The Sergeant First Class John H. Newnam Armory, also known as the Chestertown Armory, is a historic

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...

armory Armory or armoury may mean: * An arsenal, a military or civilian location for the storage of arms and ammunition Places *National Guard Armory, in the United States and Canada, a training place for National Guard or other part-time or regular mili ...

built in 1931 and located in Chestertown, Kent County,

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

, United States. From 1933 until 2005 it housed various formations from the Maryland Army National Guard. It also was the home of sporting and community events during this time. After the 115th Infantry Regiment was merged into the 175th Infantry Regiment in 2005, the armory was declared to be surplus by the state of Maryland. The Chestertown Armory was transferred to

Washington College Washington College is a private liberal arts college in Chestertown, Maryland. Maryland granted Washington College its charter in 1782. George Washington supported the founding of the college by consenting to have the "College at Chester" name ...

in 2013. Since then, it has stood vacant. The college is investigating the possibility of turning it into a bed and breakfast.

Architecture

It is a two-story brick structure with a full basement that emulates a medieval fortification. The front facade features an entryway flanked by simple two-story towers, which are topped by small square stone panels.

History

Planning and construction

In 1930, the

Maryland Military Department The Maryland Military Department (MMD) is a department of the State of Maryland directed by the adjutant general of Maryland. The Maryland Military Department consists of the: *State Operations section, which manages fiscal and administrative d ...

purchased a lot along the Chester River to build a new armory. To fund the construction, the Maryland General Assembly appropriated $50,000 of bond money. After a year, due to trouble securing plans, Maryland awarded contract to erect the building Carl Schmidt for $47,000 ().

National Guard use

From 1932 until 2005, The Chestertown Armory was home to various formations from the Maryland Army National Guard. In addition to its military uses, the armory became a hub for Chestertown and

. From 1934 until the 1950s, the Washington College Men's Basketball team played their home games there. It also hosted concerts and community events. The armory was accepted in February 1932, and it became the home of the Chestertown Medical Detachment of the First Maryland Infantry Regiment. They remained stationed at the armory until 1941 when the First Maryland Infantry Regiment and Fifth Maryland Infantry Regiment were merged to create the 115th Infantry Regiment. In 1947, Company G of the 115th Infantry Regiment was raised at armory. It would remain the unit stationed at the armory until 1968 when the 29th Infantry Division was deactivated and the armory was transferred to the 175th Infantry Regiment. When the 29th Infantry Division was resurrected in 1984, the armory received a $500,000 () renovation to become the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion of the 115th Infantry Regiment. The next year, The Chestertown Armory was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

On 11 August 1999, the building was renamed in honor of John H. Newnam, a Chestertown resident who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. Due to consolidation, the armory was closed and declared surplus in 2005 when the 115th Infantry Regiment was merged into the 175th Infantry Regiment.

Washington College ownership

After the departure of the Maryland National Guard from the armory, there was much discussion over what should be done with the building. In 2007, two proposals emerged: one by Washington College and the other by the local homeless shelter. By the end of the year, a consortium of local businesses and the college put forth a proposal to pay the costs of Kent County buying the site. In 2013, the Chestertown Armory was transferred to Washington College. The structure continues to sit vacant. In 2019, ''What's Up? Magazine'' reported that the college was investigating the possibility of turning it into a bed and breakfast.

Units

*1932-1941: Chestertown Medical Detachment, First Maryland Infantry Regiment,

Maryland Army National Guard The Maryland Army National Guard (MD ARNG) is the United States Army component of the U.S. state of Maryland. It is headquartered at the old Fifth Regiment Armory at the intersection of North Howard Street, 29th Division Street, near Martin Lut ...

*1941-1947: Company E, Medical Detachment, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division *1947-1968: Company G, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division *1968-1984: 2nd Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division *1984-2005: 2nd Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment, 29th Infantry Division

References

External links

*, including photo from 1980, at Maryland Historical Trust * {{National Register of Historic Places in Maryland Buildings and structures in Kent County, Maryland Armories on the National Register of Historic Places in Maryland Infrastructure completed in 1931 National Register of Historic Places in Kent County, Maryland