The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-02-26
OUR STRONG FORTRESS
Description Of the Armory and
Incidents in Connection
With Its Progress.

The new armory is in every respect
a model structure 1t compares most
favorably with the best armories in the
big city across the river. fact which
will earn for the regiment more consider
alton than has been given to it in the
past.
The history Of the Fourth's armory
dates as far back as 1870. for in January
of that year the subject of an armory
for the regiment was first talked of.
AT a meeting of the Board of officers,
held on February u following, COM
mirtee was appointed to confer with
the Committee on Consolidation Of the
CITIES of Jersey City. Bergen, Hudson
City. ETC.. to insert in the new charter
authority to build an armory for the
militia of Jersey City" The committee
met with no success and the matter was
abandoned until September. 1879, when
Captain G. B. Fielder, Lieutenant Colonel
Schafer and Captains Hamilton and
Wanser were appointed a committee to
devise ways and means .for raising
money to erect a regimental armory. At
the November meeting Captains Laws
and Shrope were added to the commit
tee. This committee was also unsuccess-
full
In 1883 a bill was introduced into the
Legislature by Frank o. Cole providing
for an armory. to cost, with site, not
more than $40. 0tu. The city was to bear
the cost; bonds were to be issued, pay
able in twenty years, and were to bear
per cent. interest. Although this act
was approved March 23 1893, no advant-
age was ever taken of 1t.
In 1887 Colonel Samuel Dickinson, who
was then member of Assembly, secured
the passage of an act which was approx
ed April Is, 1887. authorizing the Mayor
buildings upon property now owned. by
such city, or to purchase other lands on
which to erect such buildings for City
City Prison" They were authorized to
sell public lands and buildings and to
issue per cent; bonds to raise a sum
'aAsn IA 50 RAISE MONEY.
The act under. which the present armory
was built was introduced by Mr.. Rogers,
and was approved by Governor Albeit.
March %, 1883. The act constituted the
State Military Board as a commission
to purchase ground and erect armories
in the cities of the first and second class.
The county was required to appropriate
81, 600 to pay for the ground, grasd9inog, s9i AK
to erect the building. In 1892 an act was
passed authorizing the county to appro-
pirate an additional $4,000, and the city
was also authorized to appropriate a like
amount OF this only 5000 has been ap-
propriated by the city. In 1888 Assem-
blyman Timothy j. carroll, of this
creasing the State appropriation to $685.
900. In 1894, Mr. Carroll also secured an
additional appropriation OF $4,000. The
original plans called for brick struc-
ture, but the additional appropriations
made it possible for the administration
building to be cqnstructed Of rich 4. nToWn WI
and grounds foots up about S181,0C9.
The armory is $50 feet front on Bergen
avenue by 226 feet on Church street.
AS the plot runs at an angie on Bergen
avenue, the south side of the building
is somewhat shorter. The administration
building is three stories in height, or
bepaaTafae beautT in spite of this. The walls Of
the administration building, $50 feet on
street, are of broken ashlar rock-faced
brown stone, with trimmings of the
same material. The battlements and
many turrets clearly indicate ns pur-
ALL READY FOR AN ENEMY.
The main entrance is on the corner
at Bergen g and am arebwev q
feet wide the keystone being 16 feet
from the ground. On either side of the
ioophoIes or enfilades. available, in case
of an attack on the Armory. The mas
siye doors of the entrance are the first
Of their kind in the Sta State; 4n The etit,9 two
They work on pivots, not being hung
on hinges as ordinary doors. Each sec
ton is bolted at thee, top and bottom
knob. BY turning the knob the bolts
are thrown back and the doors can be
opened The section nearest the centre
swings outward and folds against the
other The second section swings inward,
leaving the entrance free and clear.
That part of the building where the
entrance is located is made. prominent by
the semi-circular shape of the wail,w h ch
improves the outward appearance of the
building. Above the arch to the, right
stone M blocks are two shields. On the
one to the right is the coat-of-arms of
the State. with the letters N. G. n.
J.,' standing out in bold relief. The
one to the left gives place to the Stars
and Stripes and the inscription, '4th
Regiment
from where the brick wall begins, is
a small entrance which will be used as
a general entrance by the members OF
the regiment. The main entrance will
the Church street entrance is large
square turret, one OF the largest on IN the
brown stone trimmings.
BATTLEMENTED WALLS.
The brick wall which marks the drill
shed begins on Church street, forty
Tuers avenue a distance of Isl feet
thence along Tuers avenue, las feet
inches thence to Bergen avenue a dis
tance of 226 feet inches. Like the front
wall the brick walls on Church stree;
and Tuers avenue are battlemsnted. On
the corner of Tuers avoaue and Church
street there is round shaped turret
and another where the other end of this
Tuers avenue wall joins the side wall
In all there are six turrets. The drill
shed has a pitched roof, covered with
slate. In the highest point of the shed
and running along the centre is sky,
light 100 feet long. 30 feet high and Il
feet across This furnishes ample light
for the drill room in day time.
The massive shed is supported by seven
latter being on the Tuers avenue side.
The trusses are the largest ever made
in this city. Each truss weighs AZ tons
and the hip truSses weigh between =
and % ton each. The span of the main
truSseS is 140 feet.
The drill room is 140x175 feet in the
clear, the highest point of the roof being
rs feet above the floor The floor is OF
hard well seasoned maple and is tough
er than the ordinary bowling alley. Tae
room are painted light yellow. bal
cony eleven feet vide and ten feet above
the floor extends along the four walls.
To the north of the entrance is small
ticket office. The room south Of the en-
trance is reserved for the Arrnorer, Drum
Major Brownlee. A place Is provided
for a forge, anvil and the other imple-
nlenFs required by him. The entrance is
protected by loop hole in the south
side of the. Armorer's room. ard snothe er
in the south side of the Armorer's room
Commands a sweep of Bergen avenue as
- - HANDsOMl QUARTERS.
n. u t.-e.k