Sunday, January 16, 2011

Watres Bad Photography Weekend

We're taking a close look at the Watres Armory in Scranton this weekend.  Above is the statue that stands on top of the front doors.

I did a Google search for some Watres history while I was preparing this weekend's blogs.  It's unfortunate, but there wasn't much information to be found.

The construction here is amazing.  There's a ton of brick, and below is a stone arch that's above one of the side doors.  It's a cliche, but they don't build them like this any more.
I fear the days of the Watres are coming to an end.  It will be replaced by a new building on Olyphant Avenue in Scranton, near the Throop line.  I showed you a photo of that building in this space a few months ago.

So what happens to the Watres?  At this point, we don't know.  I have a feeling it will be torn down.  Take a look at it.  It's a massive, old building.  What can you do with it?
The Watres is near the hospitals and the new medical school.  It would be nice to see it converted to another use, but the cost of doing that will be enormous.  I fear it will become a parking lot, and this area will lose a huge piece of its history.

The Watres is on the National Register of Historic Places, so let's hope for the best.