Not a Castle

It's the Armory -- built by the Washington National Guard in 1910 -- and now on the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation list of ten most endangered properties.

The building was used primarily for drills and rifle practice until the end of WWII. In 1953 it was converted to a roller skating rink, known as Mead's Rolladium -- named after the managers, Gladys and Ray Mead.

After the National Guard sold the building to Western Washington University for $1 in 1972, the Meads continued to manage the Rolladium, until water damage in 1989 made it no longer suitable. It's currently used as a storage facility by the university.

The building commands spectacular views of Bellingham Bay, the city, and the mountains, and is coveted by property developers who would like to replace it with apartments or condominiums. I hope a way can be found to preserve it.

I almost forgot to mention -- this is on State Street -- my one street.

I found an old postcard photo that appears to have been taken right after the building was completed.