The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-11-20
MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK.
1t Openened Its Doors For
Business On Tuesday
= Morning.
The Finest And Best Equipped
Banking House in Gen.
trail Minnesota.

IL al NliIll0ooSo-
On tie prominent and conspicuous
corner of Main and Third-st. there has
been erected during the past summer,
one of the most beautiful and attrac.
tive business buildings to be found in
the State of Minnesota outside the
greater cities, and in point of excsllen-
CIV of construction and elegance OF fin
ish it is not surpassed even in such
cities.
The building is 26x6O feet, two full
stories above a high and light base
ment, built of Menomonie pressed
brick and Portage Entry red sand
stone, the combination being artistic
ally handsome and imposing. The
main entrance is a handsome stone
arch, hanked on either side with q
polished granite column. The water
table, window stills and linteIs are Of
sandstone. Large windows of plate
glass on the west and south fronts food
the interior of the banking Office or
the first floor, and the rooms on the
second floor, with abundance of light
On the corner of the first floor is the
prssident's Office commanding com
prehensive view of both Third anG
Main-st s.-the entire business center
of the town. The sky line of the build.
ing is broken with stone COPIED pilas'
ters. the effect being peculiarly agree
able to the eye.
The plan of the building is oy
Omeyer & Thori, the well-knewn ST.
Paul architects who have to their
credit most of tie finest buildings in
the city. The brick and stone work
was done under contract by F. A.
Pangburn, and "Dock," always first
class, took special pains and pride in
this building, which will ever stand a
monument to his skill and conscier-
tious fulfillment of contract. "From
turret to foundation" not a feature
has been neg lected nor sighted, and
every detail has been executed with
consunmate care.
The basement is divided into two
{. business rooms, the corner fitted and
furnished with special reference to use
as telegraph Office, and the other a
barber shop and is fitted with bath
roo ms. Both rooms are light, airy
and attractive. In the rear of the
barber shop is the heating plant, Goa
bin and storage room.
The first or main floor will be useG
exclusively for banking purposes and
is model of elegance and conven-
fence. The vestibule and corridor
along the north side is foored with
small tile in mosai, the words: "Mer
chants National Bank" being brought
out in color. The ceiling is of steel O.
rich design, and the walls are warmly
tinted in light shades of pink and gray
The mural deco, ations and painting
are by George Diebel, and certainly
he has occasion to be profoundly
proud of the results. There is har.
monious beauty and delicacy in the
general effect which is in perfect con.
sonance with the dimensions of the
room.
The furniture of the bank was made
by the PhEnix Furniture Company OF
Eau Claire, Wis, and is as beautiful
in design as in finish. 1t is in perfect
harmony with the wood work, which
is of white oak with piano finish in the
natural grain. The paneled counter
corresponds with the heavy wainscot.
ting, and both have Tennessee marble
baseboards. The counter is surmouns
ed with uanels of beveled Clipped glass
and the openings are grilled with old
copper. The floor of the working
room, behind the counter is of narrow
maple. In furnishings, the bank is
supplied with every possible appliance
for the convenient and exdeditisus
trans action of business. Its heavy
vault door is in silver finish. Within
the vault is burglar proof safe OF the
latest design, with krupp-gun screw
breech, 13-inch door, and is filed with
triple time locks. 1t is impregnable
to attack of any kind, as there is nc
possible lodgament for explosives, and
it defies every tool known to the burg
lar. The rear Of the vault is provided
with safety deposit boxes for the CON
venience of customers. In the rear II
the directors room, which will be I'm
ished and furnishedto correspond with
the banking Office.
Taken as a whole it is all that the
architects skill I'd the expert artisan
could provide. The wood work wa:
, made and finished by b. P. Suck