Our first National Guard Company was organized in December, 1884, as Company C of the Sixth Regiment of the Iowa National Guard. Frank E. Landers was elected Captain. Landers is the veteran of the Civil War who created nearly all of our county's military service files. He also was the Hamilton County Auditor. The company consisted of three officers and 54 enlisted men. In 1888, Captain Landers resigned, and Frank D. Young was elected as his replacement. In 1892 Young resigned and was replaced by August F. Hoffman. At this time, the company was reorganized and was assigned to the Fourth Regiment. In 1895, Hoffman resigned, and J. W. Lee was elected Captain. This is the man who compiled J. W. Lee's 1912 History of Hamilton County.

Over a period of time the only armory available to the men was located above several different stores. The first was located on Seneca Street above Ellingsons Building at 816 Seneca Street. Another was on Second Street in Browning Hall. Yet another drill area was given by Frank Lund. It was located west of the Willson Flats on First Street. Today, this area is the parking lot south of the Freeman-Journal. Still later space in the Syndicate Block was donated. This location today is in the First State Bank parking lot.

In April, 1898, Spain declared war against the United States, and Capt. Lee received orders for his company to report for service in the Spanish-American War. Drills were held every evening to prepare the soldiers for service. April 26th was the day the guard members left for further training at Camp McKinley in Des Moines. N. P. Hyatt, who is mentioned below, was named battalion adjutant. The men were housed in the cattle sheds at the fairgrounds. On May 24, the company received orders to report to the Fifty-Second Regiment of the Iowa Infantry Volunteers. They were to be sent to the Philippines.

The next day, it was learned that a mistake had been made, and the Fifty-First Regiment, mustered in a day later, had been sent to the Philippines. Company C of the Fifty-Second Regiment was sent instead to Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, in Georgia. Typhoid fever hit the encampment and up to 40 men from each company were sick at a time. No members of the Fifty-Second Regiment were ever shipped to the Philippines.

Company C returned home in 1889 with Lee still serving as Captain. N. P. Hyatt was named First Lieutenant. In 1894, the company was called out to Sioux City during a railroad strike. That same year they were sent to perform guard duty at Pomeroy after a tornado struck the town.

All of this time the guard members drilled in temporary locations. By 1904, it was decided that Webster City needed to get an armory. The June 21, 1904, edition of the Freeman reported a need to secure financing. In the October 11th Freeman an announcement appeared regarding methods for raising funds.. Two weeks later, a public meeting was held to sell stock.

On August 8, 1905, it was announced that the armory would also be an opera house. It was reasoned that the income from the opera house would help pay the expenses of operation. Architect J. R. White drew up the plans to provide for 1,000 seats. A 28 X 28 foot stage was located at the north end. The gallery in the balcony was 50 feet deep and seated 350 people. The drill hall was 90 X 43 feet and seated 450 people in moveable opera chairs. Two parlors back of this room were partitioned off by roll doors which could be opened to increase the seating capacity another 200 people. The fire escape from the balcony was attached at the two large windows, with iron stairs leading to the entry way roof. Iron ladders attached to each side provided access to ground level.

This building was located on lots just east of the Northwestern Felt Shoe building. The address was 733 Second Street. Frank E. Willson offered to loan the opera chairs from the Willson Opera House until the company was able to furnish the place with their own chairs.

The November 7, 1905, Freeman-Tribune reported that the Armory and Opera House Company had incorporated at the office of Capt. N. P. Hyatt at a capitalization of $15,000. The shares were sold at $10.00 per share. The board of directors elected were: J. L. Kamrar, Frank E. Willson, H. I.Thompson, J. R. White, N. P. Hyatt, George M. Teed, and Frank J. Lund. Officers of the corporation were: N. P. Hyatt, President; G. M. Teed, Vice-President; Frank J. Lund, Secretary; and J. L. Kamrar, Treasurer.

The Iowa National Guard agreed to provide $600 per year if a 40-yard rifle range was built into the basement. C. E. Atkinson was the successful bidder on the construction contract.

Captain Hyatt assumed management of the opera house and started making bookings on March 13, 1906. The June 30, 1906, Freeman-Tribune reported that the stage scenery with a value of $1,000, was being purchased from the Twin City Scenic Company of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was noted that the larger traveling companies require a great deal of scenery.

The armory opening was held on Tuesday evening, June 12, 1906. Governor Cummins delivered the dedication address. The Fifty-sixth Regimental Band provided the music for the program and for the ball that followed. Tickets for the dedication were sold for $2.50 per couple and fifty cents for each additional lady.

All went well for the armory and opera house until March 3, 1919, when the National Guard Adjutant General notified the community that the National Guard planned to abandon the armory and end its financial support. The reason given was that the War Department ruled that when the National Guard units are mustered out, the unit ceases to exist. The state had been paying Webster City $1,050 a year in support. By this time, the need for the opera house decreased as two motion picture theaters attracted the customers. C. E. Atkinson, President of the Armory and Opera House Corporation, reported that the building could be sold to some business.

A week later, the editor suggested that the building be used as a community house to serve as a gymnasium, club house, etc. for the young people. He further suggested that maybe Kendall Young Library might purchase the building for the city. The Chamber of Commerce was also suggested as a possible buyer. The city helped use the structure as a basketball court and for other exercise purposes for a time. On January 30, 1920, the Webster City Armory and Opera House Corporation was dissolved. On August 3, 1923, the building was purchased by W. N. Merrill, owner of the Willson Hotel. He in turn sold it to the Northwestern Building Company on November 24, 1923. It was then used to expand the Northwestern Felt Shoe business.