A massive castle-like building, the Washington National Guard
Armory, looms over Boulevard Park. The windows of this deserted
fortress face west over Bellingham Bay, as they have for nearly a
century. Its gray formidable exterior, constructed of local
Chuckanut sandstone, is weathered yet strong, giving it the feel of
an old stalwart general, stationed high on the bluff against North
State Street to keep watch over the water.
However, the seemingly
isolated and obscure building drew attention in 2006 when it landed
on the Washington Trust for Historic
Preservation's list of 10 most endangered properties. The
Trust, a state-wide non-profit, works to maintain community
heritage through the preservation of historic landmarks.
Now nearly forgotten, this
building once flourished in the community. It was built by the
Washington National Guard in 1910 to serve as a military training
station. The National Guard used the armory primarily for
marching drills and rifle practice, but the location of the
building was also an asset for keeping an eye on the navigable
waters of Bellingham Bay.
The armory functioned in this
capacity until the end of WWII, when the National Guard's need for
a military training site become obsolete. The armory was
converted to a roller skating rink in 1953. The rink, known as
Mead's Rolladium, was named for its managers, Gladys and Ray Mead.
The National Guard sold the building and surrounding property to
Western Washington University in 1972 for $1.
Despite the change in
ownership the Meads continued to manage the Rolladium, which had
become a popular hangout for the high school crowd.
Water damage forced the
Rolladium to close in 1989. Today, the armory is used for
storage. Old desks, tables and chairs retire to the main
floor of the building along with the Western theatre department's
scene-shop props collecting dust in an area that was once the drill
hall for the National Guard.
The armory is now suited for
little more than a large storage building. The structural damage
sustained by the building due to water leakage makes it unsafe for
daily use without renovations to make it more sound.
Because of its prime bay-view
location and multi-family zoning, the property is a target for
developers wanting to tear down the armory and build condominiums
or apartment complexes in its place.
No definitive plans have been
made for the property yet, but it is on Western's agenda in the
next few years. Western wants to be a good steward of this
building; however, with other on-campus buildings needing attention
and funding, the sale or restoration of the armory has taken a back
seat.
