named as the contractors. The administration building was completed in 1933. However, the New York Daily News reported in January 1934 that the 369th Regiment had refused to accept title to the administration building, citing various work defects such as a leaky roof. As a result, the Armory Board opened an investigation into the construction of the 369th Administration Building.[18]

Use

In 1934, during the Great Depression, the 369th Regiment Armory and Brooklyn's 14th Regiment Armory were used as temporary homeless shelters.[19] Two years later, the armory exhibited artwork from 40,000 people that had been hired through the Works Progress Administration.[20] The 369th Regiment Armory also hosted sporting events, such as track and field competitions[21] and tennis matches.[22] Other events hosted at the armory included a speech by Black Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad in 1964,[23] and a soccer demonstration from Brazilian soccer player Pelé in 1978.[24]

The 369th Armory was again used as a temporary shelter during early 1981 due to extreme cold weather.[25] By the 1980s, existing homeless shelters in New York City had become overcrowded, so the city started opening new shelters in armories.[26] In 1982, the state turned over the 369th Regiment Armory to the city so that the latter could open a 200-bed men's homeless shelter.[27] However, the 369th Sustainment Brigade still operated out of the armory.[28] In the 1990s, the 369th Regiment Armory received part of a $390,000 funding allocation that had been made available as part of the city's Tax Syndication Sharing Program. The funds were intended for the armory's restoration.[29] The structure was protected as a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1985, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

As part of the New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 369th Regiment Armory was planned to be used for boxing and rhythmic gymnastics if the city were to win the Olympic bid.[30] The armory, which still remained decrepit, would have been restored.[31] These plans were canceled when the bid was rejected in 2005.[32] The Police Athletic League of New York City used part of the 369th Regiment Armory's drill shed as a community center starting in 2006.[33] The Harlem Children's Zone also operated programs in the armory, taking about half of the space.[34] In September 2012, a community program painted a mural on the armory's walls that was devoted to the 369th Regiment's history.[35] Soon afterward, in October 2012, the armory partially flooded during Hurricane Sandy.[36]

The 369th Regiment Armory temporarily closed for renovations in 2014. At the time, it was expected to be renovated into a museum showing 369th Regiment memorabilia.[37] The 369th Brigade moved back to the space in November 2018.[38] However, the armory remained closed to civilians due to a lead cleanup project, which prevented civilians from reentering the facility until the cleanup was complete.[39] Despite fears that children at the armory may have been susceptible to lead poisoning for over a decade, state officials said that the cleanup was limited to the basement, which was off-limits to kids.

Description

The 369th Regiment Armory is located between West 142nd and 143rd Streets at 2360 Fifth Avenue, along the western sidewalk of the avenue. It is the northernmost building on Fifth Avenue.[40] The armory is composed of two structures in contrasting architectural styles: the medieval-style drill shed and the Art Deco-style administration building. The armory occupies nearly its entire lot, which measures 199feet from north to south and 510feet from west to east. It is associated with the 369th Regiment, the first African-American regiment in the New York Army National Guard. The surrounding areas are composed of industrial buildings, while the Harlem River Drive runs on the opposite side of Fifth Avenue across from the armory.

The AIA Guide to New York City described the armory as "a superb example of the bricklayer's art" and that the brickwork "exhibit[s] an Art Deco/Moderne style rather than an attempt to reconstruct a medieval fortress".[41]

Administration building

The -story, rectangular administration building features a terracotta parapet embellished with chevron designs and stylized eagles.[42] The basement is raised by half a story and contains a water table made of red sandstone. Throughout the building, the first-story windows contain iron grilles with decorations depicting maces and stars.

The main facade, to the east, contains numerous recessed and projecting sections, alternating with each other. This facade contains its main entrance pavilion in the center, and two asymmetric side pavilions to the north and south. Above the entrance pavilion is a sandstone surround, which contains the carved letters "369th Infantry N.Y.C." and is flanked by eagle-wing motifs that contain lanterns. The raised basement also contains entrances surrounded with sandstone trim. Adjacent to the eastern facade is a circular driveway with an adjacent small parking lot. A small lawn is located between the driveway and Fifth Avenue. A statue to the 369th Regiment stands across Fifth Avenue from the administration building.[43] The northern and southern facades are located next to the sidewalks of 143rd and 142nd Streets, respectively.

Inside, the corridors contain terrazzo tile floors as well as cornices with chevron motifs. A company meeting room is located at the administration building's southeast corner and includes parquet floors, a fireplace with a carved mantel, walls with walnut-wood paneling, and plaster walls and ceilings.

As originally proposed, the administration building was supposed to be five stories high and measuring 200feetby200feetft (byft), surrounding a courtyard with dimensions of 75feetby100feetft (byft). The ground floor was to contain various living quarters, an officers' mess, a 600-person entertainment room, and a reception room. Above that, each of the regiments' companies would have their own floor, and a top-floor suite for the regiment's colonel.

Drill shed

The drill shed is stories, with a clerestory level on the top story, and measures 300feet from west to east. Like the administration building, it contains a terracotta parapet, with a gable roof behind it. The northern and southern facades are articulated with vertical brick buttresses, which divide each facade into 15 vertical bays. On each facade, there is a central pavilion that measures three bays wide, as well as side pavilions that each measure six bays wide. The side entrances are framed with medieval-styled sandstone.

The interior features three tiers of balconies on all four sides with a seating capacity of 6,000–7,000. When it opened, the New York Age described it as having dimensions of 200feetby300feetft (byft), with a gallery capacity of 5,000.

See also

References

Citations

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Koch. Robert. October 1955. The Medieval Castle Revival: New York Armories. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. 14. 3. 23–29. 10.2307/987824. 987824. December 20, 2019. June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154914/https://online.ucpress.edu/jsah/article-abstract/14/3/23/55620/The-Medieval-Castle-Revival-New-York-Armories?redirectedFrom=fulltext. live.
  2. Web site: Sixty-Ninth Regiment Armory. April 12, 1983. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. 6. December 6, 2019. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220152250/http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/lp/1228.pdf. live.
  3. Book: Osofsky, G.. Harlem, the Making of a Ghetto: Negro New York, 1890-1930. Ivan R. Dee. 1996. 978-1-56663-104-4. Elephant paper. 75–76. December 20, 2019. September 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200915035642/https://books.google.com/books?id=-r-AcKenha4C. live.
  4. News: NEGROES PLAN A REGIMENT.; Hold Drills Uptown and Seek Places in Preparedness Parade.. May 3, 1916. The New York Times. December 20, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220152241/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/05/03/archives/negroes-plan-a-regiment-hold-drills-uptown-and-seek-places-in.html. live.
  5. Web site: 369th NY Infantry Regiment during World War One. October 1, 2002. NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. December 20, 2019. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220152245/https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/reghist/wwi/infantry/369thInf/369thInfMain.htm. live.
  6. Book: Williams, Charles Halston. Negro Soldiers in World War I: The Human Side. 1923. AMS Press. 978-0-404-06976-6. 197. en. December 20, 2019. September 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200915000229/https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006028938. live.
  7. News: CITY'S NEGRO FIGHTERS PARADE 5TH AV. TODAY; Col. Hayward's Regiment Will Follow Jazz Band into the Heart of Its Harlem Home.. February 17, 1919. The New York Times. December 20, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220182959/https://www.nytimes.com/1919/02/17/archives/citys-negro-fighters-parade-5th-av-today-col-haywards-regiment-will.html. live.
  8. News: PROMISES ARMORY TO NEGRO FIGHTERS; Acting Mayor Moran Says Entire City Favors Proposalfor 15th Regiment.WHITMAN PRAISES RECORD Ex-Governor Attends Reception to369th Infantry by Mother Regiment in 7th Armory. Urges Need for an Armory.. February 24, 1919. The New York Times. December 20, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220181620/https://www.nytimes.com/1919/02/24/archives/promises-armory-to-negro-fighters-acting-mayor-moran-says-entire.html. live.
  9. News: New York City Board Appropriates Funds for Building Armory for the Fifteenth Infantry, Harlem's Own Boys. July 16, 1921. The New York Age. December 20, 2019. 1. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40867679/new-york-city-board-appropriates-funds/. live.
  10. News: STARTS 15TH'S ARMORY.; Mayor Breaks Ground for Negro Regiment's New Headquarters.. November 7, 1921. The New York Times. December 20, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191220181621/https://www.nytimes.com/1921/11/07/archives/starts-15ths-armory-mayor-breaks-ground-for-negro-regiments-new.html. live.
  11. News: Five Bids Submitted for Armory of 369th Regiment. July 1, 1922. The New York Age. December 20, 2019. 30. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154912/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40867418/five-bids-submitted-for-armory-of-369th/. live.
  12. News: 369th Armory as it Appears at Present Stage of Erection. March 3, 1923. The New York Age. December 20, 2019. 1. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154912/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40867562/369th-armory-as-it-appears-at-present/. live.
  13. News: Hylan to Lay Cornerstone for New 369th Regiment Armory. May 26, 1923. Brooklyn Standard Union. December 20, 2019. 2. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40869042/hylan-to-lay-cornerstone-for-new-369th/. live.
  14. News: 369th Armory in Possession of Regiment. November 15, 1924. The New York Age. December 20, 2019. 1. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2022096/369tharmory/. live.
  15. News: $1,000,000 ARMORY TO ADD RIFLE RANGE; Completed Plans Also Call for Auditorium Equipped for Talking Pictures. TENNIS COURTS ON ROOF Kitchen and Mess Hall Large Enough to Feed All Companies of 369th Infantry.. November 3, 1930. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221030850/https://www.nytimes.com/1930/11/03/archives/1000000-armory-to-add-rifle-range-completed-plans-also-call-for.html. live.
  16. News: Contract Let for New 369th Infantry Armory Addition. March 21, 1931. The New York Age. December 20, 2019. 1. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154917/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40873071/contract-let-for-new-369th-infantry/. live.
  17. News: New York's Memorial to Her Colored Soldiers. June 21, 1930. The New York Age. December 20, 2019. 3. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154914/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40872879/new-yorks-memorial-to-her-colored/. live.
  18. News: Under New City Probe. January 17, 1934. New York Daily News. December 22, 2019. 57. newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154914/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40943024/under-new-city-probe/. live.
  19. News: Destitute Men Flock to Daytime Shelter. December 19, 1934. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 21, 2019. 4. Brooklyn Public Library; newspapers.com . June 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220628152831/https://bklyn.newspapers.com/clip/40872757/destitute-men-flock-to-daytime-shelter/. live.
  20. News: WORK DONE BY 40,000 IN WPA IS ON VIEW; Artistic Efforts of the White Collar Employes Shown in 369th Regiment Armory.. October 14, 1936. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050858/https://www.nytimes.com/1936/10/14/archives/work-done-by-40000-in-wpa-is-on-view-artistic-efforts-of-the-white.html. live.
  21. See, for instance:
  22. See, for instance:
  23. News: Muhammad to Speak Here. June 15, 1964. The New York Times. December 22, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222214224/https://www.nytimes.com/1964/06/15/archives/muhammad-to-speak-here.html. live.
  24. News: Pelé. July 11, 1978. The New York Times. December 22, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222214224/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/07/11/archives/pele-gives-a-lesson-for-life.html. live.
  25. News: THE CITY; 2 Armories to End Shelter Operations. 1981-01-26. The New York Times. 2019-12-22. en-US. 0362-4331. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222215358/https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/26/nyregion/the-city-2-armories-to-end-shelter-operations.html. live.
  26. News: Streetscapes: 13th Regiment Armory; A Brooklyn Fortress Yields to the Changing Times. Gray. Christopher. January 24, 1988. The New York Times. October 24, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. October 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191021224435/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/24/realestate/streetscapes-13th-regiment-armory-brooklyn-fortress-yields-changing-times.html. live.
  27. News: Harlem Armory Selected as Site for New Shelter. Barbanel. Josh. December 6, 1985. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050858/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/06/nyregion/harlem-armory-selected-as-site-for-new-shelter.html. live.
  28. News: Year Later, Hellfighters Feel Forgotten. Richardson. Lynda. January 26, 1992. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050855/https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/26/nyregion/year-later-hellfighters-feel-forgotten.html. live.
  29. News: City Yields on $600,000 for Housing. Lii. Jane H.. March 2, 1997. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050856/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/02/nyregion/city-yields-on-600000-for-housing.html. live.
  30. News: OLYMPICS; New York Taking First Step To Be Host for 2012 Games. Sandomir. Richard. July 31, 2001. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050855/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/31/sports/olympics-new-york-taking-first-step-to-be-host-for-2012-games.html. live.
  31. News: After Cheering Stops, Arenas Would Endure; New York Faces an Olympic Reality: Sites Can Become White Elephants. Bagli. Charles V.. June 3, 2005. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050857/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/nyregion/after-cheering-stops-arenas-would-endure-new-york-faces-an-olympic.html. live.
  32. News: Without Games, the Sites Pass From Future to Never. Bagli. Charles V.. July 7, 2005. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050901/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/07/nyregion/without-games-the-sites-pass-from-future-to-never.html. live.
  33. Web site: Kids spent decades playing in lead-tainted Harlem building. Campanile. Carl. Narizhnaya. Khristina. 2019-01-07. New York Post. en. 2019-12-22. Jaeger. Max. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222215359/https://nypost.com/2019/01/06/kids-spent-decades-playing-in-lead-tainted-harlem-building/. live.
  34. Web site: Harlem Armory declared safe for kids — despite lead dust. Campanile. Carl. 2019-01-08. New York Post. en. 2019-12-22. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222215359/https://nypost.com/2019/01/07/harlem-armory-declared-safe-for-kids-despite-lead-dust/. live.
  35. Web site: Harlem enlivened by colorful murals, eye-catching output of summer jobs program. Feiden. Douglas. September 13, 2012. nydailynews.com. December 22, 2019. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222215358/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/harlem-enlivened-colorful-murals-eye-catching-output-summer-jobs-program-article-1.1158055. live.
  36. Web site: Home of the historic Harlem Hell Fighters undergoing $42 million renovation. February 11, 2015. New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs News. December 22, 2019. August 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200811061629/http://dmna.ny.gov/news/?id=1423685311. live.
  37. News: A Life Dedicated to Raising the Profile of a Black Army Unit Overlooked by History. Garcia. Sandra E.. October 2, 2014. The New York Times. December 21, 2019. en-US. 0362-4331. December 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191221050901/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/03/nyregion/an-oversight-of-military-history-is-addressed-in-harlem.html. live.
  38. Web site: New York Soldiers Back Home in Harlem. November 10, 2018. DVIDS. December 22, 2019. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222221824/https://www.dvidshub.net/news/300320/new-york-soldiers-back-home-harlem. live.
  39. Web site: Harlem Youth Marines Program Battles to Keep Operating. Meminger. Dean. July 1, 2019. Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. December 22, 2019. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222215400/https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2019/08/01/harlem-youth-marines-program-battles-to-keep-operating. live.
  40. Web site: Don't Forget to Look Up: Fifth Avenue from 110th to 143rd Streets. 2013-10-10. Untapped New York. en-US. 2019-12-22. December 22, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191222221930/https://untappedcities.com/2013/10/10/dont-forget-to-look-up-fifth-avenue-north-of-central-park-from-110th-to-143rd-streets/. live.
  41. 538.
  42. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration: 369th Regiment Armory. Nancy L. Todd. December 1993. New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. March 19, 2011. October 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019113003/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=5793. live. See also: Web site: Accompanying four photos. March 20, 2011. October 19, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121019113034/http://www.oprhp.state.ny.us/hpimaging/hp_view.asp?GroupView=5792. live.
  43. Web site: Historical Sign Listings : NYC Parks. www.nycgovparks.org. 2019-12-22. August 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200804231442/https://www.nycgovparks.org/about/history/historical-signs/listings?id=19562. live.

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