"The building is brick on concrete foundation and with a
front of buff Bedford or colitic lime stone, rough faced
except at the openings.' The front is novel in that the
windows are very broad, and instead of a single large,
square window, there are two rectangular windows
separated by a massive stone lintel. This arrangement
permits the maximum floor space within the building and
yet gives the appearance of great thickness to the front
wall of the building. The building impresses one with
its solidity and permanency.
"The entrance is in the center of the
building and is guarded on either side by lanterns with
massive pedestals. On entering the building, one passes
into the loggia, floored with concrete and wainscotted
with stone, above which are broad plate glass windows
looking into the office on one side and the bank room on
the other. At the end of the loggia are the doors, one
into the bank room and one into Col. Smith's offices.
"Within the bank door is the bank lobby
surmounted by a very simple but attractive skylight
which affords light for the lobby and also for the bank
workroom. On the left of the lobby is a large bank
counter of simple, quiet design, in harmony with the
rest of the building. At the left of the bank counter in
the front of the building is the officers' desk, which,
is divided from the other part of the room by a railing.
At the right end of the bank counter' is a very heavy
and substantial vault, upon which much thought has
apparently been placed. In the arrangement of the vault,
its position and construction, the latest ideas for
protection and security have been sought and achieved.
The vault rests on very deep solid concrete foundation
and is constructed of concrete, reinforced with iron,
and so located that all sides of the vault are visible
both night, and day, and cannot be approached by
burglars without their being seen. Inside the vault is
one of the latest and best money chests that can be
found. This is provided with a triple time lock and with
formidable machinery which forces the outer door into
the safe so tightly that it will be impossible for the
safe to be opened by dynamite as is customary with
yeggmen and burglars. Inside this time locked door are
two other doors, equally as thick and in turn provided
with combination locks, so that a person outside the
bank desiring to reach the contents of the money chest
would have to force four separate doors before arriving
at his goal; first, to get into the bank, then to get
into the vault, then to get through the outer doors of
the safe and then through the inner doors. The vault
door besides being a massive structure is also further
protected by a day gate which closes automatically and
gives an alarm every time anyone moves it, so that it
will be impossible for sneak thieves or other persons to
enter the vault in the day time without the same being
known.
"Back of the bank room is the directors'
room furnished with solid, simple furniture in keeping
with the rest of the building. Anyone entering the
building is struck with the idea that the same is
conceived on a broad, substantial, yet very simple plan. |
"There are several unique features in this building due
to the fact that the same is designed for a special
purpose: one of these is the president's room which
commands a view of both the bank lobby and the real
estate side of the building; another is the use of stone
pillars to support the roof and which give one rather a
novel impression; another is the openness of the
building due' to the fact that in nearly every partition
are the horizontal windows which not only add to the
appearance of the rooms but give to them the effect of a
greater size than they in reality have. There is another
unique feature, and that is there is no basement in the
building, that instead of a basement is a thick coating
of cinders upon which is laid a concrete floor and on
top of this floor is what is known as monolith, being a
floor constructed similar to concrete cut made out of
sawdust and cement, and therefore being somewhat like
linoleum in its feeling, although firmer and more
durable.
"Leaving the president's room which is in
the middle of the rear of the building, one enters the
private office which was designed for and is to be
occupied by Mr. Ludington. This likewise commands a view
of the main office and at the same time is perhaps the
most private room in the building. Opening off Mr.
Ludington's room is the telephone and toilet room out of
which runs a commodious vault designed to protect from
fire the valuable papers belonging to Col. Smith's
business.
"In front of Mr. Ludington’s office is the
main office which many will think is the handsomest room
in the building. It is a large square room lighted by a
handsome skylight, and on three sides with windows
opening into other rooms of the building and commanding
a view in all three directions, and on the fourth side
is the magnificent bookcase filled with, the law
library.
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"In front on the office side is the agent's room which
is a large and light private office.
''One thing which strikes the observer is
the harmony in the color scheme: floors, walls, woodwork
and ceiling, while differing in degree are yet not a
difference in kind sufficient to form a marked contrast.
The furniture and trim of the building is all of the
same wood and of a similar finish, designed to fill the
requirement and at the same time give the least possible
surface for collecting dust. There are no arches,
curves, circles or crooks in either furniture or
building, as everything is built on the square. The
decoration of the walls has a quiet dignity. Up to a
height of seven feet, they are of a dull olive green,
above that of yellow sand color. The yellow idea is
further carried out in the fixtures which are of lemon
colored brass and which are perhaps only noticeable for
their simplicity. In fact, simplicity and strength are
the dominant characteristics of the building; and as it
is said to be true that persons partake of their
environment, it will apparently mean that the business
which is carried on and built up in this building will
have strength and durability which will be of
inestimable value in the community.
"There is another unique feature of the
building which has not been mentioned and that is the
fact that there is no rear entrance, all openings in the
rear being protected by strong gratings so that all
business must come through the front door; and while the
rear of most buildings is1anything but pleasing to look
at the First National Bank building is an exception to
this rule, for although it is plain brick, the design
shows the same characteristic thoroughness, solidity and
simplicity of treatment that is shown in the front of
the building.
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"One cannot leave the building without carrying with him
a picture of very beautiful furniture which is so in
harmony with the building itself it is easily recognized
as being the conception of the same mind as that which
designed the building. There is nothing ornate or
useless in the furnishings and although they were
designed strictly for usefulness, they have a beauty
which cannot but attract even the casual observer. In
both the bank lobby and the main room of Col. Smith's
offices are inviting seats provided with leather
cushions which make them as attractive in reality as
they appear. There is a smaller seat likewise in the
office of Col. Smith, and it is in this room that there
is a touch of luxury evidenced by a very comfortable
Morris chair standing by an open fireplace which latter
is so simple and unobtrusive that one hardly suspects
its true character at first glance. The Roman brick of
which the fireplace is constructed, and which in fact
covers the entire end of Col. Smith's room, adds a touch
to the color scheme not found in the other rooms of the
building.
"The building and furniture are after plans
and arrangements prepared by R. S. Ludington after
considerable study of the requirements of the business.
"Frank Lloyd Wright, of Chicago and Oak
Park, is the architect of the building and the designer
of the fixtures and furniture, and by his work he has
demonstrated his ability as a master architect who can
do things that are not only original but are also
practical and beautiful."
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| Published in the
Dwight Star and Herald, Feb. 3, 1906. |
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