'Revival Veterans Gala' to Raise Funds for Continued Armory Restoration

Bringing the former Warren armory building on Jefferson Street back to life is about one-third of way complete. 

“It’s still going on,” said Ed Theberge of the nonprofit, Historic Warren Armory Inc., the group formed about five years ago to restore the building. “But enough is done to open it.”

Theberge is referring to the Revival Veterans Gala being held as the nonprofit’s first significant fundraiser on Saturday evening, Nov. 9, at the armory.

“It’s our opening big fundraiser,” he said, with the date chosen to conincide with Veterans Day on Monday.

Tickets to the “gala” are $50 and can be purchased at the door. But the group would like some idea of the headcount, he said. Call one of the armory’s members listed at the end of this story.

The Warren and Barrington Rotary Club actually is sponsoring the event, he said. There are overlapping members in each group.  It starts with a bagpiper at 6:45 pm outside the armory. The gala runs from 7 to 9 pm

There will be food, champagne, music, and a PowerPoint presentation by Retired Gen. Richard Valente, a member of the group, who will bring everyone up to date on the work done so far.

Among the work has been putting non a new roof, replacing the floor joists and flooring in the two towers and the foyer between the towers, relocating the bathrooms behind the stage area, and rebuilding the kitchen. 

Work has been going on for about three years, Theberge said. The building is leased to Historic Warren Armory by the Town of Warren, which bought the building with voter approval.

The original armory was opened in 1842, with several additions completed in the late 1800s. A former American Legion Post used the armory for years as its headquarters. When the post shut down in 2008, the nonprofit was formed to save the building. 

Here are names and numbers to call for tickets: Ed Theberge (245-5037), Richard Valente (254-2533), Louis Rego (527-5643) and Thomas Wright (245-5650). You can also get tickets at TAP Printing at 629 Metacom Ave. and Wright Law Associates at 527 Main St.