Squadron A Armory

The building you are approaching began as a private equestrian club for some of the city's most prominent young men. In the late nineteenth century, these gentlemen formed a group called the New York Hussars, dressing in ornate, sky blue uniforms with braided trim and plumed hats. They soon sought a more professional standing and were mustered into the National Guard in eighteen eighty-nine, becoming the cavalry arm of the state. Because their original quarters at a local riding academy were insufficient for a formal military unit, they commissioned this structure to serve as both a serious armory and a social headquarters for their exclusive circle.