The National Guard of con- tracted with the Kansas State Historical Post-war Armories Spring Society (KSHS) in 1996 for a cultural resources survey of the Kansas (KSARNG) installation consisting of various properties owned, Up Throughout Kansas operated, or used by KSARNG. The pri- mary purpose of the study was to survey, They aren’t usually considered beau- tant General of Kansas from 1951 until tiful buildings; but anyone who has ever 1972. The lasting reminder of Nickell’s identify, and record all significant cul- attended a basketball game, community term was the construction between 1953 tural resources owned, used or impacted dance, or large meeting in one of Kansas’ and 1962 of 57 armories in 54 Kansas by KSARNG. The study was intended to modern National Guard armories must cities, with one additional armory com- fulfill the Guard’s obligations as re- surely appreciate the building’s purely pleted a decade later in 1973. Today 46 of quired under the National Historic Pres- functional design. The mass of armories the Nickell’s armories remain in active ervation Act, as well as other laws. built in Kansas after 1950 followed stan- service; some are no longer used by the As a result of the contract, KSHS dardized interior and exterior plans, al- Guard. staff surveyed and inventoried all 70 lowing the most serviceable buildings to “Nickell’s armories” is an obviously KSARNG sites and evaluated each for be constructed with a minimum time and appropriate term to describe these facili- historical significance. A final report expense. ties. Joe Nickell’s experience as a newspa- entitled “Kansas Army National Guard Although they were badly needed, per editor, news broadcaster and state few armories were built immediately after senator meshed with his career in the Na- Cultural Resources Survey” was submit- World War II due to the national housing tional Guard. By the time he rose to the ted by KSHS staff member Randall M. crisis and the public’s postwar disinterest position of Adjutant General, he was well Thies last year. The survey identified 58 in the military. Without armory facilities, equipped to promote the expansion of the armories, with only three built before recruitment and training efforts for the Kansas National Guard installation. The World War II; these three armories in Kansas National Guard were crippled. As need in the 1950s and 1960s for armories Hiawatha, Kingman, and St. Marys were the Cold War developed and the Korean was clear, due primarily to three factors. determined eligible for nomination to War flared, the public began to realize the First, between 1940 and 1950, Kansas the National Register. A previous article benefits and need for an expanded mili- shifted from having a mostly rural popula- in Kansas Preservation addressed these tary, including an enhanced National tion to an urban population, a trend that three historic armories. Guard. After 1953, the American military accelerated in the 1950s and 1960s. Sec- This article covers the collection of and Kansas National Guard promoted ond, the Korean War exposed deficiencies continuous adaptation and growth, result- in the quality of US military equipment, Cold War armories constructed under ing in federal and state participation in readiness, training, and ability to mobilize. the leadership of Adjutant General Joe the construction of armories. The Kansas Third, the Reserve Acts of 1952 and 1955 Nickell between 1951 and 1972. Known Guard’s best spokesman, Brigadier Gen- provided several categories of military as the “Nickell’s armories,” they were eral Joe Nickell, propelled much of the obligation and incentives. These three deemed significant and will soon be old new construction. The persuasive and factors contributed to Guard recruitment enough for Register consideration. politically savvy Nickell served as Adju- and a massive armory-building program. 9 The author of this article, as well as the as well as article, this of author The Kansas history. With thesefactorsin flood, oneofthemostdisastrousfloodsin was particularlyrealizedinthe1951 Guard indealingwithnaturaldisasters roles fortheGuard.Theimportanceof fense anddisasterrelief,whichwerenew tance inthe1950sascentersforcivilde- Guard. ever accomplishedbytheKansasNational and 1962wasthelargest peacetimetask armory-building programbetween1953 on whichthelocalarmorywasbuilt.The In manycases,thecitydonatedland buildings wouldreverttostateownership. balance; after25years,eachofthese state andlocalgovernmentspayingthe paid forbythefederalgovernment,with struction costoffuturearmorieswouldbe law decreedthat75percentofthecon- and foruseasacommunitycenter. A1948 of havinganarmoryintermspayroll ties, stressingthebenefitsthatwouldcome cities, withoneadditional preceding issue’s article on the three the on article issue’s preceding historic armories, is Susan Jezak Ford. Jezak Susan is armories, historic She was contracted by the Kansas State Kansas the by contracted was She The lastingreminder of Historical Society to prepare the Multiple the prepare to Society Historical armories in54Kansas Property Documentation form entitled form Documentation Property Nickell’s termwasthe “National Guard Armories of Kansas.” of Armories Guard “National decade laterin1973. construction between 1953 and1962of57 armory completeda Armories alsotookonnewimpor- Nickell appealedtolocalcommuni- adopted apolicy ofleasingarmoriesto 1964 whenthemilitaryboard formally which tookonamoreformal statusin munities asciviccenters,asituation to accommodatecommunity affairs. boast themaximumamountof floorspace designs usuallyincludeakitchenand They aretypicallycladinbrick.These hall risingabovetheone-storybuilding. silhouettes, withusuallyonlytheassembly and garagebays.Thebuildingshavelow area, individualoffices/meeting rooms, tain alarge assemblyhall/gymnasium centers. AlloftheNickell’s armoriescon- flected theirimportantroleascommunity sors, theNickell’s armoriesclearlyre- chitectural distinctionoftheirpredeces- state aswell.Althoughlackinginthear- only fromtowntotown,butstate the newarmorieswereoftenidentical,not with cleanlinesandprimarilyflatroofs, tracted outtolocalbuilders.Constructed Nationally distributedplanswerecon- with Kansasarmoriesbeingnoexception. this erawereofa“contemporary”style, mity ofdesign.Mostthearmories ber ofarmoriesgrewenormously. mind, theKansasArmyGuardandnum- The newarmoriesservedlocal com- With federalfundingcameaunifor- Continued on13 Maintenance Company. Company. Randy Thies. at Maintenance Armory KSARNG The (Below) 2, by RandyThies. Detachment and Division, 69 Infantry Regiment, Infantry at Armory KSARNG the at Based (Left) Co. B, 169 B, Co. Co. are Wichita in Seneca South 3617 Norton is used by the 170 the by used is Norton C, Co. D, and Detachment 1 of 1 Detachment and D, Co. C, Headquarters and Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 2 the of Company th Support Battalion. Battalion. Support nd Battalion, 137 Battalion, th Brigade, 35 Brigade, Photo by th Photo th th Wichita-South 1958 Wichita-West 1955 Council Grove1954 Wichita-East 1955 Smith Center1960 Junction City1958 Garden City1958 Kansas City1956 Clay Center1955 Hutchinson 1958 Phillipsburg 1963 Manhattan 1955 Dodge City1959 Cherryvale 1956 Burlington 1954 Coffeyville 1956 Marysville 1954 Concordia 1953 Fort Scott1955 Lawrence 1961 Mankato 1958 Pittsburg 1956 Belleville 1956 Atchison 1963 Atchison Winfield 1953 Chanute 1957 Emporia 1955 Augusta 1958 Augusta Sabetha 1953 Newton 1955 Garnett 1955 Ottawa 1954 Abilene 1953 Horton 1954 Norton 1957 Topeka 1956 Holton 1973 Russell 1956

The RemainingLarned 1961 Nickell’s Armories Liberal 1958 Salina 1956 Colby 1960 Hays 1956 Pratt 1955 Troy 1953 Iola 1954 10 (Left) The KSARNG Armory at Phillipsburg is home to Detachment 3, 995th Maintenance Company. Photo by Randy Thies.

(Below) The KSARNG Armory at Russell is home to Detachment 3, 170th Maintenance Company. Photo by Randy Thies.

The Nickell’s Armories

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various community organizations. Many different uses were Today the KSARNG installation includes 58 armories. made of the buildings as the result of the policy and they Forty-six of them are Cold War armories constructed as dual- became important focal points of community life. Local or- function buildings to serve the Guard and the neighboring ganizations and groups were only required to pay for utilities community. They may not appear architecturally noteworthy and janitorial services and were encouraged to use the ar- to today’s observer, but the collection of Nickell’s armories mories except for commercial purposes or when Guard can be viewed as historically significant in being a physical events were scheduled. Armories were typically used for manifestation of the Cold War, Joe Nickell’s prolific term, and meetings of chambers of commerce, Boy or Girl Scouts, various the growing partnership between the military and civilian agricultural organizations and basketball practices and games. communities.

Kansas Historical Markers Booklet Available

Copies of the guidebook Kansas Historical Markers can be picked up at no cost at the Kansas History Center as well as at any of the state historic sites managed by the Kansas State Historical Society. The colorful 43-page book identifies the 117 historical markers erected along Kansas highways by the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Kansas State Historical Society. These markers tell stories of Kansas landforms and landmarks, communi- ties, trails, commerce, missions, forts, and Civil War sites. A map of the state is included in the guide along with images of many of the markers, descriptions of locations, and the text of each sign. The guide also groups markers into categories. Funding for the publication was provided by the Transportation Enhance- ments program of the Federal Highway Administration through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Mail requests can be directed to Historical Markers Guide, Kansas State Historical Society, 6425 S.W. Sixth Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615-1099. These requests should be accompanied by a check payable to Kansas State Historical Society for $2.50 to cover postage and handling.

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