The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-24
NATIONAL GUARD ARMoRlEs
Capt. L. D. Taylor Of 6rattIeborc
Trying to Start Something.

Trying TO start Something.
1t is the commendable purpose of
the officers of the Vermont National
Guard to create in this state senti-
ment that will secure for the stale
militia suitable quarters for the var
ious companies, in the way of mod
ern and thoroughly equipped armor-
les, such quarters being essential to
the maintenance of the state military
organization. Men conversant with
military matters are recognizing the
fact that the interest of the men in
the state militia is not nearly askeen
as it ought 10 be and that a lack of
suitable quarters for the companies,
if allowed to continue, will result in
the adjustment of the national guard
The legislature OF 1910 created a
board OF armory commissioners with
authority to acquire property for the
use Of the companies of the regiment
and TO contract for the construction
of armores in towns contributing not
less than 20 per cent of the cost of
the building and site. 1t was pro
vded that the expense to the state
should not exceed $4,000 for any one
armory and that the expense should
be met from the general appropria-
ton OF the military department of
the state. On the strength of that
statute three towns desiring armor-
les made appropriations at the last
March meetings. Brattleboro voted
$4,000
II has been found that out OF the
general appropriation of $4,000 d
year for the military department il
is impossible to save enough to meet
the needs of the regiment in the mat
ter OF armories, and the officers have
been unwilling to use what money
could be saved for erecting inferior
buildings which forever would be I'M
suitable and a disappointment On
the occasion OF the recent officers
school Or instruction at Plattsbgrg,
~ Y, the subject was discussed and
committee OF ~ was appointed to
see what could be done in the way of
securing ample provision The chair
man OF that committee Is Captain
End Quartermaster Linn D. Taylor OF
Brattleboro Two subcommittee
were appointed, one legislative
committee TO undertake a revision OF
the military laws TO remove their
ambiguity, and the other a commit
toe to bring about the organization
of a National Guard association for
Vermont 10 create a deeper interest
in the regiment It is purposed to
seek a larger appropriation at the
hands of the legislature so that in
stead OF a meagre sum of $4,000 or
less being available for armory pur-
poses about $4,000 may be available
each year until all the companies are
provided for, the different towns to
furnish sites or money for their pur-
chase.
With view to giving the public
an idea of what could be done for
that amount Captain Taylor has had
Architect Paul r. Henkel OF New
York, a Brattleboro boy. inspect Mas
sachusetts armories and draw plans
and a perspective Of a model one
company armory.
The head house is two stories high
with basement and is 80 feet wide.
The drill hall in the rear is two
stories high but without an excava-
ton under it except as hereinafter
stated. The drill bali is 40 feet wide
by 100 feet long, the entire length OF
the building being lao feet The ex-
terror of red brick and gray stone,
with its turreted tower, is very i'm
posing and cleverly designed, having
all the dignity OF an old feudal cas-
tie
On the first floor a corridor from
the central entrance leads past
rooms on either side, across an inter
secting corridor and past more rooms
to the drill hall At the right OF the
entrance Is a reception room and
reading room and still farther TO the
right is corner billiard room. To
the left is room for the non-com
missioned officers and in the left
hand corner the company, quarters
Beyond the intersecting corridor Is
gun and locker room at the right
and a gymnasium and mess hall at
the left Then comes the drill hall.
From right to left across the front
OF the second story are six rooms as
follows: Band, bandmaster and mu.
sic, stan officers directly over the
entrancel, lieutenants. first sergeant
captain. A corridor runs crosswise
of the building next beyond these
rooms, at one end OF which are tot
let's. Beyond the corridor is a large
gallery over the front end OF the
drill hall.
In the basement under the head
house are storage, toilet, shower
bath and dressing room accommoda-
tons, a magazine vault and rooms
for the use of quarter master and
janitor. An excavation under the
left side of the drill hall provides for
kitchen and boiler and coal rooms
and under the right side for q shoot.
ing gallery and bowling alley Am.
pie provision is made for light. air
and iireplaces In armories not
needing accommodations for band
there would be excellent facilities for
the regular meetings OF the Grand
Army posts.-F'rom The Vermont
Phoenix Nov 8