How It All Began
The historic Westerly Armory has been restored to its place as community icon and now serves as a museum, an event venue, home to The Westerly Band (America’s oldest active community band), and largest memorial in Washington County to all veterans. Erected in 1901 after the wood-framed armory on Main Street was destroyed, the Westerly Armory is one of only 18 historic armories in the state of Rhode Island. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is also a Save America’s Treasures Site, awarded by the United States Congress.
The Westerly Armory was built in 1901, but before that, on Main Street, there was a wood-framed armory built in 1860 which did not live long but perished in the flames of fire and exploding ammunition at 1:00 am on 30 April 1899.
Born in 1901 and costing $30,000, the new armory was erected in a new location on a triangle of land with Railroad Avenue and Dixon Street on two sides and West Street in the rear. William R. Walker & Son was the architectural firm used — the same firm that had already designed the Pawtucket Armory – and later, the great Providence (Cranston Street), Woonsocket, and Kentish Artillery armories. The firm also designed the riding rink and stables of the Armory of Mounted Commands on North Main Street, Providence.
The Westerly Sun reported on 21 June 1902, “A perfect mob of people inspected the building from cellar to roof. All were loud in praise of the new building. It is just what Westerly needs.” And so that has been the case.
Community History
The Armory holds a vast number of community memories. It was the scene of sports activities such as basketball with the New York Celtics, boxing matches (a few with Rocky Marciano), and even bowling. The Armory boasted a one-lane bowling alley in the basement, as well as a rifle range. During the 1920s, the Westerly Rifle Club met there for practice and competition. The Armory was at one time home to the Westerly Rifles, a state-chartered militia group.
Although small in comparison with such major edifices as the Providence Armory, Westerly’s armory accommodated such community events as automobile shows, antiques shows, toy and doll exhibitions, dances, and book sales. Scouts met there, and boys and girls practiced their skills in basketball. The Armory served as a polling place for many years. There were weddings and wedding receptions, which took place in the drill hall, the Armory’s 6,000-square-foot room.
Perhaps the Armory memory that makes people smile the most is mention of the annual poultry shows. Every Thanksgiving weekend (from 1901-1950s), the Westerly Armory played home to hundreds of chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, and their proud and hopeful owners. The competition was keen and included prizes for Best Hen and Best Cock (rooster) as well as Best in Show. There were white, red, and blue ribbons as well as professionally published program booklets. The Armory smelled of hay, seed, and cracked corn, sounded of cackling and crowing, and drew entire families who devoted themselves to making their entries engaging to the judges’ astute eyes. This was a serious competition and the social highlight of the Thanksgiving weekend. A very large percentage of the community’s population turned out to not only see the poultry but also to socialize.
An Easter Monday Ball sponsored by the Westerly Elks Club was THE event of the year in Westerly throughout the early 1950s. People dressed to the nines and prepared well in advance for the festivities in the resplendent Armory hall.
1969:
- Armory hosted 300th anniversary ball for the town's tercentenary.
1996:
- Westerly Armory abandoned by National Guard. Last unit to serve there was 169th Military Police Company.
- Town of Westerly purchased Westerly Armory from the State of Rhode Island.
- Armory placed on National Register of Historic Places and deemed by Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission as “the model armory in the State of Rhode Island.” Ronald Thorpe, then Vice President of the Rhode Island Foundation, stated that “the Armory is a part of the soul of the community.”
1997:
- Three granddaughters (Helen Walker Raleigh, Harriet Walker Scott, and Nancy Walker Collins) of William R. Walker, architect of the Armory visited Westerly Armory, then donated two framed oil paintings — one of their grandfather, William R. Walker, and the other of their grandmother, Eliza B. Walker.
2001:
- Armory reached 100 years of age, still serving as a constant reminder of the history and traditions of its community. Numerous programs and events were held to celebrate the centennial of the building.
2019:
- Armory was host to 350th Anniversary (Town of Westerly) Gala for two nights in May.
Currently, the Armory has found new purposes. It is the community’s museum (both community and local military memorabilia are displayed), as well as home to America’s oldest active civic band, The Westerly Band. The Band has their practice room, a small office and storage area for their library of music, some of which predates the Civil War. Additionally, the Armory’s drill hall is now available to rent for events. Lastly, the Westerly Armory is the largest memorial in all of South County to veterans of all wars and conflicts.
The Westerly Armory holds its crenelated head high above the neglect of the past. The Armory has been restored and developed by Westerly Armory Restoration, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring and repurposing the Armory for its community. A capital campaign is running to raise funds to renovate the lower level for additional museum exhibition space, a community room, a museum workshop, a unisex and accessible restroom, and additional egress. The large basement room will remain for storage for things such as the Armory’s prize-winning float, decorations for holidays and events, tools, plumbing and electrical, wood shop, and storage for the Westerly Band.
Military History
The Westerly Armory housed provisional and volunteer companies such as Company E, volunteers under charter and, for several years, an infantry company.
The Fifth Company was formed in 1908 and known as the Coast Artillery Corps, Rhode Island National Guard. In 1917, the Fifth was drafted into Federal service, and in March of that year, the Company (109 officers and soldiers strong) gathered in the Westerly Armory to stand ready.
In the time when the Fifth Company had gone to war, the need arose and the call came for a home defense regiment. The 4th Company was an offshoot of the Westerly constabulary which, in 1917, was organized for the purpose of home defense. The Company consisted of almost all businessmen in addition to men too old for Federal service. At the close of World War I, the company was mustered out. Westerly was, for several years, without a military company.
In 1921, Westerly raised a new company, known as the Fifth Company Coast Artillery Corp (RING). In only 10 days, a company of 52 men was both organized and federally recognized. The Company was later changed from the Fifth to the 349th Company, and then to Battery E, 243d Coast Artillery (HD), National Guard.
The Westerly Armory last housed the 169th Military Police Company, Rhode Island National Guard who abandoned the Armory in 1996 and who were dispersed into Middletown and Providence. Their motto, “Stand Ready,” echoed the sentiment of earlier soldiers who drilled in the Armory’s hall.
Many veterans of the community went to war, proudly stepping out of the great doors of the Westerly Armory.