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The National Guard of Kansas con- tracted with the Kansas State Historical Post-war Armories Spring Society (KSHS) in 1996 for a cultural resources survey of the Kansas Army National Guard (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 (Left) Based at the KSARNG Armory at Abilene 1953 3617 South Seneca in Wichita are Co. C, Co. D, and Detachment 1 of Atchison 1963 Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 137th Augusta 1958 Infantry Regiment, 69th Brigade, 35th Belleville 1956 Infantry Division, and Detachment 2, Co. B, 169th Support Battalion. Photo Burlington 1954 by Randy Thies. Chanute 1957 (Below) The KSARNG Armory at Cherryvale 1956 Norton is used by the 170th Clay Center 1955 Maintenance Company. Photo by Randy Thies. Coffeyville 1956 Colby 1960 Concordia 1953 The lasting reminder of Council Grove 1954 Nickell’s term was the Dodge City 1959 construction between Emporia 1955 1953 and 1962 of 57 Fort Scott 1955 armories in 54 Kansas Garden City 1958 Garnett 1955 cities, with one additional Hays 1956 armory completed a Holton 1973 decade later in 1973. Horton 1954 Hutchinson 1958 Iola 1954 Junction City 1958 Kansas City 1956 Nickell appealed to local communi- mind, the Kansas Army Guard and num- ties, stressing the benefits that would come ber of armories grew enormously. Larned 1961 of having an armory in terms of payroll With federal funding came a unifor- Lawrence 1961 and for use as a community center. A 1948 mity of design. Most of the armories of law decreed that 75 percent of the con- this era were of a “contemporary” style, Liberal 1958 struction cost of future armories would be with Kansas armories being no exception. Manhattan 1955 paid for by the federal government, with Nationally distributed plans were con- Mankato 1958 state and local governments paying the tracted out to local builders. Constructed balance; after 25 years, each of these with clean lines and primarily flat roofs, Marysville 1954 buildings would revert to state ownership. the new armories were often identical, not Newton 1955 In many cases, the city donated the land only from town to town, but from state to on which the local armory was built. The state as well. Although lacking in the ar- Norton 1957 armory-building program between 1953 chitectural distinction of their predeces- Ottawa 1954 and 1962 was the largest peacetime task sors, the Nickell’s armories clearly re- Phillipsburg 1963 ever accomplished by the Kansas National flected their important role as community Guard. centers. All of the Nickell’s armories con- Pittsburg 1956 Armories also took on new impor- tain a large assembly hall/gymnasium Pratt 1955 tance in the 1950s as centers for civil de- area, individual offices/meeting rooms, fense and disaster relief, which were new and garage bays. The buildings have low Russell 1956 roles for the Guard. The importance of the silhouettes, with usually only the assembly Sabetha 1953 Guard in dealing with natural disasters hall rising above the one-story building. Salina 1956 was particularly realized in the 1951 They are typically clad in brick. These flood, one of the most disastrous floods in designs usually include a kitchen and Smith Center 1960 Kansas history. With these factors in boast the maximum amount of floor space Topeka 1956 to accommodate community affairs. The new armories served local com- Troy 1953 The author of this article, as well as the Nickell’s Armories The Remaining preceding issue’s article on the three munities as civic centers, a situation Wichita-West 1955 historic armories, is Susan Jezak Ford. which took on a more formal status in Wichita-East 1955 She was contracted by the Kansas State 1964 when the military board formally Historical Society to prepare the Multiple adopted a policy of leasing armories to Wichita-South 1958 Property Documentation form entitled Winfield 1953 “National Guard Armories of Kansas.” Continued on 13 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 Continued from 10 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.

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