The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-11-17

Inc new armOry is a real fortress,
and not only appears SO to the eye,
but could become veritable refuge
in case of defense. 1t is unique in
its construction, and is sure to re-
ceive admiration from military au-
thorities, the country over Origin
ally the plans called for structure,
similar to that at Pine Grove; but,
after much deliberation by the Arm
ory Board, it was decided to accept
the new type of building. The Arm
ory is situated on historic ground.
near Irving Cliff, and from it's
mount one can obtain clear view of
the country for miles around. The
Armory is a masterpiece of architec-
ture, and in its imposing position,
is a show spot of Wayne county.
Mccormick and French were the ar
chitects.
The Honesdale company is well
deserving of it's handsome Armory.
Years ago the company had a build
ing OF its own, managed by trustees,
but so heavily mortgaged, that with
out State assistance, it could not be
maintained. 1t was finally sold, and
is now the home of a skating rink.
In the meanwhile the company, rec
ognized as one of the very best in
the National Guard, has been poorly
quartered over store buildings, while
the State property has been housed
in stable. Within a recent per-
iod, the State and United States in
spectors condemned this method of
storing Government property, scent
ed with the atmosphere of an ami
NAL retreat The company officers
in fact, were so discouraged with
the conditions that the future of the
unite rested in grave doubt for some
time. Captain Carroll J. Kelley was
equal to the emergency, however,
and to his untiring zeal, coupled
with the responsive interest of the
members of the Armory Board, and
the patriotism of residents, is due
the dawn of better things in the
military history of Honesdale
Captain Kelley is indebted in great
measure to the patriotic impulses of
the citizens of Honesdale Through
the earnest endeavors of E. B. Har-
denbergh, Homer Greene, John ID.
Weston, Myron e. Simons, Judge A.
I. Searle, who constituted a local
Armory Board, and who visited
Gettysburg and presented the cause
to the attention of Governor Edwin
S. Stuart and Adjutant General
Stewart and the members of the
State Armory Biard, the acquire
ment of the new building is in great
part a reality.
The Thirteenth Regiment is a ui-
rect outgrowth of the Scranton City
Guards. This battalion, of four
companies, was organized in 1877,
for the protection of that city.
uac daoidad 70 fo,,,o11-- ,oo,
ganize the Citizens Corps into
company of the National Guard. The
Scranton City Guards was the out
come The number of enlistments,
however, warranted four companies,
and consequently battalion was
recruited, The formal election of
officers of the companies took place
on August 13, 1877. Henry M.
Boies was chosen as Major of the
battalion on the following evening.
The times were still far from
quiet, however. THE continuance
of the lawless spirit in the region
was manifested in attempts to in
timidate and injure the engineers,
who were running the pumps at the
mines, and the Guardsman placed
for their protection" writes DR.. Lo-
gan. "On the 27th of August there
was created positive excitement
and indignation by a dastardly at
tempt to wreck a train on the d. &
H. Company's Gravity road, which
was carrying an excursion of citizens
with their wives to Honesdale. This
excursion was gotten up especially
for the benefit of Col. Morrow and a
company of the United States officers,
who were in command of the troops
stationed here. This attempt was
made by the displacement and spik-
ing of switch at a culvert, over
ravine, some forty feet deep. The
party providentially escaped with
some severe bruises, a brakeman
alone having been seriously wound
ed. This dastardly wickedness
deeply impressed the people with a
sense of the dangers to which the
city was yet exposed, and the work
of drilling the companies went on
with renewed energy"
On November IA, the cornerstone
of an Armory for the new organiza-
tion, was laid with impressive exer-
cises. On November "a, steps were
begun for the incorporation of the
battalion as the Scranton City Guard
Association. The charter was grant
ed on January IA, following