Hinds County Armory
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]
See also
References
- ^ "Told in a Few Words". The Winona Times. Winona, Mississippi. September 29, 1922. p. 4. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Local news". Hinds County Gazette. December 15, 1922. p. 4. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Soldiers Active at New Building". Daily Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. November 6, 1929. p. 10. Retrieved March 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/2c574ef5-da0c-476c-8c48-bd32fb983403
- ^ "Agencies bicker over armory's fate". Daily Clarion-Ledger. February 12, 1996. p. 9. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ^ "Fire under investigation at Hinds County Armory". WAPT. July 3, 2013.
- ^ "Hinds County Armory Shamefully Neglected". November 10, 2009.