St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-01-24
ARMORY NEARS
ITS COMPLETION
Structural Work Will Be Finished
By End Of Week---Is Convenient
ly And Comfortably Arranged
FORMAL OPENING SOON
Definite Time or Dedication Has Not
Been Set, But Is Thought 1t
VIII BE Near The
Middle OF
February

The Armory is nearing completion.
From sites CT the old landmarks that
We're on the Burnham lot, as it is
known. has risen another imposing
structure to take it's place with the
many other fine buildings for which
ST. Johnsbury is noted, both locally
and in distant parts Of New England.
Although not under contract to turn
the Armory over to the state author
tiles until February 1st it is asserted
on good authority that the structural
work will be finishd by the end of
the week.
Lounging and reading rooms, bill
lard rooms, lavatories, showers,
dressing and locker rooms conven-
iently arranged will add to the com
fort of it's future occupants. It's ap-
pointnents will be on a par with any
armoEy in the state, and as q home
for Co. D, whether it's work or play,
is unsurpassed.
Erected on a lot with &, frontage
Of 1872 feet and q depth of 157 feet,
the building is 20 feet across on the
entrance side, and ia fet long. A
projection of the drill shed makes
that part of the building several feet
wider.
Patterned after the medieval period
the front looms up, with its battle
ments and solid easements, like an
ancient castle. The broad cement
steps with their brick and cement
supporting sides lead to a low arch
entrance in which, from appearance,
might be found the portcullis Of the
tenth century blocking the entrance
to the broad hallway.
TO the left Of tho entrance and
in the tower is a small foen designed
for the use of the quartermaster-s ser
ge2nt Further to the1left along the
south side is a large room, which
will be used for Billiards or lounging.
'On the right of the entrance is an
+ other small tower room and further
, is a roomy office. Another contain
| ing Il sink with hot and cold water
has been provided for gun cleaning.
+ On the right center is room which
| will contain 105 lockers for the use
| of the company, and in which will
! be stored much Of the individual
| property of the men. At the end of
the hail. entered through large swing
ing doors, the upper half Of which is
! set with panes of rough plate glass,
/ is the drill shed.
With dimensions of 60 feet, six
inches 10y 81 feet, plenty Of room is
offered the company for drill prac-
/ tice. Being by far the largest hall
in the city it is expected that many
large conventions will meet there i'll
the future. Perfectly plain, with the
large supporting roof girders above,
and the brick walls broken only by
small rectangular windows it dilfuses
a feeling of its size and stability. Six
large tungstens, developing 1900 watts
| power, give a splendid illumination
Each light is operated from a separ-
ate switch set in a concealed boaWl
near the door
The floor is of matched hard birch
and the shed is heated by steam pipes
along the walls near the floor.
A wide stairway leads to the sec
ond floor on which will be found the
real home quarters of the company
At the head of the stairs is the Off
GERS bath, and to the right on the
south side are rooms designed for the
captain and commissioned officers
/ Each one has an entrance to the hall
and contains a large clothes closet
On the north side are lavatories fol
on-commissioneG officers, and on tho
north center over the locker room Oh
the lower floor is the reading room
containing a roomy fire place finished
with O mantel.
+ Opening from the upper hall the
entire width of the drill shed are ten
! windows, which when opened outward
form a convenient balcony to acco-
modatc spectators at drills or any
function. Through a door opening
from the second floor access is given
to balcony on the front side.
In the basement which is Of cement
and brick is the quartermaster's work
shop, two shower baths, three dress
ing rooms and two toilets. These are
situated on the east and south wings
Facing the west and extending under
the drill shed is a mess hall, a shoot
ing range. The range is large enough
for two bowling alleys to be built on
the south and west. A large kitchen
adjoining the mess hall contains al
modern improvements.
The woodwork throughout the
building is of hard pine covered with
q dark oak stain, which makes &
pleasing contrast to the plaster, in g
carpet float finish. A heating plant
situated in the basement furnishes
heat on the American radiator plar
with a separate radiator in each room
In the lounging, billiard and read
\ ing rooms or wherever lighting fix
lures in brass have been used they
are Of plain type in satin finish and
usually consist Of a brass standard
fromAth ceiling.
It. is not known when the forma,
opening will be held, but from what
plans have been considerkd, it is
thought the time will be set near st
Valentines Day, Feb II.
Work was commenced by the Cum.