Chuck the Writer finds an old photo of the Armory

Washington Avenue Armory, Albany
Originally uploaded by chuckthewriter

Back about two cameras ago, when I was shooting with a Nikon CoolPix 800, I got up one Sunday morning and snapped this photograph of the Washington Avenue Armory in Albany. The castle-like structure at the corner of Washington and Lark Streets was once a working munitions depot and armament center, as well as the headquarters for New York's 9th National Guard Regiment.

Of course, sports fans know the Armory as a mecca for professional and college basketball games, going back to at least the 1920's with the Albany Senators. Siena played their home games in the Armory for a long time, so did the 1940's Albany Green Devils and the 1980's-2009 Albany Patroons. It's also been used as the home hoops haven for Bishop Maginn basketball, Schenectady County Community College hoops, and several high school tournaments.

I took this photo in 2005, just before the Armory underwent a major restoration and face lift. This was just before the Albany Patroons re-joined the Continental Basketball Association after a decade-long absence from the league.

At some point I will get a new photograph taken, to at least show the "before" and "after" view of the Armory.