Evening journal., 1910-07-21
COLONIAL HOME
AS BANKING HOUSE
Delaware Trust Co., will Be-
gin Business on Monday in
Historic City Building
ONCE THE HOME OF
THOMAS F. BAYARD

The building of the Delaware Trust
Company, on the northeast corner of
Ninth and Market streets, which will
be formally opened as a banking
house on Monday, is of historical in
terest, both as the home Of former
Ambassador Thomas F. Bayard, and
as an excellent type Of the fine old
houses of Colonial Delaware. This
made it particularly desirable that It
should preserve its individuality, and
the Delaware Trust Company and
Architect William Draper Brinckle
have successfully solved the problem
of making over the fine old structure
TO meet the requirements of modern
banking house. without destroying its
architectural excellence.
The Colonial style has been kept IN
its purity throughout the interior
and exterior of the building, and the
result gives a sense of unity, hsr
mony, and completeness. The inter
ior finish in all the rooms is old ivory,
of sufficient Wilderness to add light
to the rooms. and with enough gray
quality 10 be restful to the eve. The
floor is in neutral. gray-green mono
lithic paving, with the entrances in
terrasina. The oak stairways, and the
heavy walnut furniture and fixtures
form a pleasing contrast to the light
walls.
The historical shades that perhaps
revisit the building will have much
to make them feel az home, for the
older woodwork has b en- used as far
as possible. Modern ories do not
turn out as beautiful or substantial
mouldings and stair-rails as were I'm
place in the old building. The spin
dies of the stair-railings have always
been greatly admired by Wilmington
artists. The old Bayard doorway still
/ forms the main entrance. series
lof round-topped windows, consistent
with the style of this doorway. is one
of the most pleasing and distinctive
! features of the building, both from
the inside and from the outside.
The shade of the old Bayard cat has
probably taken to the attic, for the
cellar has been made into an airy
suite of rooms. In mission style, with
attractive Fireplace, is a room for
the out-of-town directors of compan-
les incorporated by the Delaware
Trust Company. The real estate de-
partment also has a number of rooms
]
ment.
All tn ground floor partitions were
removed, and the partition walls now
dividing the offices stop within a few
feet of the ceiling, and are amply pro-
vided with glass shutters so that an
unusual amount of light and air il
gained for the separate offices. Or
this floor are the trust department
haul he recommendation. Ia,o
the directors room, the title insur.
ance department. Offices. stenograph
ers' rooms, and, in the front, the offic'
of the treasurer, William G. Taylor
The title insurance department is tn
only one in Delaware.
J. Ernest Smith has taken six of
fees on the second floor of the build
ling, together with Edward T. Pric
and Charles w Smith. This leave
three offices that are for rent on tn
second floor. The finish and wood
work upstairs are similar to tn
down stairs arrangement
The banking department is a new
departure for the company, and tn
company officers think its prospect
of success have a substantial foun
datiOn in the fact that the additiona
stock to increase the capitalization
at the beginning Of the enlargement
plan, sold at 5000 a share. par 500
without any special solicitation, AM
more could have been sold at tn
same price, but it could not be fur
nished.
The material and work upon tn
remodelled building came from vii
mington, and was done by Whining
) ton men. William Draper Brinckl
was the architect; A. S. Reed, the con
trctor, and the interior furnishing
are by s. G. Singleton. The compsn
purpose to make Wilmington the fore
most interest in their business, in
vesting largely In Wilmington con