Behind me is the current home of Akron's municipal courts.

For justice, not for basketball.

But a long time ago on this site what it was, was the home of entertainment downtown.

In 1918, the Akron Armory opened as a training site for National Guardsmen.

That same year, it served as an emergency hospital during the Spanish flu pandemic.

However, the large auditorium was perfect for symphony orchestras, wrestling and boxing matches, expositions, theater and even political rallies.

It was a welcoming stage for both Black and white musicians, including vocalist and later Akronite Dolores Parker when she toured with jazz master Duke Ellington.

In 1968, Summit County began eyeing the property as a potential site for a new administration building.

That kicked off a decade of negotiations and in that time, most of the shows moved to E.J.

Thomas Hall, and the Guard moved out as well.

The armory was finally demolished in 1982, making way for a new government office building named for Ohio State Senator Oliver Ocasek.

Today you can still see this statue, which used to be in front of the old armory, now in Charles Goodyear Park, just down the street, honoring veterans of World War One.