Water Shops Armory

The Water Shops Armory was part of the Springfield Armory buildings in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The original Armory stretched over two city blocks in what was known as the Hill Shops (where the Historic Site now is accompanied by the Springfield Technical Community College which occupies most of the 22 original buildings). In addition, a mile south on a tributary river, the Mill River, is the Water Shops where the heavy metal forging & machining was done as well as gun stock shaping. This area underwent many changes. It was located at this place due to the need for power which was supplied by the Mill River. It is now a privately owned industrial site. The building was originally a two story building until Friday June 17, 1988, when a fire destroyed part of the top floors. The building was built in two different sections the first was built as an armory in 1858 the second section which paralleled Allen Street built in 1901 is where the fire happened.

Images

 * Before the fire
 * current picture of the complex