Most people have seen the old National Guard Armory on the south side of Highway 40 along a desolate stretch of far west Market Street. I searched for any information on this building, that looks like it dates from the 1920's or 1930's, but can't seem to find much information on it.
Apparently there was a Grateful Dead concert back in 1968 in the armory, and you can actually buy a ticket from the
concert.
Also apparently it was the site of
tennis matches, according to the Post Dispatch, and also supposedly softball games.
You can see a satellite image of the building
here. It's a magnificent building, with a nice combination of cut stone and tan brick. Sadly, the location is really terrible; you have to turn down a narrow street and then Highway 40 is looming above you. The area looks like it will remain industrial for the near future, and there's more than enough concert venues around town. Perhaps it would be a good place for "adventure" sports, such as rock climbing walls or other things that highly active people do.
Apparently there was a Grateful Dead concert back in 1968 in the armory, and you can actually buy a ticket from the concert.
Also apparently it was the site of tennis matches, according to the Post Dispatch, and also supposedly softball games.
You can see a satellite image of the building here. It's a magnificent building, with a nice combination of cut stone and tan brick. Sadly, the location is really terrible; you have to turn down a narrow street and then Highway 40 is looming above you. The area looks like it will remain industrial for the near future, and there's more than enough concert venues around town. Perhaps it would be a good place for "adventure" sports, such as rock climbing walls or other things that highly active people do.
I stumbled on this page by pure luck. I can vouch for there being softball played there because the one and only time I was ever in the building was for a softball game. I was a child at the time. Not sur ehow old.....maybe 12ish? Which would've made it about 18-20 years ago. The field was laid out a little strangely because the interior was oblong. Left field was a relatively normal distance away as was center field. Right field was very short and there was a "home run porch" made by an overhanging seating area.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to ask my parents if they ever saw the Grateful Dead there. They were bigtime Deadheads back in their day.
Ed
They're currently building a large electrical substation in the adjacent parcel to the south.
ReplyDeleteMy dad worked in this armory from 1956 - 1963 as training officer for the 138th Infantry Division. I was a small boy and remember it vividly. There was a swimming pool in the basement that we used on a regular basis, also every year the floor was converted into a multi lane bowling alley for a large tournament of some sort. All the vehicles including tanks were parked in the basement. The building was pristine, with highly polished floors and was immense to a 7 year old.
ReplyDelete