HISTORY OF COPPEROPOLIS
The Union Guard Armory

The Armory was built from public funds in 1863 for $8,000.  There are other dates noted in different places, but this building was built for UNION soldiers during the Civil War (1861 to 1865).  The 3rd California Infantry, which is like our National Guard today, used it for enlistment and training. In 1868 the building was sold to the Copperopolis Armory Hall Association for $800 in gold and used for Congregational and Methodist church services, public meetings, dances (balls), rallies, and other public functions. The Copperopolis Community Center purchased the Armory in 1948. 

The architecture is called simple Classical Revival and is a common building style in the Mother Lode area.  The two iron entry doors are flanked by iron-shuttered windows and topped with relieving arches.  The iron doors and shutters were used for fire protection and security for the arms and ammunition stored in the building.  The foundation is made of rock, and the supports are made of brick.  The floors are original except for some areas where the wood had deteriorated to a point of being unsafe.  The entire floor was refinished in 2006 as a major preservation project.

The building is in its original condition with the exception of the kitchen area, which was added much later.  Some of the brick, like the bricks from the church, were brought from Columbia. The different color brick is most noticeable on the north wall of the building. 

This excerpt from the History of Copperopolis courtesy of the “School Tour” notes by Linda Beck,with permission taken directly from "Tools Are On The Bar" by Charlie and Rhoda Stone.