1890
Montana Guard Arsenal
& 1942 Montana Guard Armory
The 1890
Arsenal • 1029 N. Warren St.
| The Montana
National Guard Arsenal on N. Warren St. was formally opened May
9 1890. It was extensively damaged by the 1935 earhquakes, and
subsequently demolished. |
Footprint
of the 1890 Arsenal
Fire
Dept. Equipment on Display at the Arsenal, ca. 1890
CLICK
ON THE PHOTO FOR A LARGE VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
COURTESY OF CAPT. SEAN LOGAN & THE HELENA FIRE DEPT.
FOR MORE HISTORIC HFD PHOTOS, CLICK
HERE!
| This ca.
1890 display of Helena Fire Department equipment was held on the
south side of the Arsenal. The lettering on the side of the Arsenal
appears to promote an art exposition, which was presumably held
in the Arsenal. The smaller brick building in the background still
stands at 1040 Helena Ave., although it has been enlarged and
the brickwork stuccoed over. |
Destruction
of the Arsenal by the 1935 Earthquakes
COURTESY
OF SCOTT
NELSON
Major Sol Peterson,
the only person injured in the collapse, is carried out on a stretcher.
Rear
of the Arsenal, Looking Northwest
COURTESY
OF THE SEAN LOGAN COLLECTION • CLICK
ON IMAGE TO OPEN A BIG VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Post-Quake
Cleanup, Rear of the Arsenal
CLICK
ON THE PHOTO FOR A LARGE VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW
Because the
equipment stored within the Arsenal was so well-stored, it all
went undamaged during the quakes. However, some 25 rifles were
stolen from the building right after the earthquakes; they were
found in Lake
Helena, near the west end of the old bridge, in 1937.
Guard equipment continued to be stored in the ruined building until it was finally demolished in the spring of 1939. The lot remained vacant until at least 1955.
Material from the shattered Arsenal was used in the construction of the Fort Harrison Services Building ...
|
CLICK
ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE IN A NEW WINDOW
The 1942
Montana National Guard Armory
Construction
of the New Armory Began in 1940
The
Armory under construction, 1942 • 1100
N. Last Chance Gulch at Lyndale
THE
WES AND CAROL SYNNESS COLLECTION
This building is
now occupied by State of Montana offices.
The
Armory Circus & Carnival Showgrounds
|
For many
years, traveling shows, such as the Siebrand Bros. Circus
and Carnival, would set up on the large open area behind the
Armory. In September of 1953, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum
& Bailry Circus set up their big top.
|
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back to STORES, OFFICES, ETC.
