LYNN — Many historical structures loom over the city, from the Fabens Building to High Rock Tower to Saint Stephen’s Memorial Episcopal Church. Fitting into this same category is the Lynn Armory, a Romanesque piece with a dominating structure on 36 South Common St.
The Armory was built in 1893 by Holman K. Wheeler and William Wheelwright Northend, who also built High Rock Tower and English High School. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as an individual building and again in 1992 as a part of the Lynn Common Historic District.
Wheeler and Northend were very prominent architects in the area at the time, leaving their mark locally in Lynn, Boston, Salem, and so forth.
Two large pillars, battlement structures, sit at the front of the Armory, giving it the feel of a castle standing strong. The crenels on the pillars enforce the idea of the Armory’s strength and preparedness for battle, as the notches act as spaces soldiers could shoot through and still find protection behind the merlons, the walls between the crenels.
The Armory was also once a home for the Massachusetts National Guard, including the 101st Field Artillery.
The 101st is the oldest active artillery regiment in the United States, dating all the way back to Dec. 13, 1636. Col. John Winthrop was the first to take command of the group. The artillery has served in various wars, including King George’s War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II.
The armory stood as a symbol of readiness, a building that represented a strong and fortified unit. It also served as a training ground for what would eventually be the National Guard.
Today, the Armory has been acquired by Neighborhood Development Associates with the help of Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development. The plan is to turn the Armory into affordable housing for veterans. In recent years, many steps have been taken towards this process, and those steps continue to be made with the main thought being to put an end to veteran homelessness.
