Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 57, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1917 — PUBLIC INSPECTS NEW BANK [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PUBLIC INSPECTS NEW BANK

Hundreds of People Visit New First National Home Saturday. The magnificent new home of the First National bank was thrown open for public inspection Saturday, and hundreds ,of people visited the

place to feast their eyes bn the wealth o f beauty and subst h nee therein. The building is not yet fully compl e t e d but near enough so that its full beauty mig h t be realized and adm i red.

And beauty was not the only thing considered in the construction, convenience and comfort being foremost at all times. The entire building is finished in marble and antique mahogany finished wood, which gives an immediate impression of strength and permanency, as well as beauty. The walls of the entire main floor are light gray stipple finished, with marble wainscoating and marble desks covered with heavy plate .glass for the use of customers. At the right of the front entrance is a small room for the use of the public, with public telephone therein. The cashier’s private office is at the left of the entrance and within easy access from the main lobby and counting room. The counting room is large and commodious and is separated from the main lobby by marble desk base surmounted by iron grill-work. Four service windows and desks make it possible to transact business with convenience and dispatch. This room is lighted by a mammoth sky-

light, in which is also placed a -large number of electric lights, thus giving equal light to the room from either natural or artificial sources. At the rear of the counting room is the vault, which contains the bank safe* filing cabinets and safety deposit boxes, the latter for the use of the bank’s customers. The vault is not the least of tho attractive features of the bank. The interior is 12x16 feet in size, the- first compartment being for the safety deposit boxes and the innermost compartment for the bank safe and filing cabinets. The two compartments' are separated by a nickeled-steel i grating. To the rear of the main room » I extends a lobby the entire length of ( the building,„and to the west of this area ladies’ rest room, two coupon' booths, toilets and a gentlemen’s rest room, also the stairway leading to the directors’ room on the second floor. All of these rooms are finished with stipple w’alls and antique 1 mahogany finished woodwork, and each contains electric lights, desk and chairs. One thing that caught the writer’s eye as being a little bit out of the ordinary in such places

and yet of*great convenience, is a sanitary drinking fountain in the lobby within easy access o.f the customers. Passing to the second floor, which extends only over the rear half of the building, «one enters the large directors’ room, which is tho last word in beauty and comfort. The room overlooks the counting room 'and main lobby, and beneath the ' window is a large marble box containing plants and vines of rare I beauty. The directors’ room is finished in the same style as the first ( floor, with mahogany furnishings and an antique finished fireplace , that gives the room every appear- : ance of warmth and cheer. ' Mere words are inadequate to describe this beautiful building, which ranks well with the banking houses of Indiana, and Rensselaer is indeed proud of, the institution, as well as the men who have been instrumental in its making.