Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-20
THE cHArHA1rs ARmoRY.
The improvements Contemplated and
in Pr0gress.


One Of the most prominent and familiar
structures that has occu pied site IN the
central portion Of the city during the last
thirty years or more is the armory Of
the Chatham Artillery. There is, in fact
no building in Savannah that is more ia
mihar to military men. Nearly every
resident in the city can recall the archi-
tecu1ral appearance Of the structure with
out difficulty. During the past ten days,
however, quite transformation has
been IN progress, and within the next
three months. when the work OF charging
and Of improving tine building shall have
been completed there viii be few hand
s0mer armories Of its size in this portion
OF the country.
The idea Of remodeling the armOry was
suggested a few months ago, in anticipa-
ton of the centennial celebration Of the
company. which VIII take place in May,
1856. The matter was discussed at
several successive meetings, and a build
ing committee was appointed to have the
idea carried out. This committee, com
posed Of Second Lieut.. George b. Clarke,
CnaiTman Capt. John F. Wheaton.
Treasurer, and Priyates George Turner
and II. q. Ward, promptly suggested
plans for executing the work, the archi-
tectural features being cOnhded
10 Lieut.. Clarke. This gen
tleman prepared three designs, each Of
which was unanimously adopted in It's
turn when presented for the cOnsidera-
tion Of the members Of the company, the
third plan being given the preference over
the other two previously adopted. This
plan called for the enlargement OF the
structure simply by adding height Of
three feet OF brick to the main walls and
by substituting Il mansard roof with re-
lieving towers, four in number, one at
each corner OF the structure. BY this
means "a way was assured for raising the
interior ceiling Of the upper story and for
securing number Of additional rooms by
dividing the area Immediately beneath
the roof.
The other main features in the line Of
the suggested improvement Of the struc-
ture consist In providing two entrances
to the front Of the building instead OF one
and in making the building Ia o on Bull
street and Wright square instead Of on
State street.
The entrance to the armory proper,
where the guns are stored, IS therefore
located near the southeast corner Of the
building, while that opening into the hall
and at the foot OF the stairway, which
leads across the north end OF the build
ing to the ball room and assembly room,
IS located near the northeast corner.
The other suggested improvements are
principally ornamental, the exception
being the lifting up Of the cOmmoiiOus
rooms referred 70 Immediately under the
mansard root for gymnasium, smoking
room, billiard room, etc. The timbers
which are 70 assist in sustaining the
weight of the new roof have been placed
in position, aud 1t is expected that the
structure will be wholly rooted
IN with the new sheathing by TO-
morrow night, 50 that the
work Of making the roof perfectly
weather tight, so TO speak, by the add
ton Of Kalameined iron shingles may be
commenced next week. When this work
shall have been finished the old roof will
be torn OF aud the work Of raising the in
terror ceiling will begin. Il is unneces-
sary az this time 70 refer TO the decorations
which viii be made 10 the interior,
as that portion Of the work will not be
commenced until some time during Au
gust. The work OF Ornamenting the cxte-
riOr will be commenced, however, in
few days, or as soon as the old roof shall
have been removed. The height of the
mansard roof above the caps Of the main
wallis Is about o feet 6 inches. The four
towers, ornamented by an attractive pa
Yili0n cOrnice, light iron ratings, ar
rOw-pointed finals and dOrmer win
of about three feet above the main roof,
while over the centre Of the structure
fronting on Bull street handsome pedes-
tai Of iron will be erected This pedestal
will show on the east side monogram
formed Of the letters G.. A. The summit
OF the pedestal will be ornamented with
statue ten feet in height representing
mamber Of the company in full uniform.
Ia the rear Of the figure will be placed
a piece Of artillery made Of Spanish brass.
This piece will be mounted aud will
always he kept polished as a contrast TO
the cOlOrs OF the uniform on the statue.
The statue Is expected TO arrive next
week. The Jour towers of the armory
Will each support flagstaff Is feet in
height. At the centre of the structure
a flagstaff 30 feet in height will
also be placed and used as the staff for
the company cOlors. The cornce Of the
new root will project thirty inches beyond
the face OF the walls. and will be support
ed by "A number of massive but handsome
iron brackets. 1t is expected that the
improvements will be completed about
the middle Of next September.
The entire work is beng done under the
immediate supervision of Lieut.. Clarke
as architect.