The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-06-25
new ARM0RY
INTEREST IN STRUCTURE
HAS BEEN REVIVED
SKETCH IS ON DISPLAY
Splendid Edifice Which Would
Fill Long-FeIt Need In
Mankato

Mankato
Interest in the proposed new ar
mory and community building com-
bined for Mankato, which was dis
cussed to some length this spring,
has again been revived and the pos
sibiiity of the plan being carried
through to success now seems evil
dent. Mayor e. v. Waters Is under
stood to strongly favor taking I'm
mediate steps to have such Q build
ing erected and members OF the com
look over the situation, also. feel
that the time is ripe to begin ac-
tivity.
Such q building as is proposed
would include a auditorium for the
national guard uses ands to accom-
odate and convention, meeting or
other public gathering in the city.
Since the disposal Of the Mankato
theatre the need. for such a building
has become more evident In Manka-
to. Growth and the increasing number
Of conventions and important public
meetings held in the city just during
the past spring has demonstrated
the need for ar adequate auditorium.
On the upper floor of the building
1t Is proposed to have the offices Of
the Civic and Commerce association,
Historical society rooms and other
organizations located. Plans. as con
stdered necessary by those who have
studied the problem ALSO include a
dining room and kitchen In the base
ment.
Numerous Sites Suggested.
Numerous suitable sites were sug-
gested by the committee last spring.
In combining the armory and COM
%Inity 90 building ndi the city has ., avail;
500, 900 which the state would make
toward the new building. To meet
the present needs Of the. regiment
there 1t is hoped to erect the new
rmory and keep the old building
solely to accommodate the supply
company, motor truchs and other
supplies which will be kept here.
Sketches Of the proposed armory
for Mank1to, prepared by Toltz,
King and Day, architects and engin-
GERS of St. Paul, have been placed
on display In the windows of the
proposed is a very handsome struc-
ture and the sketches have attracted
much attention. Ralph ". Hammett,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. w. r. Hammett
OF this city, was in Mankato last
week, representing the firm by which
the plans were drawn.
Details for the building, planned
by Toltz, King and Day include all
OF the latest and approved arrange.
ments for a combined armory and
auditorium. The main feature of the
the assembly room OF drill hnil which
has an area on the main floor of
10000 square feet and will seat not
less than 1900 persons. A balcony is
placed around this main room on
rec sides with stairs leading down
to the main fooor at each corner. At
the rear of the auditorium or drill
hall is the stage with accessory
rooms, storage rooms and the like.
The office portions Of the building
are divided into two units, n upon
the left side and n upon the right
of the man auditorium or drill hall,
zach of these two o called wings
has two entrances and is served by
corridors its full length; corridor al
so connects the two wings along
the front OF the auditorium and
these corridors, arranged as they are
on three sides Of the auditorium or
drill hall, and having numerous
doors opening into the auditorium,
provide admirable means for In
gress and egress, thereby facilitating
the handling Of crowds; the safety
feature OF such an arrangement az
should not be overlooked.
The main floor Of the left wing Is
devoted to the private office of the
regimental commander, an office for
his adjutant and Office for the Re-
gimental clerical force: here also
would be the officers club room and
a toilet room. When the building Is
being used for dances or other So
cial functions this wing could be used
for the accommodation of ladies.
The second floor OF this left wing
fees of the Civic and Commerce as
ISOLATION and an assembly hall seat
ing approximately 100 persons; this
assembly hall could also be used as
a small banquet room. being served
by dumb waiter from the main kit
chen in the basement.
The main floor Of the right wing
would be devoted to offices for each
of the four unit commanders with their
orderly rooms. The second floor OF
this wing would provide q small as
sembly and club room for each of
the four units now located In Man
SooV Va o0ASOo W OLuSI 0Os
cial functions this right wing could
be turned over to the use of men.
Sub-Caiiber Range.
There would be provided in the
basement sub-caliber range, three
targets, 1000 inches. especially ad-
.apted for machine gun practice.
There woId also be provided a drill
room, locker rooms and cmpany sup
ply roms for each company, q show
er room. a heating plant room, q
kitchen and a troop/ dining room.
Very large banquets could be served
in the main auditorium or drill hall
on the first floor being accommodated
from the kitchen In the basement.
These drawings with the descrip-
ton given above comprise the very
latest features of armories and audi
forums and there is no reason why
such a building should not adequate
ly serve all Mankato's needs OF this
nature for many years to come. CO.
operation is necessary. It win be far
better to combine resources in
comprehensive building Of this kind
than to erect separate units for var
ious activities such as a theatre or
auditorium, an arInory and the like.
"A comprehensive building of this ma
fSYno ona11A 80 hrllk A. --l-