Jersey City Armory

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Coordinates: 40°43′29″N 74°3′55″W / 40.72472°N 74.06528°W / 40.72472; -74.06528
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Jersey City Armory
678 Montgomery Street
New Jersey National Guard
Site history
Built1934–1936[2]
ArchitectKelly & Gruzen
In use1937–present
MaterialsGranite and brick[3]

The Jersey City Armory is an

New Jersey National Guard (New Jersey National Guard 2/113 Infantry 250 Jersey City), the WPA era armory has long been used as a sports arena, particularly for boxing, basketball, and track and field events, and more recently mixed martial arts
.

Under the auspices of the

extracurricular sports programs. It has also been used as a film studio
.

History and architecture

The current armory was built to replace the previous Fourth Regiment Armory which was located on McGinley Square at Bergen Avenue, Mercer Street, and Tuers Avenue, the current site of

Richardson Romanesque style which was popular at the time for commercial, industrial and educational institutions. In the early hours of June 17, 1927, a large three-alarm fire swept through the entire facility and destroyed the structure.[4][5] In 1941, the large archway and towers that served as a portion of the entrance façade from the previous armory was erected at Pershing Field park in the Jersey City Heights
.

Features

Opening in 1937, the armory was constructed between 1934–1936 as a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression along with the city's other premier sports venue, the since demolished Roosevelt Stadium.[6] The armory was designed by General Hugh A. Kelly, who was a friend of former Jersey City mayor Frank Hague. Kelly appointed Hugh Clark, a graduate of Cooper Union and a Jersey City resident, to carry out the project with J.K. Harris-Smith, a fellow Jersey City architect.

The exterior of the three-story

Beaux-Arts structure features English Renaissance details with a granite base, brick exterior wall, and terra cotta trim. There are three decorative terra cotta panels with military insignia on the second floor of each of the three projecting pavilions. On the Montgomery Street façade, there is a large stone strip engraved with "New Jersey National Guard." The main entryway fronts Jordan Avenue and features a large retractable iron gate. The roof of the armory spans the 175,000 square-feet interior making it the largest armory in New Jersey.[3][7]

The interior of the armory was designed to provide quarters for one battalion of infantry, one battalion of engineers, two medical units and one division of the naval militia. The large drill hall is at street level and contains banks of seats on two sides. In the basement are eight company rooms and equipment storage rooms. Additionally, there are two mezzanine floors with four more company rooms and capacity for more.[2]

Construction was completed in February 1936 at a construction cost of $1,038,276 and a total project cost of $1,098,330.[2]

Renovations

In 1987 and 1998, the armory underwent renovations to share its space with the Jersey City Youth Center as part of an effort for to sponsor more youth services. These renovation helped include an array of educational and self-development programs in a drug-free environment.[3]

Between 2005 and 2009 the armory underwent a two-phase $5.7 million renovation funded by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to turn the facility into a modern sports arena. The first phase included a state-of-the-art running surface, a new basketball court, new lighting and a four-sided scoreboard. The second phase included the installation of new restrooms on the ground floor and upper tier, two new locker rooms and mechanical windows on the Montgomery Street side of the armory.[8][9] In 2010, the State of New Jersey spent $105,000 to repair the sidewalks around the armory.[10]

Notable events

The

New Jersey Nets in their first season.[12]

Sports

Both the former and current armories in Jersey City have played an important role in

Urban Conflict Championship.[15] Trials for the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Cup 2011 took place in February 2011. Professional wrestling events produced by Jersey All Pro Wrestling
have taken place in the arena as well.

The arena has hosted countless basketball games over the years, including those played by the former

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach, Bob Hurley, was instrumental in bringing about the renewal of the basketball court and other renovations to the armory.[9]

Since 2005, the annual Dan Finn Classic, a day long tournament of high school basketball games, has taken place at the armory. The event is in memory of Dan Finn, a

organ donor, was able to assist four people after his death.[18][19]

Prior to the opening of the Yanitelli Center on its campus nearby in 1975, Saint Peter's University hosted its home games at the armory. Since the armory's renovation in the mid-2000s, Saint Peter's has hosted several high-profile games at the arena.[14]

On November 25, 2007, the Saint Peter's Peacocks took on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the first game Saint Peter's had played at the armory since 1975. The Peacocks defeated the Scarlet Knights 65–58.[20]

On December 13, 2008, Saint Peter's hosted the Seton Hall Pirates men's and women's basketball teams in an afternoon double header as part of Saint Peter's Hall of Fame Day. This was the second straight game for the Peacocks men's basketball team at the armory and the first-ever game for the Peacocks women's basketball team at the armory. The Pirates would go on to win both games over the Peacocks. Saint Peter's held their 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee ceremony during half time of the men's game.[21][22][23]

The armory is host to several local, regional, and state (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) track meets annually.[24]

Community

In 2004, the armory was the site of memorial service for deceased Jersey City mayor

Glenn Dale Cunningham attended by 5,000,[25] and where in 2007 his wife Sandra Bolden Cunningham launched her political career.[26]

In 2006, a funeral attended by thousands took place at the armory for Jersey City Police officer Robert Nguyen. He and his partner, Shawn Carson, had died on December 25 after their patrol car plunged in the

Vietnamese-American
background. [27]

In November of 2022, the armory hosted Art Fair 14C, the largest visual arts event in New Jersey.[28]

Film studio

The floor space and height of the Armory has led to it being used as a temporary

Laura Brannigan's music video "Self-Control",[29] Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry,[30] Terry Kinney's Diminished Capacity,[31] A Perfect Murder by Andrew Davis.,[32] and Jim Jarmusch's,Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
(1999).

Location and transportation

The armory is located in the McGinley Square neighborhood of the

Beacon complex, Hudson Catholic Regional High School, Saint Peter's University and Old Bergen Church
.

The nearby

Hudson County and to the Port Authority Bus Terminal are available on local streets or at the transit center. The armory is directly served by the 9 NJ Transit Bus
route outside the main entrance on Montgomery Street. On-site parking is not available, but several lots are within walking distance.

See also

References

  1. ^ "NJ National Guard Armory". Archived from the original on 2010-03-23. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
  2. ^ a b c "NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY – JERSEY CITY NJ". livingnewdeal.org. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "New Jersey National Guard Armory". njcu.libguides.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  4. ^ "Fourth Regiment Armory". New Jersey City University. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  5. ^ "GREAT FIRE SWEEPS JERSEY CITY ARMORY; Building a Roaring Furnace as Grills on Windows Bar Firemen From Entering". The New York Times. June 17, 1927. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  6. ^ Karnoutsos, Carmela; Shalhoub, Patrick (2007). "Roosevelt Stadium". Jersey City Past and Present. New Jersey City University. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  7. ^ "In war and peace, these armories in New Jersey are civic treasures". northjersey.com. May 25, 2002. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. Jersey City. Archived
    from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  9. ^
    Hudson Reporter. Archived from the original
    on December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Arrue, Karina L. (October 4, 2010). "State responds to gripes about Armory with $105,000 to fix sidewalks". Jersey Journal. Archived from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  11. ^ "New Jersey National Guard". Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  12. ^ Wojnarowski, Adrian (June 3, 2003). "Twenty-five years later, Boe makes up for mistake". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2009. Retrieved June 5, 2007.
  13. ^ Hague, Jim (March 22, 2007). "Ringside Jersey City's pugilistic past". Hudson Reporter. Archived from the original on 2010-09-29. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  14. ^ a b c "TASTY TIDBITS Armory a sight to behold; Borowski signs with Marlins". Hudson Reporter. January 17, 2006. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  15. ^ Cohen, P. (March 22, 2010). "Mixed martial arts makes fast, feisty debut at Jersey City Armory". Jersey Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  16. ^ Curry, Jack (March 3, 1991). "School Basketball; Flying Toward His Future". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  17. ^ Anderson, Dave (February 22, 2007). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; A Coach Who Likes Just Being In the Present". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  18. ^ Dan Finn Classic Archived 2011-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ "Boys Basketball: Dan Finn Classic set for 16th edition". The Jersey Journal. January 16, 2020. Archived from the original on January 20, 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "Rutgers Falls at St. Peter's 65-58". Rutgers University. November 25, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Saint Peter's and Seton Hall to Play Historic Doubleheader on Hall of Fame Day at The Jersey City Armory". maacsports.com. June 6, 2008. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  22. ^ "Women's Basketball Takes Down Saint Peter's, 66-51". shupirates.com. December 13, 2008. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  23. ^ "Seton Hall 60, St. Peter's 46". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 13, 2008. Archived from the original on April 19, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "NJ Runners.com". Archived from the original on 2011-04-24. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  25. ^ Smothers, Ronald (2004-06-02). "Before 5000 Mayor of Jersey is Eulogized for a Life Well Lived". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  26. ^ Smothers, Ronald (February 4, 2007). "Rekindling a Fight, Widow Seeks Senate Seat". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  27. ^ Gettleman, Jeffrey (January 6, 2006). "At Funeral for Drowned Officer in Jersey City, Mourners Remember a Go-Getter". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2024-04-21. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  28. ^ "Drama, Anxiety and Beauty at Art Fair 14C". jcitytimes.com. November 11, 2022. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  29. ^ "NEW JERSEY A STUDIO CENTER? TEMPORARILY AND PERMANENTLY!". New Jersey Television and Movie Commission. Archived from the original on 2002-07-12. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  30. ^ Kannapell, Andrea (1998-10-04). "Getting the Big Picture; The Film Industry Started Here and Left. Now It's Back, and the State Says the Sequel Is Huge". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2011-01-10.
  31. ^ "Diminished Capacity". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-01-05.
  32. ^ Shooting the Apple. A Perfect Murder. Warner Brothers. 1998.

External links

40°43′29″N 74°3′55″W / 40.72472°N 74.06528°W / 40.72472; -74.06528

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