369th Regiment Armory

The 369th Regiment Armory is a historic National Guard Armory building located at 2366 Fifth Avenue, between West 142nd and 143rd Streets, in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. It was built for the 369th Regiment, also known as the "Harlem Hellfighters", founded in 1913 as the first National Guard unit in New York State composed solely of African-Americans. It later became home to the 369th Sustainment Brigade.

369th Regiment Armory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New York City Landmark No. 1390
369th Regiment Armory, Jan 2013
Location	2366 Fifth Avenue, New York City
Coordinates	40°49′03″N 73°56′05″W / 40.81750°N 73.93472°W / 40.81750; -73.93472
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1933 (1933)
Architect	Tachau & Vought; Van Wart & Wein
Architectural style	Art Deco
MPS	Army National Guard Armories in New York State MPS
NRHP reference No.	93001537^[1]
NYCL No.	1390
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	January 28, 1994
Designated NYCL	May 14, 1985

The 369th Regiment Armory includes two structures. The administration building, built in the Art Deco style between 1930 and 1933, was designed by John S. Van Wart and Sidney Wein. The attached medieval-inspired drill shed, built between 1921 and 1924, was designed by Tachau and Vought and measures 50,000 square feet (4,600 m²). Both sections are constructed of brick. The armory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994,^[1] and was designated as a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1985.^[2]

History

Context

After the American Civil War ended, the New York state government passed a law, which mandated that armories be erected for volunteer regiments by each of the individual counties.^[2] This resulted in the Armory Board of the City of New York being created in April 1884.^[3] The board erected many of Manhattan's armories:^[3][4] prior to the board's establishment, only one armory had been built in Manhattan, the Seventh Regiment Armory on the Upper East Side.^[2][5][6][7] As such, most volunteer regiments drilled in any available space, such as public markets or rented building lofts.^[2]

By the late 19th and early 20th century, the former Dutch colonial settlement of Harlem was being developed into a primarily African-American neighborhood, having become accessible via the newly built New York City Subway.^[8][9] In the 1910s, a hundred members of a community center in Harlem stated their intention to join the military.^[8][10] The 15th Regiment, whose parent unit was constituted in the New York Army National Guard in 1913, was officially organized three years later, in preparation for being deployed to France during World War I. The 15th was the first National Guard regiment constituted based on race, as it was composed entirely of African Americans.^[11][8][12] The regiment reached its full strength of 2,000 men by 1917, and trained in New York and South Carolina because they did not yet have their own armory.^[8][13] The 15th Regiment was reorganized as the 369th in 1918.^[12] The 369th Regiment had returned from France by February 1919; a parade for the regiment was held on Fifth Avenue.^[14][15]

Construction

 

Astor Row, original location of the 369th Regiment

The 369th Regiment (also known by their nickname, the "Harlem Hell Fighters") was initially housed at Astor Row on West 130th Street.^[15][16] However, as a result of the unit's reorganization, the Armory Board was now obligated to create an armory for the 369th Regiment.^[15] The city's acting mayor promised an armory structure to the 369th Regiment in 1919.^[17] Funding for the 369th Regiment Armory was approved by the city in July 1921.^[18] The initial plans called for building only the drill shed; an administration building was required for the armory to be fully functional.^[19]

The city located a site on Fifth Avenue between 142nd and 143rd Streets and demolished the tenements there.^[15] Work on the armory's drill shed was begun with a groundbreaking ceremony in November 1921.^[20] This was followed by a request for proposals to design the drill shed, for which five firms submitted bids.^[21] Tachau and Vought, who had previously designed the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, won the commission and designed the structure in the Romanesque style.^[15][16] Post & McCord were selected as the contractors. The cost of the drill shed was estimated at $700,000, and the administration building, another $500,000.^[22] The cornerstone was laid in November 1923, when construction was already progressing.^[15][23] and the drill shed was finished the following November at a cost of $800,000.^[24]

The rest of the block was purchased by the city in 1929, in preparation for the administration building's construction.^[19] In 1930, the Armory Board submitted plans for the $1 million administration building to the New York City Board of Estimate. The new building would include a shooting range, auditorium, mess hall, and rooftop tennis courts.^[25] Twelve firms submitted designs for the drill shed,^[26] and the commission was ultimately given to the lowest bidder, John S. Van Wart and Sidney Wein.^[16][19][27] Work started in 1931 after the C & W Construction Company were named as the contractors.^[26] The administration building was completed in 1933.^[19] However, the New York Daily News reported in January 1934 that the 369th Regiment had refused to accept title to the administration building, citing various work defects such as a leaky roof. As a result, the Armory Board opened an investigation into the construction of the 369th Administration Building.^[28]

Use

In 1934, during the Great Depression, the 369th Regiment Armory and Brooklyn's 14th Regiment Armory were used as temporary homeless shelters.^[29] Two years later, the armory exhibited artwork from 40,000 people that had been hired through the Works Progress Administration.^[30] The 369th Regiment Armory also hosted sporting events, such as track and field competitions^[31] and tennis matches.^[32] Other events hosted at the armory included a speech by Black Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad in 1964,^[33] and a soccer demonstration from Brazilian soccer player Pelé in 1978.^[34]

The 369th Armory was again used as a temporary shelter during early 1981 due to extreme cold weather.^[35] By the 1980s, existing homeless shelters in New York City had become overcrowded, so the city started opening new shelters in armories.^[36] In 1982, the state turned over the 369th Regiment Armory to the city so that the latter could open a 200-bed men's homeless shelter.^[37] However, the 369th Sustainment Brigade still operated out of the armory.^[38] In the 1990s, the 369th Regiment Armory received part of a $390,000 funding allocation that had been made available as part of the city's Tax Syndication Sharing Program. The funds were intended for the armory's restoration.^[39] The structure was protected as a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1985,^[2] and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.^[1]

As part of the New York City bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 369th Regiment Armory was planned to be used for boxing and rhythmic gymnastics if the city were to win the Olympic bid.^[40] The armory, which still remained decrepit, would have been restored.^[41] These plans were canceled when the bid was rejected in 2005.^[42] The Police Athletic League of New York City used part of the 369th Regiment Armory's drill shed as a community center starting in 2006.^[43] The Harlem Children's Zone also operated programs in the armory, taking about half of the space.^[44] In September 2012, a community program painted a mural on the armory's walls that was devoted to the 369th Regiment's history.^[45] Soon afterward, in October 2012, the armory partially flooded during Hurricane Sandy.^[46]

The 369th Regiment Armory temporarily closed for renovations in 2014. At the time, it was expected to be renovated into a museum showing 369th Regiment memorabilia.^[47][46] The 369th Brigade moved back to the space in November 2018.^[48] However, the armory remained closed to civilians due to a lead cleanup project, which prevented civilians from reentering the facility until the cleanup was complete.^[43][49] Despite fears that children at the armory may have been susceptible to lead poisoning for over a decade, state officials said that the cleanup was limited to the basement, which was off-limits to kids.^[44]

Description

The 369th Regiment Armory is located between West 142nd and 143rd Streets at 2360 Fifth Avenue, along its western sidewalk.^[2][50] It is the northernmost building on Fifth Avenue.^[51] The armory is composed of two structures in contrasting architectural styles: the medieval-style drill shed and the Art Deco-style administration building.^[2][50] The armory occupies nearly its entire lot, which measures 199 feet (61 m) from north to south and 510 feet (160 m) from west to east.^[50] It is associated with the 369th Regiment, the first African-American regiment in the New York Army National Guard.^[11][52] The surrounding areas are composed of industrial buildings, while the Harlem River Drive runs on the opposite side of Fifth Avenue across from the armory.^[50]

The AIA Guide to New York City described the armory as "a superb example of the bricklayer's art" and that the brickwork "exhibit[s] an Art Deco/Moderne style rather than an attempt to reconstruct a medieval fortress".^[53]

Administration building

 

Administration building

The 3+1⁄2-story, rectangular administration building features a terracotta parapet embellished with chevron designs and stylized eagles.^[54][55] The basement is raised by half a story and contains a water table made of red sandstone.^[50][54] Throughout the building, the first-story windows contain iron grilles with decorations depicting maces and stars.^[50]

The main facade, to the east, contains numerous recessed and projecting sections, alternating with each other.^[50][54] This facade contains its main entrance pavilion in the center, and two asymmetric side pavilions to the north and south.^[54][56] Above the entrance pavilion is a sandstone surround, which contains the carved letters "369th Infantry N.Y.C." and is flanked by eagle-wing motifs that contain lanterns.^[54] The raised basement also contains entrances surrounded with sandstone trim.^[56] Adjacent to the eastern facade is a circular driveway with an adjacent small parking lot. A small lawn is located between the driveway and Fifth Avenue.^[50] A statue to the 369th Regiment stands across Fifth Avenue from the administration building.^[57] The northern and southern facades are located next to the sidewalks of 143rd and 142nd Streets, respectively.^[50]

Inside, the corridors contain terrazzo tile floors as well as cornices with chevron motifs. A company meeting room is located at the administration building's southeast corner and includes parquet floors, a fireplace with a carved mantel, walls with walnut-wood paneling, and plaster walls and ceilings.^[56]

As originally proposed, the administration building was supposed to be five stories high and measuring 200 by 200 feet (61 by 61 m), surrounding a courtyard with dimensions of 75 by 100 feet (23 by 30 m). The ground floor was to contain various living quarters, an officers' mess, a 600-person entertainment room, and a reception room. Above that, each of the regiments' companies would have their own floor, and a top-floor suite for the regiment's colonel.^[27]

Drill shed

The drill shed is 2+1⁄2 stories, with a clerestory level on the top story, and measures 300 feet (91 m) from west to east. Like the administration building, it contains a terracotta parapet, with a gable roof behind it. The northern and southern facades are articulated with vertical brick buttresses, which divide each facade into 15 vertical bays.^[19][56] On each facade, there is a central pavilion that measures three bays wide, as well as side pavilions that each measure six bays wide. The side entrances are framed with medieval-styled sandstone.^[56]

The interior features three tiers of balconies on all four sides with a seating capacity of 6,000–7,000.^[55] When it opened, the New York Age described it as having dimensions of 200 by 300 feet (61 by 91 m), with a gallery capacity of 5,000.^[24]

See also

•  National Register of Historic Places portal
•  New York City portal

• List of armories and arsenals in New York City and surrounding counties
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan above 110th Street
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan above 110th Street
• Art Deco architecture of New York City

References

Citations

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. Landmarks Preservation Commission 1985, p. 1.
3. Todd 2006, p. 126.
4. The Armory Board 1912, p. 3.
5. The Armory Board 1912, p. 5.
6. Koch, Robert (October 1955). "The Medieval Castle Revival: New York Armories". Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. 14 (3): 23–29. doi:10.2307/987824. JSTOR 987824. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
7. "Sixty-Ninth Regiment Armory" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. April 12, 1983. p. 6. (PDF) from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
8. Landmarks Preservation Commission 1985, pp. 2–3.
9. Osofsky, G. (1996). Harlem, the Making of a Ghetto: Negro New York, 1890-1930. Elephant paper. Ivan R. Dee. pp. 75–76. ISBN 978-1-56663-104-4. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
10. "NEGROES PLAN A REGIMENT.; Hold Drills Uptown and Seek Places in Preparedness Parade". The New York Times. May 3, 1916. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
11. Todd 2006, p. 249.
12. "369th NY Infantry Regiment during World War One". NY Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. October 1, 2002. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
13. Williams, Charles Halston (1923). Negro Soldiers in World War I: The Human Side. AMS Press. p. 197. ISBN 978-0-404-06976-6. from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
14. "CITY'S NEGRO FIGHTERS PARADE 5TH AV. TODAY; Col. Hayward's Regiment Will Follow Jazz Band into the Heart of Its Harlem Home". The New York Times. February 17, 1919. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
15. Landmarks Preservation Commission 1985, p. 5.
16. National Park Service 1993, p. 7.
17. "PROMISES ARMORY TO NEGRO FIGHTERS; Acting Mayor Moran Says Entire City Favors Proposalfor 15th Regiment.WHITMAN PRAISES RECORD Ex-Governor Attends Reception to369th Infantry by Mother Regiment in 7th Armory. Urges Need for an Armory". The New York Times. February 24, 1919. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
18. "New York City Board Appropriates Funds for Building Armory for the Fifteenth Infantry, Harlem's Own Boys". The New York Age. July 16, 1921. p. 1. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
19. Landmarks Preservation Commission 1985, p. 6.
20. "STARTS 15TH'S ARMORY.; Mayor Breaks Ground for Negro Regiment's New Headquarters". The New York Times. November 7, 1921. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
21. "Five Bids Submitted for Armory of 369th Regiment". The New York Age. July 1, 1922. p. 30. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
22. "369th Armory as it Appears at Present Stage of Erection". The New York Age. March 3, 1923. p. 1. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
23. "Hylan to Lay Cornerstone for New 369th Regiment Armory". Brooklyn Standard Union. May 26, 1923. p. 2. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
24. "369th Armory in Possession of Regiment". The New York Age. November 15, 1924. p. 1. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
25. "$1,000,000 ARMORY TO ADD RIFLE RANGE; Completed Plans Also Call for Auditorium Equipped for Talking Pictures. TENNIS COURTS ON ROOF Kitchen and Mess Hall Large Enough to Feed All Companies of 369th Infantry". The New York Times. November 3, 1930. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
26. "Contract Let for New 369th Infantry Armory Addition". The New York Age. March 21, 1931. p. 1. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
27. "New York's Memorial to Her Colored Soldiers". The New York Age. June 21, 1930. p. 3. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
28. "Under New City Probe". New York Daily News. January 17, 1934. p. 57. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2019 – via newspapers.com  .
29. "Destitute Men Flock to Daytime Shelter". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 19, 1934. p. 4. from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2019 – via Brooklyn Public Library; newspapers.com  .
30. "WORK DONE BY 40,000 IN WPA IS ON VIEW; Artistic Efforts of the White Collar Employes Shown in 369th Regiment Armory". The New York Times. October 14, 1936. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
31. See, for instance:
    • Strauss, Michael (March 8, 1952). "STANFIELD EXCELS IN PIONEER MEET; Scores an Impressive 60-Yard Victory, Takes 300 in Fast Time at 369th Armory". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
    • Sheehan, Joseph M. (March 2, 1949). "Two-Mile Star, to Challenge Slykhuis in K. of C. Games, Will Have Tune-Up at 369th Armory Against Quinn, Ellis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
32. See, for instance:
    • "HETZECK TRIUMPHS IN JUNIOR TENNIS; Scores Easily Over Brown as Eastern Title Play Opens at the 369th Armory". The New York Times. December 21, 1947. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
    • "COLLEGE NET TITLE IS WON BY LAPMAN; St. John's Freshman Beats Koslan, N.Y.U., in 4 Sets at 369th Armory". The New York Times. February 12, 1936. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
33. "Muhammad to Speak Here". The New York Times. June 15, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
34. "Pelé". The New York Times. July 11, 1978. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
35. "THE CITY; 2 Armories to End Shelter Operations". The New York Times. January 26, 1981. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
36. Gray, Christopher (January 24, 1988). "Streetscapes: 13th Regiment Armory; A Brooklyn Fortress Yields to the Changing Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on October 21, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
37. Barbanel, Josh (December 6, 1985). "Harlem Armory Selected as Site for New Shelter". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
38. Richardson, Lynda (January 26, 1992). "Year Later, Hellfighters Feel Forgotten". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
39. Lii, Jane H. (March 2, 1997). "City Yields on $600,000 for Housing". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
40. Sandomir, Richard (July 31, 2001). "OLYMPICS; New York Taking First Step To Be Host for 2012 Games". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
41. Bagli, Charles V. (June 3, 2005). "After Cheering Stops, Arenas Would Endure; New York Faces an Olympic Reality: Sites Can Become White Elephants". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
42. Bagli, Charles V. (July 7, 2005). "Without Games, the Sites Pass From Future to Never". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
43. Campanile, Carl; Narizhnaya, Khristina; Jaeger, Max (January 7, 2019). "Kids spent decades playing in lead-tainted Harlem building". New York Post. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
44. Campanile, Carl (January 8, 2019). "Harlem Armory declared safe for kids — despite lead dust". New York Post. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
45. Feiden, Douglas (September 13, 2012). "Harlem enlivened by colorful murals, eye-catching output of summer jobs program". nydailynews.com. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
46. "Home of the historic Harlem Hell Fighters undergoing $42 million renovation". New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs News. February 11, 2015. from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
47. Garcia, Sandra E. (October 2, 2014). "A Life Dedicated to Raising the Profile of a Black Army Unit Overlooked by History". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
48. "New York Soldiers Back Home in Harlem". DVIDS. November 10, 2018. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
49. Meminger, Dean (July 1, 2019). "Harlem Youth Marines Program Battles to Keep Operating". Spectrum News NY1 | New York City. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
50. National Park Service 1993, p. 3.
51. "Don't Forget to Look Up: Fifth Avenue from 110th to 143rd Streets". Untapped New York. October 10, 2013. from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
52. National Park Service 1993, p. 6.
53. White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 538. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
54. Landmarks Preservation Commission 1985, p. 7.
55. Nancy L. Todd (December 1993). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: 369th Regiment Armory". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2011. See also: "Accompanying four photos". from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
56. National Park Service 1993, p. 4.
57. "Historical Sign Listings : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. from the original on August 4, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2019.

Sources

• 369th Regiment Armory (PDF) (Report). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. May 14, 1985.
• Historic Structures Report: 369th Regiment Armory (PDF) (Report). National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service. December 16, 1993.
• The Armory Board 1884-1911; Official Deliberations and Proceedings. New York, NY: The Armory Board. 1912.
• Todd, Nancy (2006). New York's historic armories : an illustrated history. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 978-0-7914-6911-8. OCLC 62697093.

External links

•   Media related to 369th Regiment Armory at Wikimedia Commons
• "369th Regiment Armory, The Harlem Armory, Central Harlem". Harlem One Stop. 2014.