History of the armory continues

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
 
Historian Leonard Cash continues his series on the armory with an article from Nov. 27, 1913, which reported the inspection of the armory, performed by Board of Control President and Adj. Gen. of Wyoming V.K. Hart. 
Contractor Galusha and subcontractor Lloyd met with the board and superintendent constructor Dow to discuss minor changes and “concrete” the details. Hart was pleased with the progress, and the contractors expected the roof to be on by the beginning of 1914, if they had good weather.  
The board decided to make the laying of the cornerstone a public event. The Masonic lodge was meeting with the Grand Lodge to make the arrangements. Hart was instructed to invite Gov. Carey to the special event so he could give a speech.  
According to news reports from Jan. 15, 1914, work on the building had been slightly delayed due to a lack of materials, but it was resumed shortly, according to an article from Feb. 6, 1914, and the workmen were busy pushing the project along.  
The deck of the shooting gallery and gymnasium (which was probably on the back part of the building, Cash said) was completed and ready for shingling, and work was being done on both the stone work and the second floor, according to news reports from Mar. 19, 1914. 
On May 7, 1914, the newspaper said that Wilson Bros. was working on putting the sidewalk around city hall, as well as plastering the armory. Cash said Wilson Bros. worked with cement quite a bit.  
News reports from June 4, 1914, said that Wilson Bros. was laying the sidewalk around the armory, and the contract for the company’s work on the building was expected to be completed in a week.  
By July 2, 1914, reports said the building was almost finished, with only a few minor details left.  
“It is proposed to have the club (the Newcastle Armory Club) arrange for the dedication of the Armory in conjunction with the officers of Company A, who will move as soon as a few minor changes are made by the contractor and the building is accepted by the State Armory Board,” the article said. “It is to be hoped that Governor Carey and some of the officers of the National Guard will be able to be present at these ceremonies.” 
In his series on city hall, Cash’s records show that city hall was home to a skating rink until it was moved to the armory in 1915. Well, newspaper records from Jan. 21, 1915, reported that “Barnes skating” in the armory was completed and in working order.  
“Several of our most dignified citizens have already been seen to make gestures with their feet while sliding on their ears on the back of their necks,” the article said.  
Maj. R. Andersen was in Newcastle for a couple of days when he was “on leave of absence from his military duties at Deming, N.M,” reported the Feb. 1, 1917, issue of the paper. He inspected the armory building and gave charge of it to Mayor Washburn until Company A returned. So anyone interested in using the armory had to request permission from Washburn. 
According to the Oct. 6, 1921, issue of the News Journal, the school board was renting the armory to host school there. The county superintendent and county nurse were to have offices there, and another teacher was to be appointed soon to teach math and science.
“Two rooms will be used immediately, the first and second grades, taught by Miss Purvis and Miss Gowns,” the article said. “The seventh and eighth grades are expected to move to rooms vacated by the first and second, leaving their former quarters to be used as recitation rooms by high school pupils.”
However, if the troops needed to use the armory for whatever purpose that might arise, they had the right to do so.
A news article from around April 1924, reported that the Lions Club discussed at its most recent meeting whether or not to organize “a company of the State Guard.” A committee was appointed to overlook the matter, and it was taken to Cashus Carroll and the adjutant general’s office.  
“Plans are now well underway whereby it is hoped to have the organization perfected in a month or possibly less,” the article said. “The benefits of such an organization to the town are that a considerable amount of money will be paid out in salaries, stable room and feed, the amount being estimated at about $1,000 per month.” 
The members of the organization would be made up of young men, and they would personally receive a benefit. It was required to have 54 officers in the organization, composed of one first sergeant, five sergeants, five corporals, 13 privates first class, 26 privates, and four commissioned officers: a captain, a first lieutenant and two second lieutenants.  
The age limits were 18 to 45 years of age, with a required three-year enlistment period, excepting ex-servicemen who had the option of enlisting for only one year, but they could only make up one-third of the organization.  
Thirty-two horses, as well as a “dozen or so” pack mules, would also be provided for the troop.  
On May 1, 1924, the newspaper reported that Maj. Carroll came to Newcastle for the purpose of organizing the machine gun troop, or possibly two, due to the number of applicants.  
“The perfection of the organization means much to Newcastle, both from the standpoint of finances and the training of our young men,” the article said.  
Having a second troop would require the “expenditure” to go from $1,000 to $2,000 in order to still cover the costs of salaries, supplies, and “the thousand and one small items that are forever coming up.” 
“Let’s do what we can to help along this project,” the article encouraged.  
Because the troop would have many horses and mules to look after, food was needed for them. To determine where they would buy their feed from, bids were being taken, according to an advertisement from Mar. 19, 1925. 
“Notice of call for bids on forage for Troop ‘A’ 58th Machine Gun Squadron, Newcastle, Wyoming, to be delivered in April, 1925,” the ad said. Bids were to include bailed wheat grass hay, oats, bran, straw, salt rock and vinegar, and would be opened on Mar. 21, 1925, with the winner being announced sometime in April.  
Four years later, the News Journal reported on March 29, 1929, that “much needed” work had been done at the armory, including updates on the exterior by fixing broken glass on the windows and painting the doors. 
 
The News Letter Journal/Leonard Cash history series continues in next week’s issue.