Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-04-28
Centennial Block.

thus place, and which as a banking
house is not surpassed, if equaled by
any other in the state.
DESCRIPTION OF CENTENNIAL BUILDING
The building has frontage of 5S
feet on the Square and is65 feet deep,
three stories in height with a flat roof
The foundation walls are q feet thick
and are built Of large heavy stone laid
IN cement mortar. The walls of the SUI
perstructure are 10 inches thick and are
built of the best hard bricks. All orn.
amentation is confined to the front which
Is laid with the best of face bricks and
trimmed with olive sand stone from
Pictou Quarries, Nova Scotia.
The first story of the front is divided
IN tn" center by two large piers, 10 feet
apart, giving an opening on either side
OF ~ feet inches between them and
the corner wall piers, Each Of these
piers is built of face bricks on granite
base, with intermediate stones and mould
ed cap of sand stone.
The openings between the piers are
each spanned by three heavy rolled iron
beams bolted together, covered with
boiler iron and capped with moulded
cornice of sand stone. Upon this starts
the wall for second and third stories
each story having double central win
dow, with three larger windows on either
side. Each window has moulded cap
and sill of sand stone and the wall
spaces between the windows have re-
cessed panels in brickwork and "saw-
tooth belt connecting the corbels.
The line of the third floor is marked
by a moulded projecting belt of sand
stone Over the third story window
caps runs an ornamental belt of brick
work, and from this rises the main cor
nice, the centre of which is marked by
a pediment ten feet wide and rising eight
feet above the roof over a semicircular
arch of sand stone. containing the word
/" CENTENNIAL" the title given to the
building. A horizontal cornice corbelled |
out in brickwork runs from each side of
the pediment to the corners, capped with |
a crown mould of iron and surmounted
with foliated cresting The pediment
and both corners are capped with mould.
ed pinnacles.
The main entrance to the building is
situated between the central piers. the
vestibule of which is ten feet wide by
seven feet deep-richly furnished with
black walnut and having a tiled floor
of black and white Vermont marble
on each side are double doors of black
walnut opening into banking room, main
stair case and store.
The interior of the building is divided
as follows The first story is twelve
feet high and is divided into two equal
tweuty-three feet wide by
sixty one feet long-by two twelve inch
brick walls seven feet apart, enclosing
The staircase to second story from the
vestilule.
The banking room, situated in north
ern portion, is twenty-three feet wide by
hirty-five feet long. 1t is finished in
black walnut and fitted up with counters,
Sc., OF the same material, manufactured
" the celebrated desk mandatory of
stephen Smith & Co., Boston. At the ,
ear Of this main room is situated the {
'ault, built on solid stone foundation
en- feet wide, thirteen feet long and ,
leven feet deep. The interior of vault &
SIX feet wide, eight feet long and seven
eet high, and it is built of stone, brick t
nd iron, every possible preeaution hav-
1g been taken to render it safe in every
aspect o
No pains have been spared in the de- a
gn and construction of the burglar L
nd fire proof vault, to make the same a
second to none. The bur +
lar proof welded iron and steel doors B
nd vestibule, are of the most perfect &
esign and workmanship, and very mas B
veand superiorin strength and finish +
any work of the kind in this section. +
aving outside and an inside door, each b
easuring nearly three inches thick and r
ted with bolt work of most perfect ID
sign and locked with the Damon Pa l.
Mt Combination Locks, having the &
ardy Patent Detachable Indicator L
ne door and vestibule were constructed vi
the American Steam Safe Co.. Bos. XII
n. and equal in every respect to any p
'rk constructed. The vestibule is also p.
divided with a very neatly designed day vi
or, to prevent persons not connected an
tn the bank from entering the vault fie
ring banking hours, when the heavy I'll
oE are generally opened. Vi
Back of and connected with the main Nj
1m by folding doors, is situated the tol
'ector's room, twenty feet long by ff. mi
N feet wide, also finished in black wal. As
and provided with open CRATE and w
frhla mantle Ifonra..l O