A New Pittsburg Bank Home
From the cut of the architect’s
drawing of the new home of The First State Bank, it will
be one of the most pleasing structures of the city. It
will have a frontage of 35 feet on Broadway and the main
banking room will extend 70 feet to the rear. Construction
of the entire front will be of Indiana limestone and
the design will be Roman Doric style, giving the structure
artistic strength and beauty. Four large columns with
caps and bases, will support a projecting cornice of
limestone and above this cornice, will extend a parapet
wall, giving the bank a 2-story effect.
The architectural design of the exterior will be carried
out in the banking room. The ceiling will be broken in
panels by beams of steel, with plaster run cornice work,
similar to side wall. These beams are supported off buttresses
at either side of the room, giving strength to the walls
and support to the beams. The main banking room will
be decorated in soft tones of oil to harmonize with the
wood trim. The ceilings will be in cream and the sidewalls
of blue and gray. The counter screen separating the public
from the banking space will be built up of polished marble
and bronze and the floor of the public space of terrazzo
with mosaic borders. Check desks of marble and glass
and seats will be placed in the space for the convenience
of the public while waiting.
Many Windows Provided
The lighting of the large banking room with the ceiling
approximately 21 feet in height will be by three large
windows at the front between the large stone columns,
and at the rear by three large high-up windows similar
to those at the front, so that at all times the working
force, as well as public, will have ample light even
on dark days. Whenever it will necessary to open the
bank at night, up-to-date artificial lighting will flood
the room with light. Hoggson Brothers, the Chicago and
New York builders, recognized bank planning experts of
the country, have given careful consideration to the
layout to insure the greatest facility and economy of
operation, while at the same time providing comfort and
conveniences to the bank’s patrons. The space allotted
for public use will be approximately fourteen feet wide
by 37 feet in depth, and at the rear, separating the
public from this space and the vault will be a heavy
steel grill, which will give protection without obstruction
the view of the massive round door and the well protected
vault. This door manufactured by the York Safe & Lock
Company, specially made for Hoggson Brothers for installation
in The First State Bank, represents the best that can
be provided, and is fire, burglar and fool proof. The
great door weighs ten tens and is so delicately adjusted
that a child can operate it in opening and closing it.
It is controlled by 24 open-hearth steel locking bolts,
each 11 inches in diameter, checked and governed by a
three-movement, 72 hour time clock and double combination
locks of the latest design, which can be changed and
made to operate on 5000 different combinations.
The Interior Plans
Entering the bank through a large vestibule at the front,
customers will find, on the left, quarters devoted to
the officers of the bank and conveniently arranged for
customers who wish to consult with them. At the right,
will be found a spacious room set aside for the exclusive
use of women patrons. It will be decorated in quite tones
of old ivory and tastefully furnished in mahogany. Passing
down through the public space they will find wickets
on either side, two at the left for notes and collections,
and on the right, four for receiving and paying tellers,
while the space in the rear fully equipped with all modern
appliances will be devoted to the bookkeepers and working
forees. Room has been provided for the safety deposit
department, with space for 7000 individual boxes. Commodious
storage space in the basement vault, for the convenience
of those who wish to store silverware and household valuables.
The new building with enlarged quarters will accommodate
the public to the best advantage. The exclusive new building
means a great deal to the city of Pittsburg and especially
to the block on with it will stand. It also testifies
to the growth and development of the community, which
made possible the erection of the bank’s new home. -
Pittsburg Daily Headlight, Oct. 19, 1917
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