Stewart, Gen. Thomas J., Memorial Armory
Also known as: Norristown Armory
Why it's listed
Built in 1928 in Norristown, the General Thomas J. Stewart Memorial Armory is a yellow brick Classical Revival building on a sloping lot. Its plan is T-shaped, with a two-story front administrative section joined to a larger two-story rear drill hall. The front elevation has a decorative first-story stone arch framing a glass double door, a stepped parapet, and a stone belt course inscribed with the armory's name. The drill hall has brick walls, a wood floor, and steel I-beam roof supports, and measures 87 by 57 feet. Philip H. Johnson of Philadelphia designed the building, and Frank R. Herong built it. The armory was constructed for the Norris City Rifles of the Pennsylvania National Guard. It is significant as one of at least thirty-seven Pennsylvania armories laid out on a T plan, and it is typical of the state's armory type. Changes have been minor, mainly the enclosing of the drill hall balcony.
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 is presented as one of at least thirty-seven Pennsylvania armories built on a T plan, and it retains very good integrity. Its architect, Philip H. Johnson of Philadelphia, had designed at least five armories in southeastern Pennsylvania between 1909 and 1916.
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 91000904, listed July 12, 1991. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 340 Harding Blvd., Norristown |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | July 12, 1991 |
| Reference number | 91000904 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Philip H. Johnson (architect); Frank R. Herong (builder) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Military |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.12468, -75.34444 (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 91000904.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5530827
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.