New Haven Armory

The New Haven Armory (also known as the Goffe Street Armory) is a historic building at 270–290 Goffe Street in the Dixwell neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Developed between 1928 and 1930, the armory served the Connecticut National Guard and the Second Company Governor's Foot Guard. It has also served as a venue for concerts, events and other civic functions in the community.[3]

New Haven Armory
New Haven Armory is located in Connecticut
New Haven Armory
New Haven Armory is located in the United States
New Haven Armory
Location270-290 Goffe St., New Haven, Connecticut
Coordinates41.3187°N 72.9391°W / 41.3187; -72.9391
Area2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Built1930 (1930)
ArchitectPayne and Keefe
Architectural styleRomanesque revival
NRHP reference No.100006556[1][2]
Added to NRHPMay 19, 2021

Description and history

The building was designed by Payne and Keefe. It is a fortress-like structure with a red brick exterior in a Romanesque revival style. The building consists of three main parts: a vast vaulted drill hall, a surrounding U-shaped head house, and an extending wing on the west. The four-story entry tower of the headhouse dominates the facade, with "state armory" engraved near the top. The building features basket-weave brickwork, arches, corbelling, and a molded cornice. The enormous 150,000 square feet (14,000 m2) interior space has meeting rooms, offices, lounges and a lobby area. The drill hall is 30,560 square feet (2,839 m2) of unobstructed space and features a web of steel trusses spanning the ceiling.[3]

The building has served as a venue for dog, antique and boat shows, as well as exhibitions and concerts, with artists including Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Band.[3] A home show held at the armory in the 1940s included a full-sized Cape Cod house.[3] It played a role during the New Haven Black Panther trials in 1970 as the staging ground for the National Guard response to protests.[4] Annual "Black Expos" were held at the armory in the 1970s to promote and discuss economic, political, and social concerns important to the African-American community.[3]

Ownership was transferred to the City of New Haven in 2009 when both guard units moved to other facilities and the armory was deemed surplus. Efforts to secure funds so that the building can be renovated to serve the community are ongoing.[4] The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Weekly listing". National Park Service.
  2. "NPS Weekly Listing". National Park Service. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  3. "NRHP nomination for New Haven Armory" (PDF). State of Connecticut. Retrieved 2021-06-18.
  4. Rockwell, Noel (2020-04-14). "Friends of the Goffe Street Armory hope to transform neglected landmark". Yale Daily News. New Haven. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
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