Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-12
OF MARBLE AND BRONZE
NEW HOME OF NATIONAL ME.
TRoPoLITAN BANK.
To Be Opened for Business Monday
Morning Next, With Appro-
pirate Ceremony:

! On Monday porning next the National
Metropolitan Bank will begin to carry on
Its business in its new home on 10Th street
opposite the Treasury Department. To-
day its doors were open as usual in the
banking house adjoining the new build
ing. In the removal. however, the insti-
tuition will be coming back to its old home,
using that word only to apply to the loca-
| ton. For when the handsome new build
ing which the bank has just completed
for its use was designed and its erection
begun. 1T was necessary to move from the
site of building which had been the home
of the bank for seventy years past
In the early days this bank was known
as the Bank of the Metropolis, and as
such occupied a commanding position in
this community. and was also a potent
factor in national finances. 1t is quite
appare mt that it has lost none of its vigor
on account of years. and now midst the
attractive surroundings OF modern
building. and with all the facilities which
a business of the magnitude and impor-
| lance carried on by this institution has
assumed, it will be possible for it, not
only to maintain the place it has gained,
| but to expand its area of influence.
For months past, or since the scaffod-
| ing has been removed. the exterior of this
building has been generally admired The
material used is pure white marble and
its superb quality as building material
has been enhanced by the graceful and
effe ctual architecture treatment, the work
of Gordon, Tracy & Swartout, architects,
| of New York city, and B. Stanley Sim
| MONS associated, of this city. On level
with the street there are the great arches
| which mark the openings to the entrance
to the offices. which are found on the
upper floors, and the entrance to the
banking room itself and also the windows.
Then comes the splendid pillows of white
marble which stretches across the front
of the logia. Upon these pillows rest the
third section Of the front, which in the
architectural scheme of treatment, is call
ed the attic story.
Counting Room a Feature.
But what will interest the friends and
patrons of the bank when they visit that
institution Monday in response to the spe-
cial invitations which have been sent out
by the officers and directors of the bank
will be the counting room of the bank
This is approached from the street by
broad entrance hall, which is protected at
both ends by swinging doors of bronze
filled in with glass. On each side of the
entrance hall are speciouS rooms, that on
the north side being set aside for the use
of the lady customers Of the bank while
the one on the opposite side is the Office
of the president and the cashier.
All the central space in the great room
where the business of the bank will be
carried on is for the use of the patrons of
the institution, and the tellers and other
employees of the bank are separated from
this space by screen, which is made en-
tirely of marble, the grill work in the
upper part being of bronze. The screen is
divided in panels by means of columns of
marble, the latter being a white beauti-
fully marked with veins of yelowish tone
The lower portion of the screen is of white
marble and both varieties are used in the
frame work of the upper portion
Massive pillows of green marble square
and sturdy, support the ceiling, which is
highly decorated in relief work and has q
rich tone of gold, which gives warmth to
the white marble so extensively used In
this great apartment In the center of the
ceiling is fine skylight filled with stained
glass of soft brilliant colors. There are
windows at both ends and also the
south side, so that the interior is well
lighted.
The whole interior of the bank has been
designed in the spirit of the best Roman
architecture, and every detail, even to
the smallest. has been carefully and thor
oughly carried out in this style, so that
as whole the National Metropolitan
Bank has quarters second to none in the
United States.
At the east end of the room is a great |
vault, the exterior walls of which are |
formed or massive BLOCKS OF stone of q |
light shade. These are simply the facing |
Of an inner wall made of boiler metal |
such as is used for protecting the side of
the warships. The mechanism of the door, |
as well as the entire construction of this !
vault, represent the latest and best type
Of work Of this sort.
Two Stories in Height.
The interior of the vault is fitted up
with safe deposit boxes, but this is really
only the upper story in the structure, for
in the basement is found another similar
room. so that the vault is really two
stories high, and therefore is amply large
in size to supply the needs of the bank
and it's patrons
In its history of almost one hundred
years 1t has had only seven presidents
and six cashiers. John w. Maury, who
succeeded Gen. Van Ness as president in
March, 1916. died in office, February, 1855;
Thomas Carberry, elected February 1865
died in Office, May. 1863; George Lowry
elected September, 1853, retired July 1865;
John B. Blake. elected in 1866, retired De-
cember 81, 1873; John w. Thompson, elect
ed February, 1874, retired June l, 1897,
upon the election of E. Southland Parker
Mr.. Parker came to the National Met
ropolitan Bank from the Columbia Ma
tional Bank of this city. He is a ma
tive of Pennsylvania, and has been in
the banking business since 1865, when he
organised tn firm of Parker * Co. of
Mif1intown. He came to Washington in |
1ch OF ~, IL. -