Wikipedia

Houston Light Guard

The Houston Light Guard was one of the oldest militia companies founded in Texas. Founded in 1873, it served as Company G of the 143rd Infantry Regiment during both World Wars[2][3][4] and later as A co 2nd Battalion, 143rd Infantry after the Pentomic division system. It was a part of the National Guard's only Airborne Infantry Brigades, was a Ranger Company,[5][6] and a Long Range Surveillance Company.[7][8][9][10] The Houston Light Guard moniker is an official US Army special designation.[11]

Houston Light Guard Armory
The building is home to the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum
Location3820 Caroline Street, Houston
Coordinates29°44′09″N 95°22′40″W / 29.7358°N 95.3779°W / 29.7358; -95.3779
Area23,000 square feet (2,100 m2)[1]
Built1925
ArchitectAlfred C. Finn
Architectural styleLate Renaissance Neo-Gothic
NRHP reference No.100009738
Added to NRHP4 January, 2024

Armory

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The original Houston Light Guard Armory was located on Texas St. and Fannin Ave. It designed by architect George Dickey and built in 1893 using cash prizes won by the Houston Light Guard in National drill competitions. In 1925 it was sold and the proceeds were used to build a new armory on Caroline St. The building was designed in 1925 by Alfred C. Finn, a local Houston architect. The privately owned property was denied a tax exemption causing the Houston Light Guard Association a financial burden for over the years before being transferred to the Texas National Guard in 1938, making it the first state owned armory in Texas.[3] In 1991 the Houston Light Guards moved to Ellington Field[8] and the property was purchased by Houston Community College to be repurposed as a library, but instead sat for decades in disrepair.[12][13] Hopes were high when the Houston Hispanic Forum attempted to repurpose the property into a community center in early 2000. They approached the City of Houston's community development department to purchase the armory and offered to lease it from City. In late 2000 the city purchased the property and approved the lease; however, the Houston Hispanic Forum could not live up the city's agreement of raising $3 Million for renovations[14][15][13] and the Armory continued to sit in decay. Then in 2008 the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, founded in 2000 and originally located on 1834 Southmore Blvd, began raising funds to purchase the Caroline St. Armory,[12] and In November 2012 the armory became home to the nations largest repository of African-American Military History.[16][1]

It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1992[17] and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.[13]

 
Houston Light Guard Historical Marker
 
Original Houston Light Guard Armory Cornerstone. Laid by Gray Lodge No. 329 AF&AM in 1891[18] on the original Texas St. Armory then relaid on Caroline St. Armory.[19] Many of the Houston Light Guards were also prominent Houston area Freemasons.[2]
 
The original Houston Light Guard Armory on Texas St and Fannin Ave. Built in 1893.

References

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  1. ^ a b Bertrand, Desmond (11 July 2017). "Buffalo Soldiers National Museum". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b Becker, Ann Dunphy (2004). The Houston Light Guard "Preliminary Analects for a Corporate Biography of the Houston Light Guard Particularly as Personified through the lives and letters of the Bringhurst Family" The Houston Light Guard Motto "Benevolent, Charitable, and Educational". Houston, TX: Harris County Historical Commission. Contact Info
  3. ^ a b Olson, Bruce A. (February 1, 1995). "Houston Light Guards". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on February 13, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Texas Historical Commission (1982). "The Houston Light Guard, State Historical Marker # 10696". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022.
  5. ^ Bell, T.E. (November 10, 1985). "The Houston Light Guard - From flamboyant beginnings to World War II heroics". Houston Chronicle. p. 10.
  6. ^ Golightly, Glen (April 25, 1994). "Old, young Light Guards recall soldiering memories". Houston Chronicle. p. 9.
  7. ^ "The Houston Light Guard". September 27, 2002. Archived from the original on December 23, 2003.
  8. ^ a b Lemmer, Paul (August 18, 2001). "The Houston Light Guard, A Narrative". Company G 143d Infantry (LRS). Archived from the original on October 22, 2002.
  9. ^ Faulkner, Michael (July 7, 2000). "Co. G 143d Infantry (LRS)". Unofficial Homepage for Co. G 143d Infantry (LRS). Archived from the original on April 24, 2001. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  10. ^ Jacobs, Janet (August 13, 2001). "Paratroopers mark retirement of unit with one last jump". Austin American~Statesman. pp. B1, B5.
  11. ^ "Special Designations". US Army Center for Military History (CMH).
  12. ^ a b Hager, Jesse (March 6, 2009). "A Building Worth Saving: Houston Light Guard Armory". Rice Design Alliance. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Draft), Houston Light Guard Armory" (PDF). Texas Historical Commission. June 12, 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Canon, Kim (January 10, 2001). "Hispanic Forum set for move Nonprofit to relocate to armory building". Houston Chronicle. p. 1.
  15. ^ Walden, Jim (March 28, 2002). "Forum to restore historic armory Work to begin in mid-summer". Houston Chronicle. p. 8.
  16. ^ Sewing, Joy (October 31, 2022). "Sewing: Buffalo Soldiers National Museum continues telling history, sharing a legacy". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022.
  17. ^ Texas Historical Commission. "Houston Light Guard Armory, State Historical Marker #10697". THE HISTORICAL MARKER DATABASE. Archived from the original on May 26, 2022.
  18. ^ "Houston Light Guard Corner Stone of the Armory Laid Yesterday". The Galveston Daily News. May 24, 1891. p. 2.
  19. ^ "Houston Light Guard to Dedicate Armory". Galveston Daily News. April 21, 1925. p. 3.

See also

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  • Olson, Bruce (1 February 1995). "Houston Light Guards". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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