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Grays Armory is a historic building in Cleveland, Ohio. It was built by the Cleveland Grays, a private military company which was founded in 1837. Cleveland Grays, Cleveland Grays - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. This is one of the oldest standing buildings in downtown Cleveland located at 1234 Bolivar Rd.
The unit's original purpose was twofold: to provide assistance and support to the local law enforcement authorities of the time as well as to provide a first line of defense for the city in the event that the fighting in Canada's Rebellions of 1837 spilled over the border and into the United States resulting in a third war with the United Kingdom in less than a century.Vourlojianis (2002), p. 14 The unit's motto is Semper Paratus (from the Latin: "Always Ready").
The first organizational meeting was held on August 28, 1837, and on September 18, seventy-eight men joined the active company. At the time of its founding, the unit was called The Cleveland City Guards but within the next year the membership decided that their organization would be known by reference to the gray color of their uniforms.Vourlojianis (2002), pp. 7-11 On November 29, 1838 the Grays made one of the first of their many parade appearances fully dressed in their distinctive gray uniforms and tall black bearskin caps. As the years passed, those who had earned the status of "Pioneer" for their membership of twenty-five or more years were entitled to add leather aprons to their uniforms and to carry axes when on parade.
The Grays saw military service as a unit during the Civil War and the Spanish–American War. Reforms of the country's militia system which began with the Militia Act of 1903 and continued with subsequent legislation at the state and federal levels meant that the era of private military companies' official participation in national military affairs had come to an end and while the Grays, under the leadership of Ludwig S. Connelly, were able to enlist in the Ohio National Guard (ONG) for duty during the Mexican Punitive Expedition, they essentially did so as a group of private citizens enlisting en masse and not as a private military company. Their participation in World War I, which began immediately upon their ONG unit's release from duty on the Mexican border, was the last conflict in which the Grays saw active service even as a group of enlistees.Vourlojianis (2002), pp. 91-115 Individual members have served in subsequent conflicts.
The Cleveland Grays Armory has been long known for hosting the city's premier social events. Grays Armory earned repute as an exclusive venue right from the beginning during the celebrations for Cleveland's Centennial (1896). The Grays Armory events went way beyond the customary military balls and band concerts typical during that era. This building was originally built to house weapons and provides a drill hall for the militia; this edifice quickly evolved into a vital community center for the turn-of-the-century Clevelanders.
The Grays Armory Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the historical and cultural significance of its institution and associated traditions. In addition to maintaining the historic building and conserving its collection of artifacts, the museum focuses on documenting and interpreting the heritage of individuals who have served in the military and in public service.
The museum supports this mission through the curation and exhibition of materials related to the military history of the United States. It engages with the Greater Cleveland community by organizing public events, including open houses designed to attract a broad and diverse audience. Annually, the museum hosts a Veterans Day program that combines cultural and educational elements to recognize military service. Past events have featured patriotic orchestral performances and traveling exhibitions.
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