Comments on: A Sienese Gem Lost

By: Peter Shaver

Peter Shaver — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:34:05 +0000

Hi – just wanted to let you know that the 71st was one of the few volunteer regiments to see action in the Spanish-American War, with about 109 men dying in the Battle of San Juan Hill and (mostly) from disease. The State of New York was so embarrased by the treatment the men received that in 1901 they funded a monument in Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings-on-Hudson. It was designed by Clarence True and resembles the stone “Blockhouses” built by the Spanish to defend Santiago.

By: Norman Sinowitz

Norman Sinowitz — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:22:58 +0000

As a child I grew up at 127 E. 34th Street, just east of the 71st Regiment Armory. I remember many soldiers, army jeeps & trucks around the armory area especially on E. 33rd Street between Lexinton & Park Avenues. This was back during the years 1946-1955. As a boy I used to climb into those M38 or M38A Jeeps I sit behind the wheel & shift those 3-Speed Gears pretending I am driving one of those jeeps.
I also remember the food shows, photography, antique cat & dog shows etc at this armory. My parents & grandparents used to own a stationary/cigar store at 127 E. 34th St. & whenever there was a show at the armory, my cousin, brother & I got free tickets.
I believe the armory was demolished in 1972

By: Blair Boyer

Blair Boyer — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:02:50 +0000

I grew up on 36th & 3rd in Murray Hill just a few blocks from the Armory and have many childhood memories of army men, army trucks and jeeps as well as Cat Shows and other events that took place there.
It was a sad loss for the area and the city.

By: susan petrie

susan petrie — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:13:50 +0000

Hello, The Albany Times Union ran a good story yesterday (2/14) about New York’s armories.

By: Alessandro

Alessandro — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 23:28:51 +0000

How strange that the 71st Regiment Armory was located on 33rd & Park — Only 10 blocks (less than 1 mile) from the armory of the 69th Regiment, at 26th & Park/Lexington (see: http://www.sixtyninth.net/armory.html). They were constructed only one year apart!

Well, the 69th may not be as elegant architecturally, but I still admire its castle-like massiveness, which to me conveys a sense of strength, courage and virtue, not to mention military utilitarianism. The 69th Armory web site expounds on this as follows:

Stylistically, the armories that began to dot the grid of Manhattan in the late nineteenth century were modeled after the medieval fortress-like Seventh Regiment Armory of 1880 (a designated New York City Landmark located at 643 Park Avenue) The Sixty-Ninth Regiment Armory, completed in 1906, was the first to reject the picturesque medieval prototype [which would include the 71st Regiment Armory, completed one year prior, in 1905]. The buildings internal organization is not hidden behind turrets, towers and crenellated parapets that marked earlier armories but is clearly expressed on the exterior.

Fortunately, the 69th was declared a national landmark, and thus won’t have to share the dismal fate of its poor brother in arms, the 71st.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 22:15:05 +0000

What a sad loss – and lets hope that ‘better days’ do soon return. Passionate about architecture, I can only shake my head in dismay at the buildings we’ve lost in Australia.

By: Meg Q

Meg Q — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 06:17:46 +0000

Oh, yes, that orange brick ick. (I used to live in Murray Hill and used the 33rd St station all the time.) What an improvement that old armory would be to the streetscape there. It would give Park (and the whole area) some much needed “breathing space”. Well, I guess our betters just know . . . better.