Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-12-09
new \ IN BANK BUILDING I.
READY FOR OCCUPANCY
FIRST NATIONAL WILL OCCUPY
NEW LOCATION NEXT
SATURDAYS.
PUBLIC IS EXTENDED WELCOME
Brief History of Institution and De-
scription Of Building That Will
Be It's Future Home.

GIL lOI OuSIuoSS al AIS. Ac" UuA1oAAs
Saturday morning of this week. TIL
moving process has been going on
slowly all week, while the business Il
being carried on at the old quarters
The change will be made without the
slightest delay in business or incon.
venience to anyone and Saturday will
see the institution fully established
in its future home.
= The completion of this building
marks a forward stride in Mancheste
improvements. It is the best equip
ped building in Delaware county and
one in which Manchester people feel
just pride. Located at the corner
of Main and Franklin streets, funish-
ed with the best of modern equip
ment and differed by careful and
competent bankers, this institution
should experience increased popular
ity and growth.
The bank has added several new
features among which will be a saw
ings department conducted under the
provisions of the new National Bank
Act.
The doors of the bank will be open
for business every Saturday evening.
9 A neat souvenir booklet with
the exterior and interior views of the
building will be given away to all
visitors next Saturday. 1t contains a
brief history of the institution which
The Democrat is pleased to reproduce
as follows: r.
A. R. Loomis and son, Loring R.,
began banking at Manchester in jan
uary, 1887, conducting the affair as a
private institution. Soon thereafter
they erected. a two story brick build
ing on the north side of Main street,
near Franklin, in which they con-
Quoted the business until January
II, 1890, when, with the y following
named persons they organized and
Incorporated the First National Bank
M. F. Leroy, ]. P. Leroy, E. M.
Carr, M. Beehler, H. A. Granger, J..
D. Kennedy, Lewis :Atwater, A. H..
Blake and E. L.. .Hoyt. ,-zsss,s
The first officials were: :5".r Presi-
dent, A.. r. Loomis; first vice presi-
dent, Lewis Atwater;2 second vice
president, Max Beehler; cashier, M.
F. Leroy.
On the 18th day of March, 1896, A.
R. Loomis sold his interests in the
bank and retired +herefrom, where
upon j. W.. Miles was elected presi-
dent in his stead. W. H. Norris be-
came first vice president, and R. R.
second vice president. On
the Sth Of January, 1901, upon the
of Mr.. Miles, M. F. Le-
Roy was elected president; A. H.
Blake, first vice president; H. c.
Haeberle, second vice president; H.
A. Granger, cashier; and H. A. Won
Oven, assistant cashier. January 8,
1907, Hubert Carr was elected second
vice president. Don A. Preussner,
who has been connected with this
bank since April II, 1905, and F. E.
Dutton were appointed assistant
January IA, 1908, and on
the 9th of January, 1912, A. r. Le-
Roy became the cashier. Mr. Le-
Roy remained in office until January
Ia, 1918, when Don A. Preussner sue.
ceeded to the position. At the same
time A. R. Leroy was elected active
vice president. M. F. Leroy died on
February 21, 1914, and was succeeded
in the presidency by his son, A. R.
Leroy, March II, 1914.
The New Building.
1t has been stated that the building
so long occupied by the First Nation
IL was constructed in 1887. 1t serv-
ed it's purpose admirably for many
years, but the steady growth which
the bank enjoyed made it imperative
to provide for it larger and more ad-
equate quarters. The project took
form in the mind of the late presi-
dent, M. F. Leroy, more than a year
prior to his death, and it became
with him plan profoundly cherished
and it's fulfillment eagerly anticipated
That he was unable to witness it's
and share the pleasure of
his associates in contemplation of
It's beauty and utility will ever be
regret to those who knew how close
Iy the project lay to his heart.
The exterior construction is of
Bedford stone, surmounted by tapes
try brick and stucco. The lobby is
finished in French Tavernelle Claire
marble, with flooring of mosaic til
ing. The cabinet work is in mahog-
any, with a grill of solid bronze.
There are offices for the president,
cashier and the directorate. The vault
Is a feature of particular Importance.
It is of three story construction, with
a large storage vault in basement,
and is of reinforced concrete and
steel. The vault in the bank proper
Is devoted to safety deposit boxes ant
the current needs Of the institution
in the transaction Of business, while
the third section is given over to
space for an elaborate filing system.
One Of the most attractive features o.
the main banking room is the quiet,
yet artistic, finish given the walls
and ceiling by stenciled decoration in
subdued and harmonious tints.
To the right Of the vault are cou-
pom booths for the convenience of
safety deposit box customers, and in
the rear Is retiring and rest room
For women patrons. At the right of
the main entrance on Main street is
8 customers waiting and writing