Olean Armory

Olean Armory
Olean Armory, April 2010
Olean Armory is located in New York
Olean Armory
Olean Armory is located in the United States
Olean Armory
Location119 Times Sq.,
Olean, New York
Coordinates42°4′41″N 78°25′43″W / 42.07806°N 78.42861°W / 42.07806; -78.42861
Built1890
ArchitectIsaac Perry, Lewis Pilcher
Architectural styleLate Victorian, Tudor Revival, castellated
MPSArmy National Guard Armories in New York State MPS
NRHP reference No.95000080[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 2, 1995

Olean Armory is a historic armory building located at Olean in Cattaraugus County, New York. It was designed by State architects Isaac G. Perry (1890 structure) and Lewis Pilcher (1919 structure). It consists of a two-story, Tudor inspired administration building constructed in 1919, with an attached Romanesque drill shed constructed in 1890. The building features a number of castellated style features such as turrets and buttresses.[2]

From 1946 to 1966, the Armory served as the home arena for the St. Bonaventure University basketball squad. The squad won 99 consecutive home games at the armory before their streak was broken in 1961.[3] In its basketball configuration, the Armory held 2,200 spectators and was noted for its extreme intimate atmosphere (the front row was inches away from the court), poor lighting and ugly aesthetics, with Sports Illustrated describing the armory as an "architectural monstrosity."[4]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Claire Ross (February 1985). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Olean Armory". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2009-06-14. See also: "Accompanying eight photos".
  3. ^ Pollock, Chuck (2011-02-25). "50 years ago today, Bonnies' bid for 100 at Armory failed". Olean Times Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  4. ^ Cave, Ray (March 6, 1961). "ST. BONAVENTURE IS SECOND-BEST". Sports Illustrated Vault. Retrieved 2023-10-19.


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