Historic California Posts, Camps, Stations and Airfields

Copperopolis Armory

 

The Copperopolis Armory

 

 

History

 

The Copperopolis Armory is a Civil War armory located at 695 Main Street in Copperopolis, Calaveras County. The brick Greek Revival building was constructed in 1864 to house the Union Guard (1864-1868), the town's California Militia infantry company. Copperopolis largely owed its existence to the war; the town grew due to a boom in local copper mining in 1860, which stemmed from the Union Army's need for copper ammunition. The armory served a variety of purposes for the Union Guard; at the building, new soldiers were enlisted, training was conducted, and arms and supplies were stored. Military balls, victory celebrations, and the local funeral ceremonies for Abraham Lincoln also took place in the armory.

 

The armory also held a Model of 1835 6-Pound Field Gun, which was used for ceremonial purposes and arms training. The cannon was cast in bronze in 1837 by Cyrus Alger and Company in what was then West Bridgewater, Massachusetts and salvaged from a ship in San Francisco. The cannon is displayed at 100 Baker Street and is one of the few American bronze cannons from that era in California.

 

In 1868 it was sold to the Copperopolis Armory Hall Association for $800.00 in gold and was used for Congregational and Methodist Church services, public meetings, balls and rallies. In 1874, the Mineral Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows bought the building, which they converted to a meeting hall. In 1903, the lodge moved to the former Congregational Church.

 

In 1940, the Copperopolis Community Center bought the armory and reopened it as a meeting and event venue in 1948.

 

The armory was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 30, 1997.

 

 

History of the Union Guard

Works Progress Administration, 1940

 

The Union Guard was organized in the California Militia on August 30, 1864, at Copperopolis, Calaveras· County. The location of the town in the mining vicinity was such that the citizens felt that military protection was necessary. A foreign element composed of Mexicans and Chileans moved from place to place, following the opening of mining claims. They were of a treacherous nature and carried on a campaign of general lawlessness, terrorizing the settlers.

Also Indian hostilities frequently occurred during those years. The necessary bond was filed and the company's arms were received in October 1864. They were shipped by way of Stockton and arrived in good condition. In November, Captain James Oliphant sent in his request to the Adjutant-General for eighty uniforms and twenty additional stand of arms. The company built their own armory, which was constructed of brick and was fire proof, at a cost of $8,000. This was a heavy burden financially for the newly organized corps and Captain Oliphant was anxious for the State to bear the expense of the above mentioned uniforms. He also requested copies of the Military Law. This unit gave every indication of becoming an efficient and well officered company.

 

 

Under the Military Law of 1866, the Union Guard was one of the companies recommended by Brigadier-General George S. Evans, to remain in the military service of the State, and was reorganized as an unattached company of the newly organized National Guard of California on July 30, 1866, with sixty-two men as members. A Bond for $2,600 was posted at the time.

A disastrous fire September 1867 destroyed the company's books and vouchers and some of the equipment, and in as much as the Union Guard was mustered out of service J January 31, 1868, it is assumed the unit lost interest after the fire, as with the prevailing peaceful times the need of military protection was not required. The arms and accoutrements belonging to the State were repossessed April 29th and stored in Ford Hardy's Building, Copperopolis.

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Updated 29 September 2021