01 Mar richard nickel images documenting senseless destruction of burnham and root’s first regiment armory

richard nickel images of burnham and root’s first regiment armory building (1891) during its demolition in 1967. as I sidenote, i need to create a future post including john vinci’s kodachrome slides, which were taken at the same time when both were documenting the armory’s ruins. vinci’s images are equally compelling, especially since he shot in color. 

the exterior consisted of massive 35-foot walls comprised of rusticated or rock-faced michighan brownstone. the distinctive small slotted windows wrapped around the corner turrets were protected with wrought iron basket grating that still existed at the time of demolition.

the original drill room floor was comprised of polished black oak. interior company quarters and officers’ rooms were supported by three-hinged braced trusses and steel cables suspended from the roof. the “hanging” upper stories were equipped with bathrooms, banquet halls, kitchen, serving rooms, and lockers. vinci documented a few of these rooms that hadn’t been altered much since the time it was built.