HCA Featured on Community Advocate
HUDSON - A century-old historical landmark that sat vacant for more than a decade is being transformed into a regional hub for arts and culture.
Rising along the banks of the Assabet River, the Armory on the Assabet resembles an English countryside castle. The Hudson Cultural Alliance nonprofit purchased the building in 2024 with the goal of preserving the historic structure and creating a permanent home for arts and cultural programming.
Built in 1910, the Armory served for decades as home to the National Guard. After sitting vacant for more than 10 years, the building had fallen into disrepair by the time the Alliance acquired it. Now, volunteers are working to return the building to the center of community life.
“You talk to Hudson residents and they used to vote there, they used to go to town meetings there, they had high school proms there, they played basketball games there,” Hudson Cultural Alliance President Tom Desmond said. “For a lot of older Hudson residents, it's an iconic building.”
Using state grants, fundraising events, and individual donations, the first phase of renovation will bring the building up to code. Afterward, a theater for events will be constructed.
“We're in the process of doing major capital fundraising, trying to come up with some donors that would pay for some of the really big-ticket stuff,” Desmond said.
