by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Each day, thousands of people driving to and from the west end of the Mathews Bridge pass by an ornate two-story building on North Market Street near Burger King. Many may not know the story behind the structure.
It’s the third National Guard Armory built in Jacksonville history.
Wayne Wood, the local historian who wrote “Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage,” wrote that as early as 1835, local military companies were formed to protect the citizens from marauding Indians, to quell riots and to fight Union troops in the Civil War.
They occupied different buildings as armories until 1897, when a three-story armory was built at southwest Market and Adams streets. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1901 and replaced by a structure that used as its foundation the walls of the courthouse that survived the fire.
The troops eventually outgrew the space and in 1915, bonds of $150,000 were issued to build the present structure at Market and State streets.
Dedicated as the Duval County Armory, the name was changed in 1962 to the Maxwell G. Snyder Armory in honor of the commanding general of the National Guard’s 48th Armored Division.
In 1973, the City’s Recreation and Public Affairs Department moved into the building and remained there for years. The Planning Department also was housed in the building for a time until both departments moved to the Florida Theatre Building.
The Armory has been vacant for years. Much of the original interior detail remains, sharing space with walls and an air-conditioning system that was installed when the City moved into the building.
The building provided what was called at the time the largest military drill hall in Florida, as well as a headquarters for the National Guard officers of Northeast Florida.
One of the notable features of The Armory is the basement, where there once was a kitchen, dining hall, swimming pool, bowling alley and a firing range where soldiers could hone their shooting skills.
The building has been vacant for years and will likely remain so, said City Historic Planner Joel McEachin.
Because of flooding from nearby Hogan’s Creek, the basement has sustained severe water damage. Many of the building’s systems and elements of the original design would have to be replaced to meet modern building and safety codes.
“It will be a long time before there’s enough money available to use this building again,” said McEachin.
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