SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Armory National Historic Site featured an open house on Saturday as part of an effort to recruit members to the new Springfield Armory Alliance Inc.
James M. Woolsey, armory superintendent, explained that the alliance will help the armory connect with the community and raise funds for the historic site.
Established by George Washington in 1794, it is the nation’s first armory. It closed in 1968, and opened as a historic site in 1974. It features the world’s largest historic American military firearms collection.
Park historian Richard Colton led a tour of the commanding officer’s house, which was erected in 1845-1846 during Major J.W. Ripley’s tenure for $24,900. Colton explained to the crowd that the cost caused a stir at the time, as people were lucky to make an annual wage of $200.
“It was the most sumptuous house in the area,” Colton said.
The 20,000-square-foot house, only open for special events, once had a reflecting pool outside it, and gardens. Colton and Woolsey said they hope to restore the garden, and improve the landscaping around it. The rooms are spacious, with plenty of bathrooms and even walk-in closets. A total of 34 families lived there over the years, until the closure.
Melvin A. Edwards, Ward 3 City Councilor and Springfield Armory Alliance president, said the city has “gems all over the place,” but doesn’t do the best job of marketing them. Edwards said they hope they can raise the funds to bring the house back to its “historic glory.” He said it could take up to $1 million.
Woolsey said they also would be interested in finding a tenant that would be responsible for renovating the house. Peeling paint and exposed ceiling areas could be seen in some areas, and the third floor was off-limits due to its condition.
Woolsey explained that Washington created the armory to manufacture weapons as a way to decrease the country’s reliance on foreign-made guns. In its heyday during World War II, it employed 12,000 people. Usually, it employed between 1,500 and 2,000 people. The closure did “a lot of economic damage to the city” at the time, Woolsey said.
Edwards said it was a major employer, and provided jobs to many minorities, who were able to make a “good, livable wage.” It was one of the contributing factors to making the city known as “the city of homes,” he said.
Colton continued the tour inside the armory museum, where visitors glimpsed muskets from the Civil War and more.
Frances M. Gagnon, local historian and Armory Alliance vice president, said she thinks the alliance is needed. She called the armory one of the “most important places in the city of Springfield.” It also was the site of Shay’s Rebellion – the armed assault on the armory in 1787 by rebels upset over taxes who tried to seize control over it until they were repelled by state militia.
“Not enough people know it’s here,” Gagnon said.
Eileen Pratt, 67, of Springfield, wanted to attend the open house to learn about volunteer opportunities, and to visit the place she worked at as a clerk from 1964 to 1966.
“There’s just so much history here and I just enjoy coming. I don’t think people realize what a good museum it is and it’s free,” Pratt said.
City resident Linda L. Bartlett said she would love to see the commandant’s house preserved.
“We need to preserve all the history we can before we lose it,” Bartlett said.
For information about the alliance, call (413) 734-8551 or email shera_cohen@partner.nps.gov
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