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   Erie Armory

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Historic Name

Erie Armory

Address

East 6th & Parade Streets

Municipality

City of Erie

Tax Parcel

14010011010000

Historic District

 

Classification

Class 1 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

96487

Historic Function

Defense - arms storage

Style

Other

Built

1920

Architect

 

Builder

 

Barn Type on property

 

Last Entry Update

8/2/2016


HISTORY

The Erie Armory was originally built for four units of the 112th Infantry of the PA National Guard. They were stationed at this building beginning in the 1920s and remained there until July 2007—at which time the 112th was relocated to a newly constructed Pennsylvania National Guard Readiness Center near Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania. The 112th infantry regiment is part of the 28th Division, the oldest continuously serving infantry division in the United States Army. When the 112th infantry was first established during the American Civil War, it was known as the Pennsylvania 16th. Besides the Civil War, the unit that became the 112th also served in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and Iraq. During both World War II and the Korean War, the 112th earned Presidential Unit Citations.

The Erie Armory’s original structure was constructed in 1920 by Pittsburgh architect, Joseph F. Kuntz, of the W.G. Wilkins Company. Kuntz and the Wilkins Company designed multiple armories across Pennsylvania beginning in 1905. Eventually the Erie Armory was expanded in 1929, almost doubling the square footage of the property. The armory originally included spaces such as a drill hall, a kitchen and dining room, a locker room, classrooms, and offices. The Erie Armory was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

In 2013, Erie Insurance purchased the Erie Armory building with plans to renovate the structure to use as office space. In Fall 2015, the renovation was complete with historic preservation practices at the forefront of the project. The exterior of the structure has been maintained and preserved, and although the interior has been modernized, original features such as ammunition locker doors and fireplaces have been restored. The building now houses office and conference space for 150 Erie Insurance employees.

Sources:


DESCRIPTION


LINKS AND ATTACHMENTS

Erie Armory National Register nomination


UPDATE

If you have additional information or corrections to the existing information, send an email to info@preservationerie.org.
Submitted information is reviewed by Preservation Erie prior to updating the database.


CURRENT ASSESSMENT PHOTO


Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office


PHOTO FROM 2014 SURVEY

HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS

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