Hinds County Armory
Historic Armory in Jackson, Mississippi (Hinds County)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hinds County Armory is a public structure in Jackson, Mississippi. Built during the 1920s, the armory is in the Hinds County Fairgrounds. In use until 1979, a fire badly damaged the armory building during structural rehabilitation in 2013.
History
A building site worth $80,000 was donated by Robert E. Kinnington in 1922.[1] Designed by local architect Frank P. Gates, the armory was built by contractor I.C. Garber in 1927[2] and was in use by Mississippi guardsmen by 1929.[3]
The armory is an example of Gothic Revival Architecture, made of brick, and has pointed arches. The facility closed in 1979.[4] The building was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1986 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[4] For many years, the community was divided on how to treat the structure. Some residents wanted to see the armory preserved and others wanted it razed.[5]
In 2013 the structure caught fire while undergoing a $600,000 rehabilitation.[6] At 1012 Mississippi Street, it is part of the state fairgrounds and has sat empty with a leaky roof and is deteriorating.[7]
