The Mankato free press., 1922-07-14
NEW HOME FOR
STATE SOLDIERS
STRUCTURE is MODEL OF
ITS CHARACTER
NOTHING NOW LACKING
All the Conveniences That Go
To Make Up House For
Militia

After August 5 of this year the
members of the Fifth regiment in
tantry national guard will have one
of the finest armories in the state.
]. B. Nielsen, president of the J. b.
Nielsen Construction company of
this city, says that he will have the
new 100000 armory ready for oc
cupancy on that date.
Driving down North Second
street, the travellers attention is
first attracted TO the unique design
OF the front of the building which
has been constructed TO represent
old time castle towers and turrets.
Some idea of the vastness of the
structure can be obtained when 1t
is stated that the floor Dimensions
are 11SX140. The auditorium of
the building, which has total seat
ing copacity of 1885 has floor di-
mensions of 100X106. The gallery
alone has seating capacity of 1855.
In designing the building the ar
chitects, Schlppel & Schmidt, paid
especial attention to safety features
throughout. The immense truss
roof and steel girders and $4,000
: feet of lumber wnicn went into its
construction is supported on i'm
mense concrete and steel pillars
entirely free of the walls Of the
building. One of the military off
GERS stated yesterday that if there
was such a thing as the side walls
falling the roof would still stand.
The floor of the auditorium will be
one of the best and most spacious
dancing floors and drill halls in the
state. { will be capable of staging
three basket ball games at the same
time there.
Florence Maebeta To Sing !.
Major G. A. Dahl, Captain Edward
Y. NyQuist and Captain Fred. M. OF
to were united in stating that the
funds available to the regiment, had
been spent in safety features about
the building, and now the people of
Mankato will have to aid in some
manner in furnishing chairs and
scenery for the auditorium. The
fireproof floor above the basement
is one of the public safety, features
which was , installed at cost of
over $4,000. The largest conven-
tions can be easily handled in the
auditorium. The acoustics has been
looked after and it will be splen-
did room in which to hold public
speaking. No public dances will be
held in the armory in the future. All
such functions will be on the invi-
tation plan and of high class. 1t
is now planned to hold a concert in
the armory on October 6, when Miss
Florence Macbeth, the Minnesota
Nightingale" will be featured. 9th
er benefit performances will be held
TO clear up expenses.
The large stage is of the very
latest design, and is supplied with
dressing rooms on either side, fit
ted with all Of the modern eonven-
fences.
To the left of the main entrance
on the first floor, one finds the Of
fees of the commanders Of the diff
ferent companies, the medical offic-
er's rooms, anti rooms, etc, with a
coy fireplace in the reception room.
The wood finishings are in fumed
oak. -.
On the right of the main entrance
is the headquarters, the coloneis
Notice and anti rooms, etc.
On the second floor in the north
west corner one finds a spacious
club room for the enlisted men,
with shower baths, toilets, in con-
nection. A large space on this floor
is devoted to the quarters designed
for the use of the Ladies' auxiliaries
of the American Legion, Spanish
American War Veterans, the G. A.
R. and the Woman's Relief corps.
Between the room just mentioned
and the, American Legion quarters
there is a kitchen will all of the ac-
cessories for handling eatables for
large crowds of people. r..
The American Legion room is
large and well lighted, and WIN
make a fine meeting place.
Floors Of Hard Maple "
All of the floors throughout the
building are of hard maple. The
lights in the building, which are
being. installed by the Mankato
Electric company. are OF the most
modern type. What is true OF the
lighting fixtures is also true Of the
plumbing and heating, which is be-
ing installed by the Cuddy Plumb
ing & Heating company of this city,
To the right of the large stage
downstairs is also another large
kitchen which will be fitted with
rangs, ETC., for cooking rapidly food
for large throngs Of people.
A driveway from the outside leads
to. the basement, where one sees
stored away six three ton govern
ment trucks, the supply rooms
shower baths, private locker rooms
partitioned off with steel wicker
work for each company, An indoor
rife range. -,
The building taken asa whole is
perhaps the best public building II
the city. One has to see the many
departments, and the kind OF con
struction to fully appreciate its i'm
portance.
The following members OF tbs
armory board are busy every day
looking after the details Of the con
struction. They are: Colonel w. 3
Fulton, Major G. A. Dahl, Captain