1. Help
2. Campus map
3. Find people
4. Webmail
5. Search Ohio State

Skip to Content

John H. Herrick Archives:
Documenting Structures at The Ohio State University

Armory

Herrick Archives Number H 202

A. IDENTIFICATION & LOCATION

1. Name

1.1 Never officially named by Board of Trustees action.

1.2 Alternate names noted:

Gymnasium and Armory

Armory and Gymnasium

Naval Armory

Gymnasium, Armory and Drill Hall

See Addendum No. 2, 4, 5

2. Location

2.1 Located immediately west of Mershon Auditorium (Bldg. 055). See sketch below.

See Addendum No. 1, 2

3. General Description

3.1 Type of construction:

Wood frame with brick exterior (McC 1: 8A). The roof was supported by steel arches
(author's recollection).

3.2 No. of stories:

Basement and one floor in moat of building; towers and adjacent rooms on front (south) side
of building had basement and three floors (small scale plans dated January 15, 1910).

3.3 Increments of construction:

No additions.

3.4 Area of building:

39,629 square feet (McC 1: 8A).

3.5 Volume of building:

608,000 cubic feet (MCC 1: 8A).

B. PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION & DEMOLITION

1. On July 24, 1896 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by Yost and
Packard and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.

2. Bids were received on September 1, 1896 (T).

3. On September 2, 1896 the Board of Trustees awarded the construction contract to the Columbus Con-
struction Co.

4. Completion and occupancy

4.1 First occupied in January 1898 (R 1901-02. Part II, p. 37).

C. DEMOLITION

1. The building was severely damaged by fire on May 17, 1958 (L 5/19/58).

2. The Board of Trustees on June 6, 1958 approved the demolition of the west wall.

3. On December 5, 1958 the Board of Trustees approved the award of the contract for demolition of the
remainder of the building.

See Addendum No. 3

D. MISCELLANEOUS

1. The contractor abandoned the work in April 1897 and in early May the Trustees took over the task of
finishing the project (R 1896-97, Part I, p. 16-19).

2. Demolition was due to damage done to the building by a fire.

E. COST

1. Listed throughout its existence at $115, 000 (B).

F. PHOTOGRAPHS

1. In Photoarchives:

X 7624A-H 202 is on the right; Hayes Hall (039) on the Left.

2. Other:

McC 1: 144
Hooper: 44

L 7/3/58; 1/26/59; 2/9/59--all showing various stages of demolition of building.

John H. Herrick
August 25, 1972

---

6/30/2005

Suggest an addendum to this building record

if you have trouble accessing this page and need to request an alternate format, contact matt bernhardt at ksaweb@knowlton.edu.

knowlton school of architecture | 275 west woodruff avenue | columbus, ohio 43210-1138 | phone: 614.292.1012 | fax: 614.292.7106