The mission of Westerly Armory Restoration (WAR, Inc.) is to restore the Westerly Armory for use by its community and state for cultural and social events and as a museum of community and military memorabilia. In addition, the Armory is home to The Westerly Band (oldest active civic band in the country) and the Red Cross base for its emergency respondents. The Armory is the largest memorial in South County to current & past service members.

Description:
Over 30,000 people came through the Armory last year. The Armory is normally open Monday and Thursday for drop-in visits. It is also open by appointment and available for rental for such events as concerts, dances, receptions, job fairs, conferences, banquets, lectures, and antiques (and other) shows.

In addition, teachers and schools that would like to visit the Armory can schedule a visit or request special presentations such as Revolutionary War uniforms and instruments, the historic armories of Rhode Island, and War stories.

History:
The Armory was built in 1901-02 and is in its second hundred years of service. Its architect, William R. Walker & Son, designed 5 � of Rhode Island's historic armories as well as most of the state's courthouses, town and city halls, and the original Trinity Theatre. Rhode Island has 18 historic armories. Two of WAR's board members co-authored the book, The Historic Armories of Rhode Island.

The Armory housed military units such as the 243d Coast Artillery and the 705AAA. The last unit based at the Armory was the 169th Military Police Company, RI National Guard (leaving in 1995).

Beginning in 1992, WAR, Inc. was formed as a group of volunteers aiming to restore the building, then state-owned with the Guard in place. In 1996, after the Guard had left, the State sold the Armory to the Town of Westerly, and the Town of Westerly long-leased the Armory to WAR, Inc. to run and restore.

The exterior restoration was enhanced in 2005-2006 with major spot re-pointing of the masonry and the restoration of the missing crenellated parapets. This project cost $650,000. In 2006, funds are being raised to restore the windows (approximate cost $100,000).

Congress declared the Westerly Armory an American Treasure, awarding it $300,000 in a Save America's Treasures grant which was used to complete the masonry re-pointing and re-crenellation of the parapets). The Armory is on the National Register of Historic Places (1996).

Already, the following (partial list) has been completed at the Armory: access ramp, ladies' and men's rooms (with access), fire-alarm system, sprinkler system, emergency lighting, main door restoration, side doors' restoration, roof restoration, dormers and gutters restored, new heating systems in both head house and drill shed,overhead fans in drill shed, state certified kitchen, wood floors refinished, some interior painting, insulation of drill shed, special lighting added to drill shed, major spot re-pointing of exterior masonry, re-crenellation of the parapets.

The Armory is home to The Westerly Band, the oldest continuously-playing, non-military band in the country. Its library has music dating back to the early 1800s.

The Armory is the largest space of its kind in the area and has become a mini-civic center for the Westerly-Pawcatuck area. WAR, Inc. raises funds for the operation of the building as well as for the restoration.

Contact people:

Roberta Mudge Humble, President, (401) 738-3844, (email) John Humble, Operations Manager, (401) 596-8554, (email)

Address:

P.O. Box 614 Westerly, RI 02891

Directions:

We are physically at Railroad Ave and Dixon St. from the north: Interstate 95 to Exit 1 At top of exit, turn right onto Route 3 Follow this road for about 6 miles into Westerly At top of railroad. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Near Westerly Train Station, 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Handicap accessible?
	Yes
Interests Served:
	Building Adult & Neighborhood Independence
Does your agency accept court-appointed volunteers?
	No