Home Posts tagged Springfield Armory

Events Will Capture the Landmark’s Place in Country’s Development

By
Alan Amelinckx stands by a map tracing the path of Col. Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery.
Tourism & Hospitality

Springfield Armory

Alan Amelinckx stands by a map tracing the path of Col. Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery.

Alan Amelinckx stands by a map tracing the path of Col. Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery.

Alan Amelinckx says there is one overriding goal for the Springfield Armory National Historic Site and its many programs and events to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday — to educate the public about the importance of that location, and this region, to the birth and development of the country.

Many people know the story of the Armory, which was closed in 1968, with many of its buildings becoming home to Springfield Technical Community College, said Amelinckx, program manager for Interpretation and Education at the Armory, adding quickly that too many do not. And a year’s worth of exhibits and programs will address that reality.

“We really wanted to focus on this site and its role in the American Revolution,” Amelinckx said, adding that not only was the site chosen for what became known as the Continental Arsenal of Springfield, and later the Springfield Armory, but it was also known for innovation and manufacturing milestones, such as the first real assembly line. It was a site through which Col. Henry Knox passed with his Noble Train of Artillery — it was Knox who suggested to Gen. George Washington that the property on a hill overlooking the growing city of Springfield would be the ideal site for an arsenal — and it was the site of Shays’s Rebellion in 1786.

“This site was on a hill, it was easily defensible, and Knox liked the fact that, while it was on the Connecticut River, British warships could not attack the site,” Amelinckx noted, citing the dam in Enfield as a barrier to those ships. “It was on the Boston Post Road, so that made it a convenient spot.

“Meanwhile, Shays’s Rebellion was one of the big turning points in American history,” he went on. “The founding fathers realized that the Articles of the Confederation weren’t working, and they needed a stronger central government.”

To educate and entertain the public about all this and more, the Armory, as noted, has a full year of exhibits and programs on tap for the 250th.

“We really wanted to focus on this site and its role in the American Revolution.”

These include a temporary exhibit at the Armory Museum which includes a map tracing the Knox Trail as well as information about how and why the Springfield site was chosen for the arsenal, said Amelinckx, adding that there is also a French cannon within the exhibit that is on display for the first time.

They also include programs late last year and earlier this year commemorating the Knox Trail, including a recreation of the trek through Springfield that drew more than 1,000 onlookers, as well as a lecture on the Battle of Saratoga and a discussion earlier this month titled “The Most Proper Spot in America.” Led by Armory Curator Alex MacKenzie, it focused on the Continental Arsenal, why the site in Springfield was chosen, and the arsenal’s contributions to American independence.

Other events include everything from an Independence Day celebration — visitors can watch the Springfield fireworks from the Armory grounds — to a Heritage Pops Concert on July 25 featuring a big band performance in front of the Springfield Armory Commandant’s House, to Forging Freedom on Aug. 29, a day of re-enactments and demonstrations celebrating American manufacturing.

Based on the strong turnouts for the Knox Trail recreation and program on the Battle of Saratoga, Amelinckx said there is keen interest on the events of the Revolutionary War period, and he expects this to translate into stronger visitation numbers for the Armory throughout the year and solid attendance at those upcoming events.

“The interest is palpable,” he told BusinessWest. “Our events are drawing people from across the region, but they’re also attracting people who live in the area and have never been to the Armory. There’s definitely a lot of interest in celebrating the 250th in this area.”

—George O’Brien

Springfield Armory Marks Milestones with a Bang

By
Tourism & Hospitality

 

It was just over a half-century ago that the Springfield Armory — the facility that gave the community its heritage of precision manufacturing and even its legacy as the City of Homes — was designated as a national historic site.

And those at the Armory, which now shares its home with Springfield Technical Community College, are celebrating that milestone in many different ways — from merchandise including clothing, pins, and a commemorative passport stamp to a celebration weekend slated for this fall.

But the 50th anniversary is just part of a loaded schedule of programs at the armory this year. There are also events to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, as well as programming that speaks to Springfield’s designation as an American World War II Heritage City by the National Park Service, the only one in the Commonwealth, said Susan Ashman, lead park ranger and historic weapons supervisor at the Armory.

It was during World War II that production at the Armory was at its peak, with more than 14,000 people working there producing weapons such as the legendary M1 Garand, said Ashman, adding that this indelible impact on the war, and the region, are big reasons why the Armory, the site for which was chosen by George Washington, was designated as a national historic site.

Today, as throughout its 50-year history, the Armory is a museum, visited by people from across the region and around the world, where visitors can see displays featuring everything from the Blanchard lathe — a turning point, literally and figuratively, when it comes to mass production — to weapons from several eras, to images of the men and women who worked there.

But it’s also the site of special programs, from recreations of historic battles to public talks, like the ones slated for later this year by several World War II-focused writers, including Alex Kershaw, author of The Bedford Boys, First Wave, and Liberator.

Then there’s the annual big-band show, slated this year for Saturday, July 19, which commemorates Benny Goodman’s band’s performance at the Armory in 1943.

As for that weekend celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the Armory becoming a national historic site, it’s slated for Aug. 16-17, said Ashman, adding that there will be bands, presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and much more. In short, it will celebrate all that the Armory has meant to Springfield, the region, and the country.

The Springfield Armory is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more at www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm.

—George O’Brien

Jazz and Blues Concert Slated at Springfield Armory NHS for July 16 

By
Creative Economy Daily News Events Sports & Leisure Tourism & Hospitality Work/Life Balance

SPRINGFIELD — The historic grounds of Springfield Armory National Historic Site is once again the stage this summer for live music.
On July 16 at 6 p.m., the Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra, led by Jeff Gavioli,  will perform. The Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra is a 19-piece orchestra that has been performing since 2012, playing swing music from the 1930s and 1940s.

Springfield Armory to offer free guided tours on Fridays beginning August 28

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local public health authorities, Springfield Armory National Historic Site is increasing recreational access and services. The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

Beginning August 28, Springfield Armory National Historic Site, in coordination with Springfield Technical Community College, will begin offering ranger-guided tours of the historic grounds on Fridays at 11 a.m., weather permitting. Tours will be limited to 10 and pre-registration is required via the park website calendar of events www.nps.gov/spar  or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sparnhs. As tours take place on state and federal property, Springfield Technical Community College requires attendees to wear face coverings and practice social distancing.

With public health in mind, the following facilities remain closed to the public at this time:

  • Springfield Armory museum and visitor center;
  • All public restrooms;
  • Park grounds; and
  • All Springfield Technical Community College buildings

“We are working in close coordination with Springfield Technical Community College administrators to offer access for our visitors while ensuring the health and wellness of all,” said Superintendent Kelly Fellner. During this closure the park is continuing the critical systems upgrades work through the NPS contracted services of Gardner Construction & Industrial Services Inc. In addition, the park is addressing critical maintenance needs in order to provide new safety and cleaning measures.