Old Haines City National Guard Armory, Military heritage building in Haines City, Florida.
The Old Haines City National Guard Armory stands at 226 South 6th Street, south of downtown Haines City. The present armory building was erected in 1932 after a fire destroyed the earlier structure, and a vehicle storage building funded by WPA money followed by 1935. The site was redeveloped in the late 2000s and early 2010s as Lake Eva Community Park, which keeps some of the National Guard buildings as features of the public space.
In 1927 Haines City set aside land south of downtown for a Florida National Guard unit, and the armory was finished by 1928 for tear gas and ammunition training. A fire on January 2, 1932 destroyed over $10,000 of stores and supplies, and a new armory was built by October 1932 for $10,000. A vehicle store building followed with WPA funds by 1935; the unit was federalized during World War II and used the site until 1983.
The armory's later life is tied to Lake Eva Community Park, developed in the late 2000s and early 2010s, which keeps some of the old National Guard buildings as decorative features of the public space. The site is also known as the Community Center of Northeast Polk County, Inc., the name under which the former drill hall has been used for local gatherings.
The armory stands at 226 South 6th Street, south of Haines City's downtown. The site was redeveloped in the late 2000s and early 2010s as Lake Eva Community Park, which keeps some of the old National Guard buildings as decoration. The vehicle storage building was demolished after Hurricane Charley knocked down its west wall in 2004.
The building is documented as part of a regional survey of Haines City's architectural heritage. This recognition highlights its importance in understanding the town's development over time.
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