Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-15

are the book racks, and in tho rear
is II steel larred door giving addi-
tional protection to the ten steel com.
partmcn,s in which are kept gold sill
We, currency and securities. Each
of these compartments is fitted with
regular safe combination.
Immediately in the rear of the
vault is consultation chamber.
Above this is Il smaller consultation
room and n toilet ,oom. In front
is gallery above the banking room,
which will be used rs II public recep.
ton hall
In the rear OF the basement are the
furnaces and boilers. supplying steam
heat ana hot and cold water for the
building. In front are II toilet ROOM
an elegantly fitted bath room and a
large .oom which will be used for
nothing in particular at present.
Interior Finishing.
The interior of the bank building
Is q one of charm and leauty. The
color scheme is II result of the artis
tic taste of MS. George a. Schmclz.
who spent great deal of time de-
signing and directing the painting and
decorating. The soft green coloring
of the walls forms most effective
background for the white marble col
umns and bronze trimmed counters.
The countc.s like The wainscoting
around the room. are of English vein.
white italian marble. resting upon a
dark green base of Vermont vcrd an
tiquc marble. Surmoun;lng the coun.
tcrs aic grills of beautiful cast
bronze.
The lark green color of the wall
grows lighter as it reaches the cell.
ing and loses itself in a handsome
cornicc OF old rcd old blue. dull ter
ra-cotta and bionzn colors.
Tho browning beauty of the interior
Is dome of colorcd glass. of softes.
greens and puppies. blended in axuuis
lite harmony Over Ill is thrown the
pale yellow glow Of amber side win
dows, giving Il rich and pleasing Of
feet
The bank inclincs TO handsome SIN,
nlicity, rather than garish display.
Schmelz Brothers.
Mcssrs. George A. and Henry l..
Schmclz, the members of the fi-m of
Schmelz Brothers. were born and
raised in Hampton whore they both
live now in handsome residences. |
Schmclz. Their father was success |
ful Hampton merchant. ana the sons |
wote prominent merchants up to the |
timc they embarked in the banking
business. The father died in 1881. |
and his widow passed away five years
later
Schmelz Brothers bank in Hamp-
ton was established on October ;. |
1885. and the business grew n flour. |
ished so rapidly that in 1891, the |
bank of Schmelz Brotheie in Newport
News was established. About four
Years ago the brothers bought the |
Bank of Hampton ana merged It with
their Hampton business. under the
name of the Bank of Hampton This |
is now one of the strongest institu.
tionsrn this section.
Interested Elsewhere.
In addition to their business here
and In Hampton. the Schmelz broth (
ers are Interested in banks in Nor
FOLK, Richmond and elsewhere. Both
are personally wealthy and their per-
sona worth furnishes security to de-
posters In addition to the money ac-
tually invested in the business.
The l'lsiness OF the Newport News
bank has grown stea lily from the he
ginning until the present time. The
institution employs larger office
force than other nnnk in lilo city. and
ioi some time has publicly claimed
TO have the largest deposits and to
be the strongest bank in the city,"