OGDENSBURG — New York’s Nationwide Guard has pulled out of the historic New York State Armory, 225 Elizabeth St., leaving it vacant.
The armory had been the house of a detachment from the 108th Infantry Regiment, most just lately consisting of roughly 30 members of the Nationwide Guard, in accordance with New York Nationwide Guard spokesman Eric D. Durr.
“Final week, the New York State Division of Army and Naval Affairs formally notified the Workplace of Basic Providers (OGS) that the Ogdensburg Armory is not required for our army functions and we plan to declare the Armory as extra,” Mr. Durr stated. “Up till eight months in the past, we had a detachment of the 108th Infantry Regiment that was drilling on the Ogdensburg Armory”
The New York Nationwide Guard has two infantry battalions — the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry and the first Battalion, 69th Infantry, in accordance with Mr. Durr. He stated the choice was based mostly on consolidations and price effectiveness between these infantry battalions.
The detachment of troopers that had been in Ogdensburg had been relocated.
“We’ve consolidated and tried to rationalize the place we’d like folks and attempt to be value efficient,” Mr. Durr stated. “That detachment has been relocated to the Morrisonville Armory, which can be a part of the 108th Infantry Regiment. These troopers at the moment are drilling there. It’s half of a bigger reshuffle of our infantry belongings.”
In an electronic mail responding to a request for remark, Joseph A. Brill, OGS public data officer, wrote that the Armory property is owned by the state and the state Division of Army and Naval Affairs will “proceed to be answerable for sustaining the armory till a closing with a brand new proprietor happens.”
“OGS solely takes jurisdiction of the property to manage its switch to a brand new proprietor,” acknowledged Mr. Brill, “As soon as OGS receives official notification that the armory has been declared surplus, OGS will first examine and analyze the property to find out whether or not it might fulfill every other wants New York State might need for it. The property can be supplied first to different State companies earlier than different choices are thought of to eliminate it.”
If the state doesn’t have one other use for the property, there are a number of choices, together with public public sale, in accordance with Mr. Brill.
“OGS will work with our state company companions to contemplate the absolute best plan of action,” he stated.
An alternative choice is that the town of Ogdensburg might purchase the property.
“A municipality can purchase state surplus property, and there may be a couple of avenue to pursue that, together with particular laws and switch, relying on the municipality’s meant use of the property,” Mr. Brill stated.
In accordance with historic data, the town’s New York State Armory was constructed between 1897 and 1898 and it was designed by Isaac Perry, the identical state architect who drew up the plans for the St. Lawrence State Hospital, now generally known as the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Heart.
The decrease ranges had been constructed with Ogdensburg limestone taken from Nevin’s quarry on Riverside Drive, whereas the higher ranges had been produced from Potsdam sandstone. It has two turrets and two giant towers. Information state “the towers and turrets are battlemented. The slender home windows formed like citadel home windows give the constructing the looks of an outdated fortified chateau.”
The armory was initially constructed for the fortieth Separate Firm below Capt. Frank Chapman, who commanded 90 males.
“Since its opening in 1898, army items, draftees and volunteers have assembled right here earlier than departing for service,” data say. “The Armory will not be solely traditionally vital for its affiliation with American army historical past but in addition specifically the historical past of the Nationwide Guard.”
Ogdensburg’s armory was positioned on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations in 1995.
