Third Place: Eli Brockett - Senior High: Fort Thomas Armory
Home—defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the physical structure within which one lives; the place at which one resides.” Bluntly, home is where we eat, sleep, and simply subsist. But in actuality, home is not just a building to exist in, but rather where we feel we fit in, where we feel comfortable, where we can love and feel loved. For many, this may be the actual “ structure in which he/she lives,” but for some, home may consist of other places that evoke these feelings. For me, home isn’t just a residence, but also a feeling that is brought about by a series of places where I have grown up and grown to feel comfortable. One of these places at which I feel most at ease is a place where I can take part in one of the things I love the most—basketball. This place has an immense amount of history. It has served the community for many years, and continues to serve the community today. This place is the Ft. Thomas Armory.
The Armory is one of the most historical buildings in all of the community. It is a recognizable and nostalgic building that has seen both joyous and tragic times. The building was first established as part of the military base that came to Ft. Thomas in 1888. It served for many years as the recreation building for troops stationed in Ft. Thomas. Years later, it was converted to a city recreation building, where children and adults could play and exercise. But not long after, tragedy struck. In 1977, at the nearby Beverly Hills Supper Club, a deadly fire broke out. In this fire, the third deadliest nightclub fire in U.S. history, 165 people perished. In the hours after, the Armory was quickly converted to a makeshift morgue, in which bodies were laid out row-by –row to be identified by friends and family. This event, while bringing much pain upon those involved, has contributed immensely to the building’s history and made it what it is today—more than just a structure.
In the present, the Armory holds still the tragic memories of that fateful 1977 night, while creating at the same time new memories in each and every individual who steps foot in the building. As the city’s recreation center, the Armory serves all walks of life that come to have a good time—whether playing basketball or volleyball, walking, running, pumping some iron, or just blowing off a little steam. I too have spent a great deal of time in the building, much of it on the basketball courts. Basketball is one of my first and most genuine passions, and it could be said that it was on the courts of the Armory that this love was cemented. I played some of my first organized basketball in the Armory, and I hold many memories of games past between those lines. This fact, as well as the evocative presence that the Armory has, contributes to the feeling of home that pulsates from this within its walls. Something inexplicable about the building brings a nostalgic sensation of home. It may be the echoes of balls bouncing, the lucid reflections off the floor, or the irksome, but unique, wires that hang above the court and periodically protrude into a shot. All of these things make the armory a matchless building and a place where I enjoy myself and feel comfortable and at home.
This building not only holds a special place in my heart and those of others who feel at home there, but it also holds a special place in the heart of the community. The Armory is a vital part of the community’s history, especially as an element of the fort for which the town is named. The Armory is essential to the complete picture of the fort, both physically and ideologically. No fort is a fort without an armory and without a comprehensive image of the fort, there is no comprehensive image of Ft. Thomas. The building’s later history also holds immense importance to the community and its members. The use of the building during the tragedy of the
Beverly Hills Supper Club, although gruesome to some, holds a deeper and more poignant meaning for others. The building stands as a crucial part of the tragedy, as well as a memorial of sorts for those lost in the fire. Lastly, both in literally and idealistically, the Armory encapsulates Ft. Thomas itself and its greater importance to the nation and even the world. The building symbolizes the togetherness of the city and represents the contribution of Ft. Thomas to its nation. For all of these reasons, the Armory touches deeply many members of the community. If lost, an immense void would be created both in the community and in the hearts of its members that could never be refilled.
As evidenced by the historical, physical, and emotional significance of this building, it is clear that the Armory is very important to the community and the people who make it up. Without the Armory, the town would be missing both a structure that brings happiness and a sense of home to people, as well as a place in which meaning and memories are held.
This essay and photograph are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC.