Kentucky: National Guard History eMuseum

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

Several military companies have been organized in Somerset prior to the current unit. Company B of the 149th Infantry was established and federally recognized in December 1923. The company can loosely trace its lineage back to the Mexican War, where it is believed some forebears served with General Zachary Taylor. Another forerunner of Company B was Company I of the First Kentucky Volunteers. This unit served in the Spanish-American War.

"In 1908, Capt. Henry Waddell commanded Company 'G', the unit which was the real parent of Company 'B'. The unit was mobilized at Fort Thomas in June, 1916, and served on the Mexican border with the Second Infantry, Kentucky National Guard, until February 1917. At the entrance of the United States into World War I, the Company served in France with the 149th Infantry." After the war, the Thirty-Eighth Division was reorganized and Company 'B', 149th Infantry was allotted to Somerset."

Prior to World War II, and for a number of years, the Beecher Hotel served as the home of the Somerset National Guard. The Guard used the gym located in the basement of the hotel as their meeting and drilling place. The Beecher Hotel was constructed circa 1929, and was deemed "...the fanciest hotel in the state between Lexington and Knoxville.." when it was built. The Guard continued to use the hotel gym until they were mobilized for World War II. Before leaving for the Pacific Theater, the men trained in Camp Shelby, Mississippi and in Hawaii. The men from Somerset saw action in Leyte and Luzon; four of the men that served in World War II are still alive today.

Mr. R.K. Padgett, a retired National Guardsman, joined the regular Army when he was nineteen years old, and was sent to the Phillippines and New Guinea. Unlike earlier units that went to the Pacific, such as the 192nd Tank Company from Harrodsburg, later units had plenty of ammunition and manpower. Mr. Padgett remembers "..We served active duty for 18 months and were in the Phillippines in 1945, preparing to invade Osaka, Japan, when we received word that the nuclear bombs had been dropped and we were going home." The men arrived home on New Year's Eve, 1945. The men from Somerset suffered several casualties from their unit, and the National Guard was disbanded throughout the state after the war.

In April, 1947, the National Guard was reactivated in Somerset with 26 members. The Guard was located upstairs in the old City Hall in downtown Somerset. This location is now 1st and Farmers Bank on the square. The Guard was only there a short time before they moved back to the Beecher Hotel gym. In 1947, construction on the armory began, and in 1948, the Guard moved into their new armory.

Since World War II, many different units have been stationed in Somerset, including armor and engineers. Currently, two units are located at the armory, including Company C of the 149th Infantry. The unit at Somerset also served in Korea. Some men volunteered for service in Desert Storm but did not actually go overseas.

Besides federal service, the National Guard in Somerset has participated in many state active duty missions. In 1938, the Guard went to Harlan for the coal strike, and the same year they helped with the East Kentucky coal strike. In the 1930s, the Guard also traveled to Louisville and guarded prisoners during the flood of 1937. The Guard also helped with school integration enforcement in the western Kentucky towns of Clay and Sturgis in the 1960s. The unit helped with the Truckers strike in the 1970s, and more recently, they were involved in forest fire duties in the 1980s and 1990s (Harlan -1987, 1991- Clay County). The Guard has helped with several snow duties, including clearing snow and cutting trees in Pulaski and McCreary counties during the February 1998 snowstorm. The unit hauled water to Floyd County during a water shortage in 1989, and provided security during the Kentucky Derby in 1991. In August of 1994, the Guard provided security during the Mill Springs battle re-enactment, and they helped out during other snowstorms in Pulaski County in January, 1994 and during a snowstorm in Clay County in 1996.

The armory has also played a part in the community life of Somerset. Before the high schools had their own gyms, the Pulaski County basketball games were played in the armory drill hall. The bleachers were most likely added for that reason. Today the drill hall is still used for basketball games, as well as wrestling matches, award ceremonies for the local racetrack, union meetings, and beauty pageants, among other activities. During tornadoes and snowstorms, people have stayed at the armory, and a National Guard unit from Ohio stays at the armory one weekend a year to explore caves in the area.

The National Guard participates in Summerfest, the Somerset Christmas parade, Veterans Day, and other parades and festivals which occur in both Pulaski and McCreary counties. Until the military post (American Legion) was established, volunteers from the Guard beared colors at military funerals.

The Beecher Hotel, located on South Main Street in Somerset, is still standing and now provides low-rent apartments. Before the Guard moved to the current armory, they stored some individual equipment at the hotel, but they did not have any large equipment or vehicles because they were an infantry unit. The Somerset Armory is eligible for the National Register under Criterion A, for historic associations, and Criterion C, as a type of construction.