Henderson Armory

National Register Plaque - "This property has been place on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

The armory at Henderson is one of the oldest in the state, and it is modeled to look like the six earlier 1940s Works Progress Administration (WPA) armories, which were designed in the same style by the architect, Edd R. Gregg.

The first unit was established in Henderson around the turn of the century, and was Company B of the Third Kentucky National Guard after the close of the Spanish-American War. This unit was originally stationed in Morganfield before moving to Henderson. The 1938 Historical Annual of the National Guard discusses an incident which occurred in 1908, when the Company was ordered to Golden Pond, near Birmingham, Alabama, for an outbreak of Night Riders. In 1916, Company B, along with another newly organized unit, a Machine Gun Company, served a nine-month training period at Camp Owen Bierney, near Ft. Bliss, but were recalled home afterwards. Both companies were called up for service in World War I, and became part of the 38th Division. After returning home, the units were disbanded until 1926.

"...On March 30, 1926, a state detachment of the Quartermaster Corps was organized in Henderson with one officer and twenty-six enlisted men. Its personnel consists largely of the higher grades of non-commissioned officers, as its purpose is to serve the Administrative and Supply and Transportation needs of the Kentucky National Guard. In January, 1937, this Detachment was on state duty for 37 days, serving in the flood areas."

In addition to the fore- mentioned units, Company B, 2/123rd Armor was also in Henderson for a short while.

The armory serves as both a military and community center, and parts of the building have been and are still rented out to other organizations. A couple of rooms/offices on the second floor are rented out to the high school ROTC who uses the drill hall for rifle team practice a couple of days a week. A large second floor classroom was rented to an alternative school for one year. Donald Wathen, a Henderson County librarian, remembers that the armory was the site for people to get shots during a swine flu epidemic in the early 1970s.

The 307th Maintenance was activated for state active duty during the March flood of 1997. In the community, the unit has participated in parades. Other activities which take place in the armory include basketball practices in the drill hall. The hall is also rented out for parties, weddings, and receptions. The majority of rentals take place in the winter months.

The current two-story armory is a poured concrete structure that has been painted white. The building does not have a dedication plaque announcing its date of construction in the entrance foyer, unlike the other armories in the state. This building was designed by the same architect that designed the early 1940s armories in the state, so it is not surprising that this building looks exactly like the earlier ones, although it was designed some ten years later. The facade of the building has an Art Deco entranceway, and Art Deco - like concrete detailing on either side of the stairs. The entrance surround on the building has a linear design, which is echoed in the concrete on either side of the steps. An eagle sits above the door, and five steps lead up to the front doors. The walls of the armory are very slightly rounded, lending the building a slightly Modern-style appearance. A major alteration has been the replacement of the wooden drill hall floor, which was with a vinyl tile floor. The original floor had to be replaced in circa 1980 because of a leaky roof which caused water damage to the wooden floor.

Photos and information courtesy Kentucky Heritage Council -- Report No. 25" Inventory and Evaluation of National Guard Armories in the State of Kentucky" - 1999 by Kate Carothers.