Many of us are familiar with this building. Located just across the Menasha city limits on Washington/Commercial Street, the S.A. Cook Armory was built in 1906 by ex-mayor, ex-congressman and industrialist Mr. S.A. Cook. Presented debt-free to be used by both Neenah and Menasha, inside the facility were club rooms, locker rooms and a National Guard Drill Hall for Company I, 1st Wisconsin Infantry. It was also used for basketball games, dances and other social events. Later, it was remodeled inside to provide a number of small shops in the 1970's. In 1988, it was torn down and replaced by a warehouse.
Today being Veterans Day, please take a moment to remember the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have given of their lives to keep us all safe and free.
I think of this building every time I go by that sad looking warehouse -- what a loss. Thanks for the pic!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that Brazee's Ace Hardware (Then A&P) on the left edge of this picture?
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's Ace next door. I loved going to the remodeled Armory as a child. My mother would shop for clothes (Carlson's Closet?) while I was fascinated by the other shops. All I remember is candy and Christmas decorations. There was a similar place in Appleton called The Castle-- they probably get mixed up in my memories.
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ReplyDeleteI would pay A LOT of money for a Google Maps time machine. Something that would let me see these places 20-100 years ago.
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