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Walking Tour of Queens - Flushing Neighborhood
Item 6 of 9
The Flushing Armory is located on Northern Boulevard in Flushing, New York. It was constructed between 1904 and 1905 to house the 17th Separate Company, a company founded in 1876. The Armory was designed by George Heins, who served as the State Architect in New York from 1899 to 1907. The military stopped using the building in the 1990s, and it became a homeless shelter for women. The Armory was also used as a gymnasium, but eventually, it was turned over to the NYPD's Queens North Task Force. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Old Picture of Armory

Old Picture of Armory

Recent Picture of Armory

Recent Picture of Armory
George Heins, the designer of the Flushing Armory, was a partner of Heins and LaFarge, where he worked closely with George LaFarge beginning in 1886. The two architects had studied together at M.I.T. before starting their firm together. After teaming up, LaFarge served as the chief designer while Heins took over building and administrative responsibilities. In 1899, Heins was appointed as the official architect of New York State by Governor Theodore Roosevelt. He served in this position until his death in 1907. 

The Flushing Armory was designed and constructed between 1904 and 1905. The Armory was to house the 17th Separate Company, which was founded in 1876. Before relocating to the Flushing Armory, the Company had headquarters between Lawrence Street and Northern Boulevard. After World War I, the 17th became Company I, which was part of Brooklyn's 14th Regiment. The building was abandoned by the military in the 1990s. After the military left the Flushing Armory, the building became a shelter for homeless women. It was later turned into a gymnasium until the NYPD's Queens North Taskforce moved into it. The building is currently occupied by the Taskforce. 

When the Flushing Armory was designed, it was the first armory built in New York City during the 20th Century. However, Heins had designed similar armories elsewhere, including the Sixth Battery in Binghamton, the Third Separate Company in Oneonta, and the 19th Separate Company in Gloversville. Heins goal was to create a castle-like building that resembled those found across Europe. The building was constructed with brick and stone. To give it a towering presence, a five-story tower was added onto the corner of the building and a large entrance pavilion was included on the front. Thanks to its historical importance, the Flushing Armory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. 
Todd, Nancy L. New York's Historic Armories: An Illustrated History. Albany, New York. State University of New York Press, 2006.

"Flushing Northern Boulevard Armory." New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center. 11/14/12. Accessed Web, 1/7/18. https://dmna.ny.gov/historic/armories/FlushingNorthernBlvd.html.

"The Flushing Armory Served Different Purposes." Queens Chronicle. 10/19/17. Accessed Web, 1/7/18. http://www.qchron.com/qboro/i_have_often_walked/the-flushing-armory-served-different-purposes/articl....

"Heins and LaFarge." New York Architecture. Accessed Web, 1/7/18. http://nyc-architecture.com/ARCH/ARCH-HeinsLaFarge.htm.