Lewistown Armory
Why it's listed
Built in 1938 on a spacious lot in Derry Township, just north of Lewistown, the armory is a brick veneer building in the Colonial Revival style with a concrete foundation, slate roofs and an I-shaped plan. Its administrative section fronts the road, a 60 by 90 foot drill hall with a wood floor and riveted steel Fink-type trusses sits at the center, and a former stable wing with a second-floor hay loft extends to the rear. The building covers about 14,028 square feet and retains very good integrity, with much of its original woodwork, doors and casement windows intact. It was built as a federal public works project, most likely for the 104th Machine Gun Troop of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It is one of nine I-plan armories built in Pennsylvania between 1912 and 1938, and the plan type was used for cavalry units, whose stables and grazing needs led most such buildings to be placed on the edges of towns.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the armory is significant under criteria A and C as a member of the State Armory Building property type in the Pennsylvania National Guard Armories multiple property nomination. It was built in 1938 as a federal public works project, most likely for the 104th Machine Gun Troop of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It is described as one of nine I-plan armories built in Pennsylvania between 1912 and 1938, a plan type typically used for cavalry units with stables in the rear wing.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91000513, listed May 9, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1101 Walnut St., Derry Township, Lewistown |
|---|---|
| County | Mifflin County |
| Listed | May 9, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000513 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1938-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Lawrie and Green (architect) |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 22.7 |
| Coordinates | 40.61850, -77.55122 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91000513.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6537430
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.