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Kempton armory closes, town hall opens
Story and photos by Spc. William E. Henry, Indiana National Guard
KEMPTON, Ind. — A ceremony closing one era of the Kempton, Ind.,
National Guard Armory, opened doors to a new future for public
service offices.
Indiana Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, presented
the town council of Kempton with a plaque bearing the key to the former
National Guard Armory on Tuesday, January 22.
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Indiana Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R.
Martin Umbarger, waves to people below from a helicopter as
it hovers over the Kempton armory, January 22. The armory
will serve as Kempton’s town hall after a key transfer
ceremony held that day. Photo by Spc. William E. Henry, Indiana Army
National Guard
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“It’s a sad day, but in the same sense it’s good for the community,”
said Maj. Gen. Umbarger during the ceremony.
The armory was built in 1958 and once was home to Battery B, 3rd
Battalion, 139th Field Artillery Regiment.
The Indiana National Guard has no use for the armory now, due to its
reorganization and downsizing of the facilities.
This is the second of eight armories that are scheduled to close in
2008 due to aging and elevated maintenance costs. Many other state
armories will not be affected.
The last Soldier working at the facility left December 31, 2007.
The armory will now serve as the new
Kempton Town Hall-Community
Center, housing public
elected officials’ offices like the town council, clerk, and
marshal.
The kitchen is still fully operational, containing working
appliances which were left for the new tenants.
Plans are underway to have a library opened, along with a community
center hosting after-school activities for kids, according to Alice
Book, town council president. “We’ve let the kids come in, because
it’s been so cold outside these last few days, to play basketball.”
The armory was a necessity considering the former town hall was in
dilapidated conditions.“This building is a blessing; our
town hall was falling apart,"
said Book.
“We’re applying for grants to tear down the old buildings.”
Book said she hopes to have a
museum of Kempton’s history erected in place of the
old buildings.
Town officials have mixed feelings about seeing the Indiana National
Guard leave. “It’s a little nostalgic. It’s a part of our livelihood
and I hate to see them leave,” said Marjorie Morris, town clerk.
“We’re sad to see them go because they’ve been an asset to the area,
but at the same time we’re grateful.”
Caption, thumbnail: Indiana Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. R. Martin
Umbarger, studies a photo at the Kempton National Guard Armory lobby
picturing members of the Kempton Grand Army of the Republic unit
taken in 1880. The armory, which was built in 1958, will now serve
as Kempton’s new town hall after a key transfer ceremony held
January 22. Many pieces of local military history will be preserved
within the armory for years to come.
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