My copy of Preservation Magazine was delivered today along with about 300,000 others across the nation. On page 15 you will find the THREATENED CHESTERTOWN ARMORY! For those of you who don’t know of the magazine, it is the award-winning flagship publication of the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched in 1952.
In the Winter 2024 edition the armory is featured under the TRANSITIONS section. In each quarterly publication, Transitions highlights historic buildings under the categories of restored, threatened, saved or lost. Only one example from each is featured, chosen from noteworthy candidates considered nationwide. Currently the Chestertown Armory is spotlighted as being threatened. Having been chosen is a powerful affirmation of the significance of its historic value. “It’s not just local history, but American history,” Vicky Smith, chair of the Chestertown HDC, said in the article. She is certainly correct.
The men deployed from this armory landed in the second wave on Normandy Beach, D-Day 1944, as part of the 29th Infantry. They were the medicos, trained to care for the wounded in the fiercest of actions, risking their own lives repeatedly to save others. The exploits and dedication to duty of the 29th inspired the movie Saving Private Ryan. Numerous medals for bravery and personal sacrifice were bestowed upon the men from the armory, including both the silver and bronze stars, purple hearts and the prestigious Croix de Guerre issued by France, honoring those who contributed to their liberation. Sadly, not all medicos returned home alive to Kent County. These selfless men were all real-life heroes and their legacy needs to be preserved for all to remember, for all time. We learn from our history.
Post World War II, the armory became an important gathering hub for numerous community functions including formal balls, youth dances, Washington College basketball games, boxing and wrestling events, Christmas shops, fund raisers, farm and garden shows and many more. The armory further hosted events for the African American community associated with the famous Chitlin Circuit. Presented by Chestertown’s Uptown Club were big-time recording artists of the day including James Brown, Little Richard, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas. From reports by local attendees, perhaps the stress cracks in the drill hall walls can be attributed to the energies whipped up by James Brown and Little Richard!
Now, sadly, this historic and community icon is listed as ‘Threatened’ in a national preservation magazine. Ironically, threatened by an institution of higher learning, known for its liberal arts education. History, its events and lessons learned, is a foundational cornerstone of a liberal arts education. Yet our valuable local learning resource is subject to irrevocable demolition by Washington College.
To learn more about the history of the armory, the controversary surrounding its demolition and much more, visit the following: Facebook, ‘Repurpose the Chestertown Armory’; Website, savethearmory.org; Google, ‘Chestertown Historic District Commission’ where all submissions and community points of view can be found.
For a 30-minute PowerPoint presentation titled ‘Chestertown Armory – Threads in the Fabric of Community’, contact the author at [email protected]. He will be happy to make the presentation before your organization or group of concerned individuals in person or virtually via Zoom.
Thomas Kocubinksi
Chestertown
Tom Mack says
Why don’t YOU purchase the Armory and restore it to your vision for the next century? We been reading and listening to these diatribes for months. There have been no viable proposals for an alternative solution for this abandoned neglected eyesore!
Lynn Mitchell says
I’ve noticed that it’s an “abandoned, neglected eyesore” too! In reading a lot of the material on this issue, I think most people agree that a hotel inside a sensitively repurposed Armory is a great idea – as Washington College originally proposed in 2017. The property (and building) deed comes with requirements that it be used only for educational or government use. Washington College spent time in 2022 – 2023 successfully lobbying the state of Maryland to agree to a hotel at the site, to go along with academic courses. I’m anxious to see Washington College’s next steps to bring this to reality! It will be a great boost to the vitality of town living and tourism.
Gerry levin says
LOL. Educate yourself please.
David A Turner says
Thomas Kocubinksi, is there any access to the PRESERVATION magazine article? It’s too late to subscribe now. Have you posted it online?
The magazine’s coverage of this debate is news.
Lolli Sherry says
That is the entire article. It’s just a short piece. You should be able to enlarge it in your browser.
Steven Mitchell says
The “Transitions” article from Preservation Magazine can be found on the website: savethearmory.org.
David A Turner says
Thomas Kocubinksi, is there any access to the PRESERVATION magazine article? It’s too late to subscribe now. Have you posted it online? A very small, reduced size of the article seems to be on your article, but it’s unreadably tiny.
The magazine’s coverage of this debate is news.