100 years ago in The Record

Tuesday, April 24, 1917

The Troy police continue to confiscate weapons excavated from the ruins of the Troy Armory, The Record reports, while wrangling with the National Guard over who should guard the site. The armory, headquarters for the Second New York Infantry regiment, burned to the ground last January 16. A wide range of weapons remain buried in the wreckage, but over the past few months boys in South Troy have found ways to salvage some and use them after digging their way into the remains. The apparently accidental shooting of a boy last weekend has raised public concern over access to the armory site. In addition to the shooting, which left the victim wounded in the leg, two boys reportedly fought a mock duel with officers’ swords taken from the armory, while another boy was chased through South Troy by playmates wielding swords and bayonets. “It is known that many of the implements of war have been taken from the ruins,” our reporter writes, “and it is guessed that many more would be found in the homes of the southern section if it were possible to know just where to look for them.” The police have recovered 25 weapons, including rifles and revolvers, by the time a report appears in tomorrow’s paper, with more collection efforts planned. They refuse, however, to assign an officer to guard the ruins.

“The police believe that the ruins should be guarded by the military,” our writer notes. Most of the Second regiment is out of town on police protective duty elsewhere in New York State. The Second was called into federal service shortly before the U.S. declared war on Germany on April 6. Out-of-town units are currently guarding bridges and railroads in Troy.

Police chief Charles Goerold tells reporters that he has warned regimental authorities that “something to be regretted might happen” if the ruins aren’t placed under military guard. Mayor Cornelius F. Burns has discussed the matter with Adjutant General Louis W. Stotesbury, but to date the military has not taken action to secure the armory site.

Goerold claims that he can’t divert anyone from a regular beat to stand constant watch over the ruins. “It is pointed out that the policeman on the post which takes in the armory site cannot handle the situation,” our writer explains, “He cannot stay there all the time and his uniform can be seen by the youngsters afar. While he is thereabouts, they vacate. When he is gone, they know how long he will be gone, and it is then that they do their work.”