13th Regiment Armory

Armory in Brooklyn, New York Citation bot October 2019 13th Regiment Armory 13th Regiment Armory, August 2025.jpg 13th Regiment Armory, August 2025 Armory 357 Marcus Garvey Blvd Brooklyn, New York United States 40 41 06 N 73 56 15 W type:landmark inline,title Pamoja House 1892 1894 April 23, 1894 $US 700000 1894 c New York City Department of Homeless Services Rudolphe L. Daus The 13th Regiment Armory is a historic armory designed by architect Rudolph L. Daus and built in 1892–1894.. Morrone 2001 257 It is located at 357 Marcus Garvey Boulevard (also known as Sumner Avenue) between Putnam and Jefferson Avenues in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. The armory building is currently used as the Pamoja House (also known as Sumner House Shelter Care Center for Men), a homeless shelter for men managed by Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc. and supervised by the New York City Department of Homeless Services. The Pamoja House is named for the Swahili word for "together".https://theotherjournal.com/2013/06/24/pamoja-house/ Pamoja House June 24, 2013 The Other Journal The armory's design is expansive yet austere. According to Francis Morrone, "Something, perhaps the busy-ness or a greater stridency in the machicolations, makes this armory seem more forbidding than the 23rd Regiment's which is actually rather jolly.". Morrone 2001 256–257 History Previous locations The 13th Regiment was previously housed in Gothic Hall on Adams Street in the 1830s. In 1858, it moved to the Henry Street Armory. and finally to the Flatbush Armory in 1874–75.. Todd 2006 128, 131 Construction and use as armory The 13th Regiment had received a $300,000 award for the construction of a new armory in 1890.https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/24/realestate/streetscapes-13th-regiment-armory-brooklyn-fortress-yields-changing-times.html Streetscapes: 13th Regiment Armory; A Brooklyn Fortress Yields to the Changing Times Gray Christopher January 24, 1988 The New York Times October 24, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 However, subsequent changes increased the armory's cost to $400,000.Harpers Weekly 1892, cited in . Todd 2006 130–131 The armory ultimately cost nearly $700,000, more than twice its original outlay, which was paid by the Kings County government. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle called the drastic cost increases as "a scandal of no common dimensions",https://bklyn.newspapers.com/clip/37678933/ The Armory Blunder March 9, 1892 Brooklyn Daily Eagle October 21, 2019 4 Brooklyn Public Library; newspapers.com and The New York Times described the armory as one of three Brooklyn armories facing extreme cost overruns, the others being the 14th Regiment Armory in Park Slope and the 23rd Regiment Armory in Crown Heights.https://www.nytimes.com/1892/03/20/archives/the-news-from-brooklyn-matters-of-political-import-in-the-city-of.html The News from Brooklyn; Matters of Political Import in the City of Churches. Congressional Appointment Bill Not a Fair One -- Chapin's Ap- Pointment Discussed --- the Ele- Vated Railroad Scandal. March 20, 1892 The New York Times October 24, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 A panel of experts recommended cutting several ornate features and downsizing the drill room in order to complete the project within the $300,000 appropriation.https://www.nytimes.com/1892/03/09/archives/taxpayers-must-pay-for-it-queer-doings-in-connection-with.html Taxpayers Must Pay for It.; Queer Doings in Connection with Thirteenth Regiment's Armory. March 9, 1892 The New York Times October 24, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 The armory was designed by the architect Rudolph L. Daus. Daus had previously designed the Lincoln Club on Putnam Avenue in 1889. He was probably well-connected politically, as he later became surveyor of buildings for Brooklyn. Plans were worked on also by Fay Kellogg, employed by Daus early in her career.Woman Invades Field of Modern Architecture, The New York Times, November 17, 1907, accessed May 7, 2011 The armory opened on April 23, 1894.https://www.nytimes.com/1894/04/23/archives/veterans-for-its-escort-thirteenth-regiment-to-march-to-new-armory.html VETERANS FOR ITS ESCORT; THIRTEENTH REGIMENT TO MARCH TO NEW ARMORY TO-NIGHT. Its Third Home One of the Finest Military Structures in the Country -- Castle of Chapultepec Model of Its Front -- Great Drill Hall had Splen- did Accommodations -- Record of the Thirteenth in Time of Peace and War a Brilliant Gue. April 23, 1894 The New York Times October 24, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 The excessive reallocation of money on the armory's lavish dimensions had resulted in insufficient funding for such items as sidewalks and fences. The budget cuts also resulted in several design deficiencies: for instance, by September 1894, the roof was found to be leaking.https://www.nytimes.com/1894/09/21/archives/soldiers-will-need-umbrellas-the-costly-thirteenth-regiment-armory.html SOLDIERS WILL NEED UMBRELLAS.; The Costly Thirteenth Regiment Armory Has a Very Leaky Roof. September 21, 1894 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 Then, in 1903, a wall at the 13th Regiment Armory fell on seven men, killing two of them.https://www.nytimes.com/1903/12/24/archives/falling-walls-kill-two-framework-of-thirteenth-regiment-armory.html FALLING WALLS KILL TWO; Framework of Thirteenth Regiment Armory, Brooklyn, Collapses. Seven Men Fall In Crash and Two of Them Probably Are Injured Fatally. December 24, 1903 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 Because the drill hall had been downsized as part of the budget cuts, it soon became insufficient for training, and was extended in 1906. The architectural work for this was done by the Parfitt Brothers. In 1921, a large memorial made by L. Riene Co. was erected in the southwest yard with the names of all the soldiers who had been stationed in the armory during World War I, with the casualties listed at the top.https://www.bklynlibrary.org/digitalcollections/item/9609cdf9-256f-420d-a498-b6819302de43 [13th Regiment memorial] - Digital Collections Brooklyn Public Library October 29, 2019 Subsequently, a 1944 fire at the armory burned many of the regiment's trophies.https://www.nytimes.com/1944/03/17/archives/brooklyn-armory-burns-historic-trophies-destroyed-6-firemen-felled.html BROOKLYN ARMORY BURNS; Historic Trophies Destroyed -- 6 Firemen Felled by Smoke March 17, 1944 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 The 13th Regiment Armory was used for several civilian purposes over the years, including as a schools' track and field venue,https://www.nytimes.com/1930/02/28/archives/500-in-games-tonight-schoolboy-athletes-to-compete-on-track-in-13th.html 500 IN GAMES TONIGHT.; Schoolboy Athletes to Compete on Track in 13th Regiment Armory. February 28, 1930 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 Sunday school competitions,https://www.nytimes.com/1911/05/07/archives/close-contests-by-sunday-school-boys-extensive-programme-in-last.html CLOSE CONTESTS BY SUNDAY SCHOOL BOYS; Extensive Programme in Last Open Competition at Thirteenth Regiment Armory. May 7, 1911 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 and singing contests.https://www.nytimes.com/1900/07/04/archives/brooklyns-children-sing-public-school-pupils-take-part-in-the.html BROOKLYN'S CHILDREN SING; Public School Pupils Take Part in the Saengerfest. SECOND EVENING CONCERT The First Prize Chorus Sung -- Enormous Audiences in the Thirteenth Regiment Armory. July 4, 1900 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 On June 22–28, 1953, the building was used for the 48th annual session of the Baptist Congress by the Sunday School Congress and Baptist Training Union.https://www.bklynlibrary.org/digitalcollections/item/031c379f-8313-4bd9-ac33-89b5d4f6dc85 Mayor to address Baptist Congress - Digital Collections Brooklyn Public Library October 29, 2019 By the mid-20th century, urban armories had become less necessary, and in 1974 the Thirteenth Regiment was deactivated. Plans to close the armory were announced in 1971 as part of a budget cut.https://www.nytimes.com/1971/04/20/archives/state-is-dismissing-8250-with-wide-cuts-in-services-4000-vacant.html State Is Dismissing 8,250, With Wide Cutsin Seivices Clines Francis X. April 20, 1971 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 A black veterans' group characterized the proposal as racist, since the 13th Regiment Armory was located in a predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhood.https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/01/archives/race-bias-laid-to-guard-in-brooklyn-armory-plan.html Race Bias Laid to Guard In Brooklyn Armory Plan August 1, 1971 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 A methadone treatment center was proposed for the site in 1972, but that plan was opposed by residents who were concerned about crime increases and wanted more attention to be paid to health, housing, recreation, and schools in Bedford–Stuyvesant.https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/23/archives/methadone-center-opposed-in-bedstuy.html Methadone Center Opposed in Bed-Stuy Ledbetter Les January 23, 1972 The New York Times October 26, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 Conversion into homeless shelter After deactivation, the 13th Regiment Armory's headhouse was used to store vehicles while the administration building was used as a school. However, by the 1980s, existing homeless shelters in New York City had become overcrowded, so the city started opening new shelters in armories. Starting in 1987 or 1988, the 13th Regiment Armory was converted for use as a men's homeless shelter,. Todd 2006 131 In 1992, a judge ordered that the armory shelter's capacity be cut back from 550 to 200 homeless men.https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/24/nyregion/decreases-ordered-at-2-big-shelters-for-the-homeless.html Decreases Ordered at 2 Big Shelters for the Homeless Dugger Celia W. December 24, 1992 The New York Times October 24, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 Some residents of the nearby neighborhood did not want the shelter to be opened in the first place, but by 1993, had planted some flowers outside the shelter to beautify it.https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/26/nyregion/neighborhood-report-bedford-stuyvesant-update-quieter-shelter-makes-friends.html NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: BEDFORD - STUYVESANT UPDATE; Quieter Shelter Makes Friends Holloway Lynette September 26, 1993 The New York Times October 24, 2019 en-US 0362-4331 According to the Pamoja House's website in 2015, it "specializes in managing a homeless population that was refused from other shelters in New York City and is a 'next-step' facility. Residents of Pamoja House were deemed 'non-compliant' in general population shelters."Hurley, Clare. "Interviews with residents of Pamoja House Homeless Shelter in Brooklyn.June 2026 InternetArchiveBot " World Socialist Web Site, September 9, 2015 As a next-step shelter, residents had an 8 PM curfew rather than the DHS standard of 10 PM, and the facility had no television sets, dirty sheets, and meals consisting of one frankfurter and two 4 usoz mL on us cups of juice.http://brooklynink.org/2011/12/17/39204-next-step-shelter-program-uses-punitive-measures/ Next Step Shelter Program Uses Punitive Measures Haire Christopher December 17, 2011 Steven Banks, as commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, eliminated the "next step" program, converting it into a general population men's shelter with the maximum 200 beds.https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/back-to-the-bad-old-days/ Back to the Bad Old Days - Coalition For The Homeless www.coalitionforthehomeless.org The company rooms are used as dormitories, and the drill shed is filled with additional dormitories that are no longer in use after the 200-bed limitation was imposed (at one point it had 550 beds in active use). Memorial Hall is used as the mess, and is the only part of the building with central air conditioning. The offices, in one of the company rooms and in the base of the south tower, have window-mounted air conditioners. The north side of the drill hall contains the lavatories and laundry room, but the drill hall is mostly walled off (the walls are about four feet high) and accessible only to staff, as are all floors above the first. On November 29, 2017, security staff and residents were caught on camera punching and kicking shelter resident Alexander Singh.https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-metro-homeless-security-20180622-story.html City turns over reports of arrests inside homeless shelters following Daily News expose Smith Greg B. nydailynews.com On October 25, 2021, The City published an interview with Wayne Batchelor, who chose to become street homeless after being forced back into Pamoja House while the pandemic continues.https://www.thecity.nyc/housing/2021/10/25/22745849/nyc-homeless-go-from-hotels-to-streets-shelters-pandemic Homeless Bounced from Hotels to Streets and Shelters: A NYC Pandemic Odyssey October 25, 2021 Architecture The 13th Regiment Armory consists of an administration building as well as an attached barrel-vaulted drill shed to its east. The lot measures 200 ft on Marcus Garvey Boulevard and 480 ft along Putnam and Jefferson Avenues. According to Harper's Weekly, the building was designed to recall thirteenth century feudal France. Upon the 13th, 14th, and 23rd Regiment Armories' completions in the mid-1890s, the New-York Tribune stated that "these three armories are the product of a lavish expenditure ... for the support and encouragement of the militia that has perhaps never been excelled."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37829099/ Some Sights of Brooklyn July 18, 1897 New-York Tribune October 24, 2019 26 newspapers.com Exterior The armory consists of an Administration Building 200 ft wide by 180 ft deep. To the east is a drill hall measuring 300 by 200 ft. The main facade of the administration building is located along Marcus Garvey Boulevard to the west. This facade contains a large round-arched, stone-faced stone sally port, 28 ft in diameter. There are two turreted towers flanking the arch, each with a diameter of 28 feet.https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015011446161&view=1up&seq=609 New Buildings in Brooklyn Harper's Weekly August 9, 1890 34 619 Harpers Weekly 1890Harpers Weekly 1890, cited in . Todd 2006 128 The round towers are 200 ft tall. The south tower has an observatory, while the north tower has an additional, smaller turret, rising another 28 feet, to serve as an outlook. A terrace measuring 16 by 45 ft in area is located directly above the sally port. Interior The building contains a basement and four stories, counting a mezzanine. The basement included rifle galleries, firing rooms, squad drill rooms, large lavatories, and an engine room that provided heat and power to the entire armory.July 16, 1892 Brooklyn's New Armories https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015014126026&view=1up&seq=653 Harper's Weekly 36 679 Harpers Weekly 1892 In the 1894 Harper's article, it was indicated that a swimming pool and bowling alleys were expected to be installed, but not at public expense. It includes company rooms 22 by 50 ft feet with 14 ft m -high mid ceilings, six on each side, containing captains' and sergeants' rooms, private stairs to locker rooms in the mezzanine. Officers' rooms are on the second floor, described as "large and excellent." There were also council and Veteran Association rooms, 44 by 50 ft, and a gymnasium 50 by 80 ft feet, also on the second floor. The third floor contained a mess-hall, kitchen, and lecture-room.April 28, 1894 Brooklyn's Great Armory https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013724433&view=1up&seq=402 Harper's Weekly 38 402 A 1892 Harper's article described the premises as "one grand lyceum". The drill hall contains galleries with built-in seats on the north, south, and west sides.https://www.bklynlibrary.org/digitalcollections/item/d57088a5-38e3-4318-9346-145b55127ee3 13th Reg. Armory interior - Digital Collections Brooklyn Public Library October 29, 2019 The roof is supported by 200-foot arch iron trusses with a skylight in the center. The drill hall could be used for sports such as baseball and track and field, as well as for gymnastics and calisthenics. See also List of armories and arsenals in New York City and surrounding counties References https://books.google.com/books?id=cIOZO8_HNGAC Morrone Francis An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn Gibbs Smith Salt Lake City 2001 978-1-58685-047-0 45284576 256–257 https://books.google.com/books?id=0I7efjujcFQC&pg=PA131 Todd Nancy New York's Historic Armories: An Illustrated History State University of New York Press Albany, New York 2006 978-0-7914-6911-8 62697093 128–131 External links Black Veterans for Social Justice, Inc. Category:1894 establishments in New York (state) Category:Armories in New York City Category:Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Category:Military installations established in 1894 Category:Military facilities in Brooklyn Category:Military installations closed in 1974