The First Floor
While details of the current floor-plans cannot be posted, it is worth mentioning that this floor has been drastically changed from original design and construction. Originally, a swimming pool occupied a portion of this floor. During the
1977-1979 renovation, this pool was filled in to allot more space for offices. The renovation was purportedly prompted in part because of damage to the nearby Marine Corps Reserve building. Even if there was no damage, the decision to renovate would likely have been made to cut down on upkeep costs for the building, as well as provide reciprocal support to both services. The Navy was likely in need of an armory to store small arms, and the Marines would benefit by being closer to medical staff assigned to the Navy element.
An unconfirmed legend was passed down by the state workers that the swimming pool was filled with gravel one wheel barrow at a time. This was supposedly due to the fact that there were no entrances large enough to pour the gravel by means of truck or conveyor. What is known is that the public was welcome to the pool before it was covered.
Not to be forgotten, the outline of the pool is still visible. One would have to know what they were looking for, but the tile placed over the swimming pool has cracked as a result of the settling gravel and concrete used to fill in the pool. One may see this in the North hallway of the building.
The "rotunda" of the building is a large hallway with a room that houses a Navy recruiting detachment, and their office contains closets that were converted from the concession and ticket booth for the pool. Converting the small entrances consisted of filling in the windows of the concession and ticket booth with plaques commemorating the personnel responsible for the armory being built.
It is also worth noting that this rotunda was not accounted for in the original plans, and an additional portion of land was donated to allow the added feature. There are five sets of doors that lead into the building from the rotunda. While they now bear a flat, grey color, the doors underneath are bronze. Supposedly, the light from the rising sun would reflect off of the doors, blinding drivers. While there is evidence that snow caused crashes into the stairs, no photographs exist of a crash on a sunny morning.
In what was once a garage and office in the Northwest corner of the first floor, a damage control trainer was built during the late 1970's renovation. This trainer was linked via communications to the "bridge" located on the third floor.
The renovation also brought two large changes to the outer part of the building. A fire escape was added that reached
to the second floor. In addition, the shower building that once served the armory was demolished to make room for a Marine motor transport maintenance facility North of the armory. Also built into the concrete-brick building was a communications bay for the Marines. This building was added to later, though it's not clear when. A second floor was added above the communications bay, and a stairwell leading to it on the Northern side. The expansion is an electronics maintenance office.
At the same time the renovations were being made on the property, part of the former "Riverside Amusement Park" was purchased to allow for the construction of a parking lot for the service members serving at the armory. The parking lot was constructed on the ground of the recently demolished "Thriller" roller coaster that may be seen in the background of some of the images of the armory.
