The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-27

iVory-these shades and tlnts and lines,
together with a wealth of bronze, make a
color combination that will never cease
to delight the eye. The decorator sought
to use such co1ors as would soften the
light but at the same time not absorb
It and he has succeeded admirably.
Drinking Fountain.
In the main corridor is a drinking foun-
tain which will always be supplied with
pure ice water. It is artistic in design
and blends perfectly with the surround
ings. Also against the wall between two
plasters, stands an unique clock of ornate
style.
The presidents room and the directors
room are elegantly furnished and are fin
lshed in mahogany and decorated in
green, old ivory and gold.
There are two public entrances to the
bank. one from Twentieth street and one
from the lobby of the building There is
a private entrance on Second avenue. The
Twentieth street entrance is a work OF
art in itself. The outer doors are bronzed
grill of singulariy artistic design. The in
ner doors are of mahogany. The vestbule
is exceedingly rich in its decoration Of
Siena marble, Pompeian red and gold.
The ceiling Of this vestibule has a warm
treatment of gilded cornice work Twen-
ty-one electric lights drop from the vesti-
bule ceiling and the gorgeous effect at
night can readily be imagined.
Inception of Building Idea.
As far back as 1898 the officers and d.
recters of the First National bank felt
the need of larger and more modern quar-
ters. Several plans were discussed, but
it was not until December, 1901, that the
movement for new building began to
take definite shape On the 10th of De-
cember. 1901. through the efforts of DR..
Nabers, Robert Jemison and Major Tut
wiler, directors of the bank. an option
was secured on the Macdonald property
corner cf Second avenue and Twentieth
street, lG0xi00 feet. Later on an option
was secured on 40 feet of adjoining prop
erty on Twentieth street. This large
area, with buildings, 140xl00 feet was
purchased by the gentlemen named who
secured the options. together with Frs
kline Ramsay, w. ?. G. Harding, w. S.
Brown, w. II. Hassinger, d. M. Drennen.
Brown Brothers & Co., j. Ii. Barr and
w. w. Crawford. But after the prop
erty was acquired no further step was
made until August, 1902, when w. II.
Woodward became interested in the
building project. Mr.. Woodward, who
had just completed the Woodward build
ing, Birmingham's first steel frame struc-
ture, associated himself with the bank
men and organized a construction COM
pany.
Mr.. Exum's Good Work.
After the company was formed mat
terse We're delayed until December, 1902,
when Culpepper Exum agreed to UNDER
write $4,000 of the loan necessary to pro-
coed with the building. provided other
parties would underwrite the remainder.
Mr.. Exums public spirit put fresh spirit
into the enterprise, and the necessary
amount was soon subscribed by Mr..
Woodward, DIR. Nabers, Mr.. Jemison. Ma
jor Tutwiler, Mr. Hassinger, Mr. Hard
ing and others.
The work of construction began early
in 1903 without one dollar of foreign capt.
tai being invested or pledged.
The bank signed twenty-year lease
and the work was pushed to completion.
The architect. W. c. Weston, supervised
the construction and John Griffiths &
Sons. the noted builders of Chicago. had
the contract for the work The contrac-