Did you know that the Children's Museum of New Hampshire building used to be an armory? Dover’s Armory was formally opened November 25, 1930. It was built in 1930 to house Battery B, 197th Regiment, Coast Artillery Anti Aircraft (AA) of the New Hampshire National Guard. The building was described as thoroughly modern with every up to date convenience. The building was constructed of brick with ornamental stonework. The central feature of the building was the drill shed, which had a floor space of 60 by 90 feet. The northeast corner of the building had a gun room for the anti-aircraft gun. “The floor is on a level with the main floor, but is of concrete, sunk to a depth halfway between that of the basement and the street floor, with wide doors through which the anti-aircraft gun mounted on its truck may be run in. And by a clever arrangement of doors opening out into the drill shed on the north end of the room, the muzzle of the gun may be pointed through the opening thus made and drill with the gun, sighting at a target hung on one of the steel girders in the drill shed”.
In 1962 the Dover Recreation Department acquired the armory and turned it into Butterfield Gym. In 2008, the renovated building was rented to the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire.
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Interesting photo! Do you know when it was taken? At the museum we have a photo of the armory that shows it with a clerestory tower on the left hand side. Of course, the building no longer has the parapet, either. Does anyone know the story of the disappearance of the clerestory and parapet or the story of why the upper bricks were replaced? All we know is that the ground is full of mill debris and may have some stability issues.
ReplyDeleteThe photo is actually on a postcard that was donated to us this year. There is no date on it unfortunately. I looked through our file on the building and couldn't find an indication of when the architectural details were removed or why. If anyone else know why, please share!
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