URGENT UPDATE: The Maine National Guard has just confirmed it will retain the Calais Armory, effectively halting the city’s three-year effort to acquire the facility. Officials announced this decision after evaluating a potential sale to the city, which included a property valuation of $575,000.
According to Maj. Nick Erickson, the acting state public affairs officer, the guard plans to keep the armory for future contingencies regarding its force structure across the state. “We need to ensure readiness,” Erickson stated, without disclosing specific future plans for the Calais facility.
This development is significant for Calais, as City Manager Mike Ellis remarked, “We were in a real good position a few years ago to purchase something.” The city had aimed to utilize the armory to replace aging facilities, including City Hall and the police station, which Ellis described as critical needs for the community.
The Calais Armory, completed in 1956, has served multiple military units over the decades, currently housing Detachment 2 of the 1136th Transportation Company. Despite recent renovations aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and comfort, the armory’s usage has reportedly declined. It is now also rented out as event space and serves as a recruitment center.
Ellis speculated that the decision to retain the armory may signal improvements in the Maine National Guard’s recruitment efforts, particularly since the Maine Air National Guard has reportedly exceeded its recruitment goals for 2025. “Any time you have more people around, it’s good,” he added, emphasizing the potential benefits to local businesses and emergency preparedness.
Looking ahead, plans for the armory’s future will be addressed at a stationing committee meeting scheduled for later this month. This meeting could provide more clarity on the guard’s intentions for the facility.
As this story unfolds, the implications for both the Maine National Guard and the city of Calais will be closely watched, with community leaders hopeful for a productive partnership moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
