Morris tribune., 1882-08-03
SUBSTANTIAL, ELEGANT.
DURABLE.
The New and Commodious
Edifice,
The ''STEVENS COUNTY
BANK"
One Of the Best IN the State.

Now that the new "Stevens County
Bank" building is about completed, de.
scription of this substantial, imposing and
attractive brick-Ilock, the first Of the kind
erected in the village, will doubtless prove
of interest, not only to our resident, but
also to those of our readers outside of the
village and county. The structure is sub
stantial throughout, material has not been
stinted nor expense spared to make the
building strong and durable, as well as
commodious, convenient and attractive.
1t is indeed model structure, creditable
alike the 10 enterprising corporation, the
Stevens County Bank, who own and occu-
py it; to the architect and builder, Mr. F.
A. Chapman, who designed and who SUI
perlntended its construction, and also to
the village which it b, autifies and adorns.
But for the descriptions: The foundation
of this edfice is evidently designed to
withstand the lapse of time and devastat-
ing influence of seasons, as it is founded
on rock, or rather large number of
them. The stone wall, from four and a
half to five feet in height or depth. and
upwards of two feet in thickness, forms
the basis of the superstructurc; it is of
solid masonry and was put down below
the frost line while the ground was frozen
so that there would be no danger from this
source, such as heaving or cracking.
THE WALLS
of the main building are of cream brick,
and are of the following thickness: First
story, fourteen inches with a hollow or
dead air space of two inches, the second
story walls being eight inches and solid
The first story is twelve feet and the second
ten in the clear, a thirty inch fire wall pro.
jecting above the tin roof.
THE FRONT
of the building is imposing and decidedly
attractive. kasota stone trimmings cap
the basement or foundation walls, from
this two pilasters of St. Louis pressed brick
and two iron columns extend, forming the
window and door openings. above which
is a neat and tasty cernice Gaping and
finishing the exterior of the first story.
The second story front is of the St. Louis
pressed brick also, windows with stills of
Kasota stone, and caps and betting of gal
vanized iron, and the whole surmounted
by massive and lastly ornamentcd iron
cornice, on which, in raised letters, are the
words, "Stevens County Bank" and also
the year, "i8S2." The wood and iron
work of the front is finished in very
attractive and pleasing style, being sanded
OF sand painted in imitation of the other
trimmings. The whole front, nearly for
ty feet in height, presents very attractive
appearance, and is strikingly so because OF
the tastefulness of design and finish, and
neat and durable workmanship. One OF
the most striking features of the front is
the large
POLISHED PLATE GLASS WINDOWS,
the two largest lights being nine by five
and one half feet in size, and all over three
eghts of an inch thick. The back and
front windows, up stairs and down, are all
one light of plate glass in each sash, and
add materially to the appearance of the
building.
THE BANKING ROOM
Oh the first floor is a model of elegance
and convenience, and is pronounced by
visitors to be equal to any outside the
cities, and, indeed, surpassed by few il
the state. The lofty and brilliant white
walls give an appearance of GOODNESS anG
comfort, and contrast we'll with the heavy
massive and elegantly polished black wal
nut counters. The counters cross the
front and extend down the side of the
building to half petition of the same
material which divides the main from the
outer office, thus leayinga wide space in
front and broad isle at the side for the
accommodation and convenience of the
public. The ventilation of the room is
provided for by a ventilating flue extend
ing in the wall from floor to roof, while
the large windows front and rear give a
flood of light, abundant but not the least
trying.
THE COUNTERS
are simply elegant, they are upwards of
eight feet in height and are of q new and
entirely original pattern, especially de.
signed and manufactured by the contract
or, MIR. Chapman, for this building. They
reflect credit on his taste as an architect
and mechanic, and are piece of work
manship that merit and deserve the lavish
praise bestowed. The lower portions of
the counters are divided into panels by
pilasters under the several openings, each
panel having G handsome vcneered centre.
piece, The upper part has three openings
into which doors are fitted SO that they
may be closed after banking hours. The
panels here are to be of embossed glass
and will surmount the desks from front TO
rear, over the entire fifty feet of counters
The walls are wainscoated with pine, fin.
ished in natural colors and walnut
trimmed, and right here We might say
that the plastering, the work of james
Flynn, is the best we have seen in this
county, and is highly praised as it deserves
to be.
On the right of the door tasty walnut
bracket-desk is placed for the convenience
OF the patrons of the establishment and is
q counterpart in miniature of the large desk
which adorns the north wall of the bank
inside the counters.
INSIDE THE COUNTERS
is the working department, large, roomy
and wonderfully convenient apartment
fitted and equipped in splendid style; there
are about forty feet of drawers and closets
and over fifty feet of desk room. All in
side, as out, is walnut and the finish
is to be the same, solid, tasty, and elegant
The closets, too numerous to count, arr
all shelved, and with the drawers are fol
Al.