“Michigan’s National Guard chief Friday submitted plans for a new armory at Ishpeming, Mich., and plugged for a federal appropriation for similar units in Lansing.

“Federal funds already have been earmarked for a $604,000 armory at Ishpeming to replace one that burned last February and for a $413,000 unit at Sturgis.”

Maj. Gen. Ronald D. McDonald, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard, said he hoped to get additional federal money for a $410,000 armory at Howell and three units and a divisional headquarters building at Lansing.

McDonald asked Sen. Phillip A. Hart, D-Mich, and Rep. Charles E. Chamberlain, R-Mich., to promote the Lansing projects, to cost about $1,005,000.

Action by Michigan’s Legislature is needed to start the projects. As part of his proposed 150-million-dollar bonding program, currently before the Legislature, Gov. G. Mennen William recommended a $600,000 bond issue to finance part of the state’s share of the four armory projects.

The governor did not back the guard’s recommendations for nine other armory projects.

“We are concerned about the possibility that Congress may withdraw funds earmarked for the Ishpeming and Sturgis armories if the legislature doesn’t appropriate funds before long,’ said Col. Versel Case Jr., executive officer for the Michigan Guard’s quartermaster division at Lansing’

Case said municipal governments in the four cities being considered for armories have agreed to allocate $50,000 toward the Ishpeming armory, $200,000 for the Lansing units, $6,500 at Sturgis and $7,800 at Howell.

McDonald submitted preliminary plans for the Ishpeming armory to the National Guard bureau here. (Washington, D.C.) (Mining Journal, February 27, 1960)

The armory would be rebuilt, but the rebuilding would take some time.

“A proposed $500,000 plus National Guard Armory, which would be the largest to be constructed in Upper Michigan, came one step nearer reality last night.

The two-story brick building will be erected on the south side of U.S. 41 near Walnut St. National Guard officials have given it top priority in Michigan.

Members of the Ishpeming City Council and a citizens’ committee appointed by Mayor Theodore Mattson approved the plans presented by Lt. Philip White, job project officer. White currently is supervising construction of the Sault Ste Marie Armory.

Gen. Ronald McDonald, adjutant general of Michigan and Col. Versel Case, acting quartermaster general, had planned to attend the meeting here. They were weathered in at the Sault Ste Marie airport. Instead of appearing, they sent messages of regret and said they hoped to meet with the Ishpeming group before construction gets underway.

Gen. McDonald has predicted that the building will get under way by June or July. Capital outlay funds were held up in Lansing because of the cash crisis last year.” (Mining Journal, March 4, 1960)

“Ishpeming’s National Guard Armory came one step nearer reality when an architect’s drawing was presented to Capt. George Hansen at a meeting in Sault Ste Marie.

A representative of the 46th Division’s quartermaster general’s office told Hansen that construction of the two-story structure should begin by Aug. 1.

The building, to be located on US 41, will take a year to construct.

‘Every effort is being made to move rapidly forward with planning and bidding to allow ample time for the contractor to close in the building before bad weather comes.’ Hansen reported to the Ishpeming Armory Board.

Maj. Austin Lindberg, commander of the 107th Engineer Battalion, offered his congratulations to the board upon receipt of the sketch presented by. M.H. Ashley, project superintendent of Harley, Ellington and Day, Inc. architects and engineers of Detroit.” (Mining Journal, June 01, 1960)

“Ishpeming’s National Guard unit means $115,000 to the economy of the city each year, Major Austin Lindberg, commander of the 107th Engineer Battalion, told the Ishpeming Kiwanis Club at its luncheon meeting yesterday.

The guard pays out over $60,000 to the 104 men of Headquarters and Service Company in drill and summer camp pay, while another $40,000 is paid to the seven full-time officers and men assigned to the unit. The battalion commander also said the unit spends about $12,000 yearly in armory operation and maintenance and $3,500 for the local purchase of vehicle and shop supplies.

Lindberg also noted that the addition of the new armory to the community is analogous to the addition of a $655,000 industrial plant to the city. He said an even higher yearly contribution can be expected after the armory is built because of increased operational and maintenance costs.” (Mining Journal, June 30, 1960)

“Construction of Ishpeming’s new National Guard armory will be delayed until the spring of 1961, Maj. Austin Lindberg, commander of the 107th Engineer Battalion, announced yesterday.

He made the announcement at a meeting of the Ishpeming Kiwanis Club.

A Legal technicality involving clear title to the land is causing the delay. Lindberg explaine that the city of Ishpeming holds the property rights to old U.S. 41, now Palms Ave., and that certain routine but rather lengthy procedures must be followed to put the Palms Ave. title in the hands of the National Guard.

The title will be properly transferred, but final approval and transfer of necessary funds would delay the bidding and starting date until late in the fall.

‘If we were to start late in the fall,’ Lindberg said, ‘we would be faced with high winter construction costs. We want to get the most for the taxpayers money and we feel we will get the most by starting construction in the spring.'” (Mining Journal, June 30, 1960)

The armory would eventually be built and has been a part of Ishpeming for over 60 years now.