The Republican journal., 1897-04-01
The Belfast Savings Bank.

The Belfast Savings Bank succeeded the
Bank of Commerce, which began business
here July 1, 1854, with capital stock ot
$4,000. In October, 1868, after the national
system superseded State institutions, the
affairs of this bank were brought to a close
and the Belfast Savings Bank, which was in
corporated April 1868, took it's place, under
the charge of Asa Faunce, John G. Brooks
William o. Poor, Charles B. Hazeltine and
Nathan f. Houston, trustees. Mr. Faunce
was the president and held the office until
1888, when he was succeeded by Nathan F.
Houston. John II. Quimby, who had been
cashier of the Bank of Commerce for the
four years preceding, has been the treasurer
since the organization; and since 1888 he has
been assisted by his son, W. H. Quimby
The present trustees are Nathan f. Houston
John G. Brooks, Charles B. Hazeltine, Ed
ward johnson, VIM. M. Woods.
The first banking-room was that of the
Bank OF Commerce over Furber & Bean s
store (now j. w. Ferguson & Coz which
was exchanged in June, 1874, for the pres
ent commodious quarters at the corner OF
Main and Church streets. The bank has
never missed a dividend since it first opened
its doors, having declared to date 81 semi
annual dividends. Its deposits to-day
amount to nearly 81 100000.
In December last series of improvements
were begun which included the exterior and
Interior of the building and the remodeling
and strengthing of the vault to meet modern
Tbo
same crew that later built the vault in the
Belfast National Bank, and the construction
was by the York Safe & Lock Co., of York
Pa The old vault, of steel and iron, was
retained, but was given double interlock-
ed casing of steel rails, 5 IA inches thick
Eolted and laid in cement This casing
weighs q 100 pounds. Outside of this a
brick wall, 20 to "a inches thick, entirely
surrounds the vault, with the same thick
ness on top. The outside finish is in white
tiles laid in cement, with ornamental cornice.
The new work included a vestibule with the
latest improvements in doors and locks
The vestibule and doors weigh 26, 400 pounds
Tie vestibule door has an automatic bolt
work which locks and unlocks by triple
movement time-lock. The outer door is
8 81 inches thick and shuts into an air-tight
packing, thus rendering the vault proof
against the use of dynamite or nitro gycer-
inc. The inside doors are double, inches
thick, with double movement tme-lock
The lock work is by Sargent & Greenleaf
and the automatic bolt work Of Barton &
Harris device, and the structure as whole
is a marvel of mechanism and triumph of
human ingenuity. 1t is as great contrast
to the old-time "safe" as the electric light is
to a tallow dip or Washington hand press
to one of Hoes latest perfectng presses
The changes in the building included
moving the entrance from Main to the cor
ner of Main and Church streets, where in
door of oak with large plate glass panel
aud She word Bank ground in the glass
Granite posts are on each side of tho en-
rance and tiles are set around the door
frame. The Main streeG side has three large
pale glass stNdows which with the one on
Church :, afford ample light All the
windows -It fitted with new shades of ter
ia Gotta color. The old cellar windows on
T. e. front We're removed and the space filled
with ornamental brick work. The interior
was entirely remodeled. The counter and
railing We're moved at right angles to their
former positions, so that the cashier at his
desk faces the entrance as before. The
Walnscoting and finish is of oak, the walls
ara tinted, and overhead is an ornate steel
ceiling. The entrance to the directors room
is protected by a grating and door con-
t-oled by the cashier, and at the end of the
.l4-sage are two desks for the use of custom
"rs VII" may wish to clip coupons or ex-
anime their securities. The directors room
is finished and wainscoted in walnut, and
white tiles have been set around the open
CRATE. The floor of the public space and of
the passage to the directors room are laid
in mosaic tiles from the Mosaic Tile Co. of
Boston. There are new and ornamental
gas fixtures, with a Welsbach burner in
front of the vault to light the interior on
dark days. A new steam heating appara-
ing room and the offices above, and brick
vault constructed in the cellar for the
storage of books, etc. Nothing is want
ing IN the line OF convenience or COM
fort, and the interior is very attractive as
well. The Improvements were planned and
carried out under the direction of Cashier
OuiInhv