The San Francisco call., 1910-12-31
CONTRAST SHOWN
OF old CORNERS
EFORETHEFIRE
New Building Is Replica of
Famous Roman Temple,
the Pantheon
Work of Best Artists and Arti-
sans of City and VIII Last
for Ages

Ike Savings union bank OF San
Francisco Is moving into the new build
ing at Grant avenue. o'Farren and
Market streets. and viii begin business
there Tuesday.
This is one OF the monumental build
ings of the new San Francisco. It is
modelled after the Pantheon Of Rome
and is purely classic.
President Drum, the directors and
the architects, Bliss & Faville, worked
zion was begun When a start was
once made the work was carried on
with speed and the building will be
occupied exactly a year from the time
II was begun.
The new bank building is conspicu-
Gus and bea utiful object in almost the
center OF the retail district. Its light
granite walls and tall graceful col
unlns. .surmounted by a pediment with
carved figures, give il the appearance
Of 2 public building
Opposite IL stands the newly COM
pleted Union trust company building,
of massive and stately style. These
two new structures form a striking
contrast to these corners before the
FIRE
Where the Savings Union now stands
was then a I'VE story frame structure,
occupied by a saloon on the ground
floor. with Offices above. On the Union
trust corner there was then a low,
wooden shop of one story and shabby
in the extreme. The two pictures
united on this page show the trans
formation from that period TO the
present.
It was the endeavor of the officers of
o1ro f7cfT- NJ NJ
building the embodiment Of the finest
work Of san Francisco artists and arti-
sans.
working in conjunction with the
architects were several of the city S
leading artists Haig Patigian de-
signed the head Of the goddess carved
fn the pediment above the front en-
.trance. as well as the two eagles rising
II flight
a Arthur Putnam designed the buffalo
eads on the large candelabra and on
Eu the lighting fixtures.
The monumental bronze doors of the
building were designed by Arthur
Mathews. The bronze panels show four
successful periods in the race develop
rneut of California-first the Indian.
then the Franciscan missionary, fol-
lowed by the miner. and, last of al
youth symbolizing the new San Fran
cisco in the act Of carving city out
OF a block Of stone
Artist John Zeile designed the direc-
tors room. which is up under the dome.
The style OF this room is French Re-
naissance. The spirit OF the period is
carried out in the mural decorations,
the woodwork and the furniture.
The interior Of the bank is finished
fu marble and bronze in soft tones The
counter and paneling OF the walls Is OF
TsvernelIe marble from Verona, Italy
III is a cream colored stone, admirably
adapted 70 fine carving.
The counter screen is of the same
marble. the pilasters Of which are high
~ carved with the original symbol OF
tic bank, a beehive, and a model Of the
present building.
The bronze trimmings Of the win
6ovvs are in a soft blush gray finish,
+c harmonic with the marble
The most striking features Of the
interior are the two massive granite
columns in all Of the four sides hanked
with pilasters at the corners and highly
carved capitals
with pilasters and panels in Caen stone,
supporting the vaulted ceiling, with
sl1vlight in the center.
The interior IS perfect square 81
feet g inches on the sides and SO feet
from the floor to the dome Subdued
7a-,.t filters in through bronze grill
The artificial light is from two large
bronze candeIabra at the entrance and
from 1izhts concealed behind cornlces-
The effect is very harmonious. blending
with the mellow tones Of the Furnish
ings
The structure is Of great solidity,
having a steel frame embedded in rein
forced concrete. It Is practically solid
uonolith and is believed TO be inde-
structible.
Marble stafrcases lead down into the
basement, where the safety deposit
vault and various accessories connected
with Il are located. The door to the
treasure vault IS a solid piece Of Har-
veyized nickelplated steel weighing IS
tons, made by the Bethlehem steel
works The whole construction Of the
vaults is Of srmor plate. the same ma
terial as used on battleships.
There is a large number OF pri-
vate rooms finished in marble for the
use OF patrons. There is also on the
basement floor a reception and lounRing
room for the convenience Of the pa
irons Of the bank
The new building viii bring together
the san Francisco Savings union and
the old Savings and Loan society, which
were consolidated IN September. The
latter society dates from 1857 the Saw
ings union from 1852, and the two com
bined virtually cover the financial his
tory Of san Francisco
The bank has deposits OF more than
$50 100000 and capital and surplus of
s3,5000oo