The 1913 First National Bank building (the first of three buildings that bear that name) is another little gem on Miner Street that is overshadowed by the ugly signs and renovations that it has accumulated over the years. But that pretty little building is still waiting to be rediscovered under all that junk.
First National Bank opened January 28, 1913 under the direction of Joseph L. Jefferson, with six charter members and $60,000 in resources. In this first year, it operated out of the Scott Insurance and Real Estate office on Miner Street. By June of the same year, plans were underway for a permanent home. An order was placed for a Terra Cotta facade from the Midland Terra Cotta company of Chicago, designed by an architect named Rowe. There were a pair of architect brothers in Park Ridge named Charles Barr Rowe and Lindley Phelps Rowe at the time, so it is likely they were responsible. Midland specialized in stock, off the shelf terra cotta, instead of only custom work; this building may be composed of such stock elements.
The building opened Saturday, December 6, 1913. It is a single-story white terra cotta building in the Beaux Arts style, typical of the then-popular City Beautiful movement. Built on the site of the Des Plaines Suburban Times' previous printing press, the shiny white temple must have really stood out in Des Plaines then, with its dirt streets and buildings of brick and frame. The building is exceptionally well-detailed, with fluted Roman Ionic columns placed in antis, a frieze reading FIRST NATIONAL BANK with paired consoles, with a dentilled cornice above topped by a toothed plaque reading 1913. Its storefront facade followed this classical theme, with belt courses and fancy iron work. I still have not found a picture of its original interior, but it probably looked similar to the Des Plaines State Bank building.
By the end of 1913, the initial $60,000 had already ballooned to $206,659. In 1916, the officers of the bank were: Joseph L. Jefferson, President; George M. Whitcomb, Vice-President; Charles Boesche, Vice-President; Glenn C. Tolin, Cashier. Directors were Harry T. Bennett, Henry Goede, Louis C. Spiegler, Charles Boesche, Dr. A. M. Purves, Arthur L. Webster, Ning Eley, W. L. Plew, and George W. Sykes.
In 1927, the bank expanded into the adjacent Gillespie Printery building (better known as Bremer's Stationers - the subject of an upcoming entry.) This was at the height of Des Plaines' roaring 20s growth spurt - the highways, Masonic Temple, Des Plaines Theatre, and new homes brought much more attention to Des Plaines. The older and larger Des Plaines State Bank was building its new marble building at the time. In 1937, the bank moved into the much larger, and by then vacant, second
Des Plaines State Bank building. At some point a neon sign was added over the frieze, starting the tradition of inappropriate signs.
Soon after, the Des Plaines Agency (Insurance) moved in. The building also started holding a second tenant - over the years Benjamin Electric's employment office, Singer Sewing Machine Repair, Dooley Real Estate, Ladendorf Real Estate, Lutheran General, Becker Roofing, Phillip Mizok, attorney, and more.
The Des Plaines Agency was replaced by the current tenant, Des Plaines Currency Exchange, in the mid-1960s. The frieze sign was changed again and an hourglass projecting neon sign was added. Some time later the upper window was covered by a mansard roof and another big panel sign, and the neon hourglass was replaced by a backlit plastic panel, leaving the eyesore we see now. Surprisingly, most of the original iron work still exists, altered to fit two doors instead of one.
How to rehab this building? First, the signs and mansard need to go. The building needs a good cleaning; it would be bright white again without discolored mortar. With the new casino coming, it is probably not best to have a Currency Exchange in the middle of downtown; maybe there is a less-conspicuous place for it. The building would be well-suited for a number of uses, especially across from the train station. It would make a good coffeeshop, sandwich shop - maybe even a nice little Greek restaurant! And remember, it attaches to the adjacent building, which adds more flexibility. The First National Bank building is another forgotten piece of history downtown with a lot of character and potential.
The building opened Saturday, December 6, 1913. It is a single-story white terra cotta building in the Beaux Arts style, typical of the then-popular City Beautiful movement. Built on the site of the Des Plaines Suburban Times' previous printing press, the shiny white temple must have really stood out in Des Plaines then, with its dirt streets and buildings of brick and frame. The building is exceptionally well-detailed, with fluted Roman Ionic columns placed in antis, a frieze reading FIRST NATIONAL BANK with paired consoles, with a dentilled cornice above topped by a toothed plaque reading 1913. Its storefront facade followed this classical theme, with belt courses and fancy iron work. I still have not found a picture of its original interior, but it probably looked similar to the Des Plaines State Bank building.
How about someone buys this place and makes it a bar. "The Bank" what a cool name that could be.
ReplyDeleteI agree this place needs to be rehabbed! The look of Currency Exchanges is cheap.. nothing to be proud of having. The original building is something to be proud of. Let's show it off.
ReplyDeleteAs a long time Des Plaines resident, I find it mildly amusing that there is a website devoted to saving historical buildings in Des Plaines.
ReplyDeleteI've personally witnessed the loss of the Dr. Earle house, and the Rand Mill and numerous farms and old elegant houses around the city. Somehow, Des Plaines seems to be interested only in condos. While I understand the 'tax base' mentality, I question the perspective Des Plaines has on 'history'. I also find it a little amusing that there is never a bigger picture as with other suburbs. Mount Prospect and Arlington Hts. look consistent in their 'downtown' appearance even though they've undergone extensive renovation. Des Plaines, however is a patchwork of 'put this here and put this there'. The Library looks like a 1940's Borg Warner building - the kind they're tearing down in Chicago or turning into lofts. Perhaps that will be the destiny of that building too.
Unfortunately, our history is speckled with bad decisions on the part of City Government and it is only through the hard work of the citizens of Des Plaines that we've managed to avert some of them. Take for instance the 14 million dollar fire house supposed to have been built on the corner of Everett and Lee. The city bought up the land and presented their wild-eyed plan of putting a huge fire house on a 2 lane SIDE STREET. In gobbling up the land for their agenda, they also tor down the Valiquet Saw building - another historical gem. Now the land sits vacant because the voters said NO! That time they listened, but the voters weren't so lucky with the library referendum. They voted overwhelmingly NO but the mayor disregarded the will of the people and went ahead with the plan anyway.
Revitalize Des Plaines? Perhaps it is time to revitalize the thinking to include BINDING referenda for the next 'big thing' the council tries to force down our throats.
Additionally, while the riverwalk is an admirable addition, perhaps Des plaines might be interested in actually RESTORING the River. It is afterall, our namesake. The DAMS on the river should be removed to allow an additional 4 feet of carrying capacity which the river is currently robbed of. Dredging is not the answer - dam removal is. Dam removal would g a long way toward cleaning up the river and stabilizing the banks so that people wouldn't need to fear falling in.
A bigger picture on what Des Plaines should/could be is what is sorely needed. But binding referenda to go with the plan. Failing that, we're doomed to a mish-mash of mismatch, bad decisions, afterthoughts, politics and greed.
It isn't the City that is trying to save the theater, it is the citizens. So it will be with any future endeavor to save history.
Yes, that's the point of this site.
Delete