Tag Archives: Springfield Armory

The Long Storehouse at Springfield Armory is a 764-foot structure, built in four stages between 1846 and 1863. It was constructed as part of Maj. James Ripley‘s improvement campaign and was originally a storehouse for the wood used in making gun stocks. The building’s third stage provided stables for the Armory’s horses and the entire structure has also been known as a casern, or cavalry barracks. As described by Albert Harleigh Kirkham in King’s Handbook of Springfield

Whilst digging for the foundations of the long storehouse which stands upon the terrace overlooking Pearl and Worthington Streets, the remains of 12 or more soldiers dressed in regimentals were uncovered. During the 1812 war, the United-States Armory being a Government post, the United-States soldiers were often quartered in the barracks and in the dwelling-houses which were on “public ground.” The houses were commonly occupied by Armorers; but, at a short notice that soldiers were coming, they moved out, and the soldiers moved in, and they remained in these comfortable quarters a longer or shorter time, “according to orders.” A portion of the ground now occupied by the storehouse was then used as a graveyard; and soldiers were often buried there, and buried, too, in their uniforms.

We end Springfield Armory Week at Historic Buildings of Massachusetts with three posts today. Our first post is about the building which is today known as Garvey Hall. In 1862, three buildings at the east end of Armory Square at the Springfield Armory were joined together and connected by a new third story. One of the buildings was built around 1817-1819 and the others two, the North and South Shops, in 1824. A tower was built on the newly combined structure to match the tower of the Main Arsenal, located at the opposite end of armory square. The building was used for administration, as well as for storage and occasionally research and light manufacturing. In 1984, it became the administrative offices of Springfield Technical Community College and was renamed in honor of STCC’s founding president, Dr. Edmond P. Garvey (more…)

Another of the early arsenal buildings at Springfield Armory is the East Arsenal, constructed in 1836. Originally a storehouse for arms, the East Arsenal, like the neighboring West and Middle Arsenals, was converted to other uses after the completion of the Main Arsenal in 1851. The former East Arsenal was later enlarged and attached to the Armory’s administration building, thus enclosing the southeast corner of Armory Square. The building is now known as Garvey Hall South and is part of the campus of Springfield Technical Community College.

The oldest surviving building at the Springfield Armory is the West Arsenal, the first two floors of which were constructed in 1808 as a storehouse for completed weapons. The third floor was added in 1863. After the completion of the Main Arsenal, in 1851, the West Arsenal served other purposes over the years, becoming a barrel house, storehouse, recreation building, barracks and, during World War Two, an officer’s club. Today it is part of the campus of Springfield Technical Community College.