1890 was the date of the South Armory dedication. Massachusetts had entered, after long years of discussion, upon her policy of providing adequate accommodations for her volunteer militia. New York had led the way ten years earlier; and the Massachusetts authorities were especially indebted to the N. Y. 7th for providing an armory after which others could pattern. It is a far cry from the 7th’s building to that on Irvington St., but there is a similarity of type. It must be borne in mind that the South Armory was relatively one of the best in the country when the 1st Regiment occupied it in 1890. Nor had the railroad developed into such a nuisance at that time. The South Armory was the first State armory in Massachusetts; and led the way for the entire series, by means of which our troops are quartered as well as any in the land; its dedication was an important event in military history. Fall River followed, and dedicated her State armory in 1895, Cambridge and New Bedford in 1903, Brockton in 1906, Chelsea in 1907, and Taunton in 1917. Chelsea and Brockton subsequently lost their buildings by fire; the structures were rebuilt respectively in 1909 and 1912. Col. Mathews’ command served as personal escort to Gov. William E. Russell, Feb. 29, 1892, at the ceremony of presenting Massachusetts’ first long-service medals. Amongst others, twenty-eight officers and men of the 1st received medals. An artillery tour was held at Fort Warren, Aug. 7 to 13, 1892, when the men had practice on the eight-inch muzzle-loading converted rifles and the fifteen-inch muzzle-loading smooth-bores. Modern coast artillery had not yet “arrived”; but the regiment was making progress. In 1893 they encamped at Framingham and manned “Battery Dalton” once more. In 1895 they had their last experience with these twelve-inch mortars--and the sand-bank five hundred yards away; 1894, 1896 and 1897 saw them at Fort Warren each summer. In 1896 the regulars did not take them seriously and could not “waste time” instructing the militiamen; in 1897, with Lieut. Erasmus M. Weaver temporarily detailed as instructor, the regiment made progress. Thereafter, until 1911, regular officers from the forts added to their other service the duty of visiting the South Armory and coaching the militia regiment. All twelve companies were ordered to be in readiness on March 10, 1893, for service in connection with the disastrous “Lincoln St. fire,” but were not marched out of the armories. The state expended $2,500 in 1894 providing a model battery at the South Armory. While crude compared with the huge gun and mortar installed in 1913, to which the name “Battery Lombard” is sometimes given, this earlier artillery installation marked a long advance in drills and instruction.