Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site

This is the Walton Armory, under construction, in 1897. The front of the photo reads "My Dad. Armory at Walton, New York 1897." The back of the photograph is marked "We were here Sept. 23 to 25th, 1968. This Armory was built in 1894 and is as solid as the day it was finished. Almost here for my birthday when I was born Sept. 21, 1896. The owner's name is Mr. Mealus and is called White Castle Dept. Store and Restaurant. Wm. and Susan Lord." The sign above the front door of the armory is partially obscured, but it appears to read "33rd Separate Company, N.Y." The original photograph is about 6"x8" and does not have a photographer's mark.

I did a quick search of the Social Security Death Index and learned that William Lord is the one whose birthday is September 21, 1896: "My Dad" featured in the photograph is presumably his father. William Lord died January 1978, last residence Stanford, Judith Basin, Montana. Susan Lord was born 27 March 1898 and died October 1979, same locale. --Carolee Inskeep

Howard R. Mealus purchased the Armory from New York State in the spring of 1966, for $12,000. He reopened the building as The White Castle Department Store the following year: the business survived about five years. The second photograph shows the Armory as it looked under Mealus ownership, painted white and decorated for Christmas. The sign above the front door reads "Mealus WHITE CASTLE." The original photograph is about 2"x3" big and was probably taken by Niles or Margaret Dann of Walton.