Evening journal., 1908-09-09
new UNION BANK
FINE BUILDING
Combination Of Marble and
Bronze in Artistic
Harmony
MAY BE OCCUPIED SOON

The handsome new Union National
Bank building. at Eighth and Mar6et
streets, which viii be ready for oc-
cupancy within a week, after the Mid
land Steel Company. Of Philadelphia,
shall have received the final shipment
Of bronze for the partition separating
the portion of the bank floor to be
used by the public and the office floor.
The metal was to have been received
on Saturday, but the shipment has
been unaccountably delayed. The bank
may be occupied next month.
The work on the interior has, never
theless, proceeded so far to completion
that some idea Of the beauty of the
building may even now be obtained.
Nothing has been stinted in making
this Wilmington's most handsome
bank building and with rare apprecia-
ton, finance has co-operated with art
in presenting this prize among VIII
mington's buildings, and one Of the
prettiest banks in the country.
A general view Of the interior shows
a decided departure from the gloomy
atmosphere of the darkened bank in
teriors that were so popular until
within recent years. The effect is one
of whiteness, or of cream with a blend
Of gold, and the softer shades of the
primary and secondary colors. This
lightness of the walls and ceiling is
sombered toward the bank floor by the
bronze partition and the black border
Of Egyptian marble around the wains-
coting of white Italian marble. This
is the general effect; a particular ex-
animation discloses many touches of
gay decoration that help to make the
general view beautiful.
The bank floor is of Tennessee mar
BILE the only American marble used
for the purpose. The wainscoting of
white Italian marble continues around
the Eighth street walls and this gives
way in the part in which the bank en-
ployes will work to a wainscoting Of a
species Of oilcloth. Borders Of black
Egyptian marble wherever the white
marble is placed give a striking con-
trast.
The bright coloring Of the ceiling
and walls is made to appear all the
lighter by light from the huge win
dows on the Eighth street side. which
extended almost the height Of the
building. Beautifully wrought mold
ing tinged with gold and the softer
shades Of green, blue and red does
much to make the effect enlivening.
on the south wall have been nodded
six huge panels in the plaster. and in
each OF these will be inserted a pic
nf rFt rTsI..-
panels have an effect Of bigness that
makes the interior seem much larger
than It really is. The panels and the
interior decorations are the work Of
the D'Asenzo studios, of Philadelphia.
Bronze has been used literally in the
bank, there being five small bronze
writing desks for the public, bronze
radiators, 27 bronze electric lights
along the marble and metal partition
and bronze counters and desks for the
clerks.
A large clock set in a handsome
molding Of plaster of paris at the west
end of the building and facing the
east entrance is one of the first OBJ
jects to attract attention on entering
This clock is set in a sort of balcony
which will be occupied by a division
or the banks employees.
on the left as entrance is made from
the Market street end of the building,
are the offices Of the president. vice.
president and cashier, each with a
flooring Of oak and with walnut
wainscoting and metal grating. The
partition between that part OF the
bank to be used by the public and that
by the bank clerks extends from east
to west along the interior, the bronze
grating resting on a wainscoting OF
Italian marble with its black border
of Egyptian marble. At the Eighth
street door this partition makes a
curve inward, forming a crescent, and
it is here where the receiving and pay
ing tellers' windows win be placed
Glass IS to form part Of this partition
and half of this has been put in POSI-
tion.
Leading from the offices of the presi-
dent, vice president and cashier a
beautiful staircase wholly of italian
marble with its border of black leads
to the directors room on what may be
termed second story, inasmuch as
there is no second floor over the main
interior. In this room Is a heavy
bronze chandelier said to have cost
$500. A fine colonial fire place Of plas-
ter of paris is surmounted by a large
clock. Just over the entrance to this
room and in a fine tiled toilet which
adjoins it there win be placed stained
glass twilights.
A glimpse into the basement Of the
handsome building shows a vacuum
which will be run by electricity and
which will clean the bank within halt
day and toilets and wardrobes for
the employees and shower baths.
The great steel vault, which extends
from the first floor TO the basement
has been entirely completed. II is the
work Of the Miller Vault and Safe
Company, of Baltimore.
The directors room is on a mezza-
nine floor. on the Market street front
and also is handsomely finished.