The Anoka Armory

To allow for an expanded military presence, crews built the first Anoka Armory in 1897. Records indicate that high school graduation programs were held in the building the following year. Before that, the drills were held at the original City Hall, as space was available. Officials dedicated the second armory building in 1914, a handsome two-story structure, the building played host to, military ceremonies, choir concerts, political rallies, costumed balls, patriotic meetings, Boy Scout meetings,veteran reunions, commercial club meeting and wild dances.

The night of October 25th, 1937, thieves, believed members of a newly-formed bandit gang, broke into the National Guard armory at Anoka Sunday night and stole 13 U. S. .45 caliber automatics. Adj. Gen. Ellard A. Walsh to whom the report was made said the firing mechanism of the pistols had been removed, a regular procedure. and whoever stole the guns would be unable to fire them. The case was turned over to the Federal Bureau Investigation.

June 18th, 1939- Five persons escaped from the Anoka, Minn., Armory, pictured above after a tornado swept through. The Armory was completely wrecked. Three hundred American Legionnaires, in convention, had planned to meet there, but at the last minute decided to convene in City Hall, a fortunate decision. In Anoka the Armory, two churches, the Masonic Temple and several business buildings, together with 250 homes were destroyed or partially wrecked.The armory was dismantled the following year and a Federal Appropriation was made for a new one.