Jersey City Times: The Jersey City Armory: Boss Hague’s Arena Where Liston, Ali, Future Olympians, Appeared

This is the tenth in a weekly series of essays on Jersey City’s illustrious sports history. It complements the Museum of Jersey City History’s current exhibit Legendary Arenas… and the Legends Who Performed There at the Apple Tree House (298 Academy Street). The exhibit is open to the public on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. until October 15.

by Peter Begans September 12, 2025

https://jcitytimes.com/the-jersey-city-armory-boss-hagues-arena-where-liston-ali-future-olympians-appeared/

The commodious Jersey City National Guard Armory on Montgomery Street was delivered in 1937, thanks to WPA funding, and quickly became a prime site for sports and grand public events.

Mayor Frank Hague, with substantial help from the Works Progress Administration, was able to replace the 4th Regiment Armory in 1937 with a breathtaking Beaux-Arts style facility on Montgomery Street between Summit and Jordan. Designed by chief architect General Hugh A. Kelly of the Jersey City firm Kelly and Gruzen, the facility would house the Army National Guard 2nd Battalion of the 113th Infantry. 

Designed by chief architect General Hugh A. Kelly of the Jersey City firm Kelly and Gruzen, the facility would house the Army National Guard 2nd Battalion of the 113th Infantry.

“Imposing” best describes the building. “Jersey City [Armory] is huge, because Frank Hague delivered the votes for FDR, and in return he got the biggest armory in the state,” said Joe Bilby, New Jersey National Guard historian. 

The commodious interior quickly became the site for grand public events. It was here that Hague and his successors held giant fundraising dinners to fill the Democratic Party’s coffers and flex their political muscles. Hague would also hold his massive Americanization Day rally here on January 6,1938, to root out Communist influence in industry and labor. More than half a century later, in 2004, the Armory also served as the cathedral-like setting for the funeral of Glenn Cunningham, a police captain and the city’s first Black mayor. 

Like its predecessor, the new Armory quickly became a prime sports venue. For generations, its oval would be the site of indoor track-and-field championships ― city, county, state, and CYO. Future Olympians like Andy Stanfield and Charlie Mays first came to fame here as stars on the legendary Lincoln H.S. track team. Stanfield would go on to set the world record in the 200 meters on June 28, 1952.

Few facilities can rival the size and feel of the Jersey City Armory. (Courtesy of St. Peter’s Preparatory School)

The Armory was also home to the National Roller Derby League’s Jersey Jolters from 1949 through 1953.  The Jolters competed against the top teams in Roller Derby: The New York Chiefs, the Brooklyn Red Devils, the Philadelphia Panthers, the Washington-Baltimore Jets, and the Chicago Westerners.  Television boosted Roller Derby’s popularity.  WPIX-TV (channel 11) televised matches from the Jersey City Armory where the New York Times reported that a crowd of 3,600 watched the Jolters defeat Chiefs on October 15, 1950.   

The Jolters fielded both men’s and women’s squads, but most of the attention focused on female skaters like Peggy Schwartz of West New York. Men’s coach Carl (Moose) Payne had this to say: “Roller Derby girls are plenty tough. I’d skate against 11 boys rather than five girls any day. Women fight a whole lot harder than men.” Numerous boxing matches have taken place under the Armory’s cavernous ceiling. As Jersey City native Jimmy “The Cat” Dupree ascended the light-heavyweight rankings, he fought a crucial match here on October 1, 1969, against Eddie “Bossman” Jones. Dupree dominated the fight, cutting Jones’s right eye, and the referee put a stop to the match in the 10th round. Two years later, Dupree would become the North America Light Heavyweight Champion by beating Ray White in California. 

On another memorable evening, June 29, 1970, former world heavyweight champ Sonny Liston faced off against Hudson County favorite Chuck Wepner before 4,012 Armory fans. The fight went nine rounds before the referee, and the ringside doctors stopped the carnage. Wepner, who became known as “The Bayonne Bleeder,” had cuts over both eyes that took 72 stitches to close.

Five years later, Wepner would give heavyweight champ Muhammed Ali all he could handle before again losing in bloody fashion. But it was his heroic determination to keep fighting that would inspire Sylvester Stallone and Hollywood to create the movie, Rocky. The 1970 Armory battle with Wepner would be Sonny Liston’s last fight. He would be found dead under mysterious circumstances six months later. 

Ali himself would pay a memorable visit to the Armory on June 29, 1979. The three-time heavyweight champ, now-retired, would square-off against NJ Governor Brendan Byrne and Jersey City Mayor Thomas Smith to raise money for the financially struggling Jersey City Medical Center. Unlike the governor, Mayor Smith took the event seriously. He trained for months and brought the fight to Ali for the allotted time.  

In 1979, Muhammad Ali squared-off against NJ Governor Brendan Byrne and Jersey City Mayor Thomas F.X. Smith to raise money for the financially struggling Jersey City Medical Center. Unlike the governor, Smith trained for months and took the fight to Ali, which the former champ found surprising.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Armory hosted numerous pro wrestling cards featuring the biggest names of their day: Antonino Rocca, Bobo Brazil, “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers, and the Fabulous Kangaroos.  On March 12, 1960, Johnny Valentine would wrestle an up-and-comer named Bruno Sammartino who had family connections to Jersey City. “Johnny has displayed his facial and theatrical antics against the top men in the grunt-and-groan business,” previewed the Jersey Journal, “and he promises to be at his best for the muscle-bound Bruno.” Sammartino won anyway on his way to the world title several years later. 

Over the years, the massive space has hosted  other unusual competitions, such as indoor semi-pro football which failed to catch on.  Perhaps no Armory event was as hotly contested as 1949’s Build Better Babies Exposition, sponsored by the Hudson County Junior Chamber of Commerce.  With the post-war Baby Boom in full swing, hundreds of residents wanted their new bundles of joy to be named the county’s healthiest and prettiest babies.  The business community, assisted by the county medical society and the staff of the world-famous Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital, all contributed prizes and lent support during the 4-day health fair, assuring that all contestants went home winners. 

Of course, few besides the proud parents paid much attention, because the Build Better Babies contest coincided with Election Day, November 8, 1949. Mayor John V.  Kenny was able to produce a 20,000-vote plurality in Jersey City for the Republican gubernatorial candidate, thoroughly embarrassing Frank Hague who was still Democratic boss. Kenny proved without question that he was the new boss in Hudson County. Hague, who had built both the hospital that had delivered those healthy babies and the Armory where they had competed in their first beauty contest, had to admit he was finally finished.  

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Peter Begans

Peter Begans is the curator of MJCH’s Legendary Arenas… and the Legends Who Performed There. He was born and raised in Jersey City and has had a long career as a teacher, journalist, speechwriter and public affairs representative.