Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-11-12

Thc New Wilmington and Brandy
wine Bank Building Opened for

. j I
-
Thc Now Wilmington and srandys
wine Bank Building Opened for
Businesss
Friday the National Bank of Whining
ton 4 Brandywine, which for some time
| past has been occupying temporary quarters
at Second and Shipley streets, in the rcar
| portion OF its main building while extensive
| repairs were being made TO the bank proper,
was moved back to the main building,
which was Saturday morning thrown open
for business and public inspection. LII
| addition to the patrons OF tho bank, large
number Of people awaited themselves OF u
| general invitation extended by the direc-
tors, and passed u pleasant hour In looking
| through the rejuyenated quarters.
In the extensive improvements just COM
| pleted, the two objects sought to be attained
/ were beauty and utility, and how well they
i were accomplished hundreds Of people can
| now testify. The banking room Is certainly
| u marvel OF taste, elegance and convent
enee. The floor Is tiled and the walls for u
distance of 8 feet from the floor are vain
| scoted in cherry, of which wood all tho
| furniture Is also constructed. The balance
| OF the walls and ceiling are beautifully
| frescoed, the lending colors being drab and
blue, artistically blended, and arranged
| in tasteful and artistic designs. 1t
| was executed by Lorenzo O. Scattaglia, an
| italian artist of Philadelphia. In the for
| ward part of the room the ceiling Is formed
| by the second floor, but at the rear part the
second floor has been removed and the
| walls extend clear to the third foor,produc-
/ ing a splendid effect, showing off the fres-
Il Going and other ornamentations to the best
| advantage, and giving to the entire apart
i ment an unusually imposing appearance.
| Communication with the rooms on the
i second floor front Is made by an elegant
| cherry stairway at the extreme rear, and an
iron balcony extending along the south
| wall.
The arrangements of the banking room
are as complete and convenient as they are
beautiful. Tho paying tellers division is
nearest the door and, by the means of
bronze wire screens, he is partitioned of
entirely to himself. He will be expected to
| remain on duty continuously, from the
| opening to the closing of the bank, and the
| other officials having no access to his apart
ment, his responsibility will be undivided,
and he will not BIO interfered with in
the discharge Of his duties. In one corner
of his 'cage" is neat little marble lav9-
tory and towel holder. Next comes the
receiving teller's apartment, exactly similar
and to whom the same regulations will
apply. Following In regular order are the
desks of the book-keeper, the discount
window and the window ut which dividends
are paid. The latter is u most ingenious
and convenient arrangement. Under
the window inside, is desk
shelf, on which the dividend receipt
book will be placed. The entire upper part
OF the partition can be swung around on q
pivot, conveying the shelf, with its book.
pen and ink, to the outside and when the
stakeholder signs his receipt it is swung
back again and he receives his check through
| the window. This convenient device was
suggested and executed by the Jackson d
sharp Company, who did all OF the wood
| work.
Next comes the cashiers room, with
cherry desk and furniture, and neatly car
| peted. At the rear of this room is the
entrance to the Mammoth Hall satety-lock
bank vault, just put in at u cost of between
$4,000 and $4,000. The vault Is absolutely
fire. and burglar-proof. The wall com
, prises four layers of burglar-proof, COM
posed of chrome, steel and iron, making
| Ii inches in thickness; outside of this q
: covering of flre-proof adds security against
fire, and the whole is surrounded by iron
/ plate one-quarter inch thick. The front
, portion of the vault is used for the bank
funds, while the rear, separated by an
iron grating, is occupied by 1876 de-
post boxes, which will be rented
to customers. The lock OF each
box is so arranged that while
the renter holds the key, the he can
not open the box except with the mid of a
| master-key, kept by the cashier, which
| | however, will do no more than put the lock
In shape to be opened by the renters key
; Alongside of tho vault and In the rear Of
) the cashiers apartment is the presidents
room, beautifully carpeted, and furnished
with Derby desk and Office chariot cherry
+ wood. The lighting of the entire floor will
be accomplished by elegant bronze gas
fixtures, furnished by Thackera II Son o.
Philadelphia, and fitted by Gawthrop 4
Brother of this city. The latter also at
tended to the plumbing and steam heating
work. An elegant Newell post at thu
sNnf., a., BOD hxr,
!. four-j jet gas fixture OF old gold and bronze
a The stairway was erected by Henry Evan
!, of this city. The windows along tho soutl
:, wall afford ample light during the day.
There are but two rooms on the SECOND
u floor. The rear room will be supplied will
Q chairs and tables and given to the use o
n box renters who desire to examine thei
i, securities in private, and the front apart
4 ment is the directors room, with marble
mantel and elegant furniture. Both ar
q handsomely carpeted and the walls am
u ceilings have been beautifully papered b
3 Ball Il Company in their uncOmpnrab
b artistic manner. On the third floor are flv
b apartments, which will be used principal
q as store-rooms.
i. In the back part of the basement is
q thoroughly nre-proof vault, In which tn
business books OF the bank dating bnck +
i its organization in 1910, will be kept.
3 portion of this vault will also be rented 10
l. the storage of valuables. The steam heat
X ing and ventilating arrangements, tn
latter being unusually complete and salts
rs factory, are also located in the basement
4, A portion of the floor is covered with tn
- thing taking from the old banking room.
The rear portion of the building, in whic
81 the bank was temporarily located while th
improvements were in progress, comprise
er two stores, each 20 feet front, 20 feet dee
D. and three stories high. The bank proper
n. 22x77 feet, but the square from Market
/ 10 ah Inv IA
r, building. The pavement on SIMPLE,
u u Second and Market is of North river ilal
re ging, an improvement that will be enjoyt
IL and appreciated by the public. 1t was lal
ed by Charles Smith, while the other ston
work of the building and the thing WI
Tr done by Davidson & Brother. The stor
N, will be rented.
~ External alterations, the principal oil
AT being the substitution of q neat iron corni
Vn for the heavy wooden one heretofore use
ne have also been made, with the design
as removing entirely the dwelling-hou
IN. appearance that the building forr
az erly presented on Second stree
~ The walls were also painted. Graha
I. & Son were the architects of d
ss' entire improvement. Robert McCaull
re- did the plastering, and the details OF
nd the work were superintendent by August
ar Croft. One important arrangement is t
en running of burglar alarm wires in all {
vo walls to be connected with the police alan
vi, at the city hall. When tho connections a
~ made, any one in the bank can, by siml
~ pressing button, summon police assistan
me at any time,
the The entire improvements cost in t
life neighborhood of 100000, and are cree
to the city, as well ms the bank. Much
in | the credit for the completeness Of tho We
mt is due Washington Jones, president of
N. bank, who gave it his unceasing persol
'he inspection from first TO last. In connect
lry with these beautiful modern improyemel
,er- il is n fact worthy of note that the Wilmil
ton and Brandywine bank has occupied
present location Second and Market stree