The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-26
CLUB ROOM FOR
BANK CLERKS is
in new BUILDING
Bridgeport Trust Co. Model
Of Modern Financial
Institutions.

| uEdayl
The work Of constructing this arch
| tteetura1ly perfect edlfee, which is
only one story in height in the main
| section and three stories high IN the
| rear, began IA months ago.
Many novelties in bank construc-
| tions equipment and convenfences to
| patrons and clerks are included in
| the newly finished building. The
| most modern banking ideas and ar
rangements are utilized through
! out. g.
For the first time in the history Of
Connecticut banking, 1oung1ng rooms
for feminine clerks, with electric tea,
toast and chatting dish apparatus have
been placed at their disposal and in
an especially designed e1ub-roon that
will be open for the mon OF the staff,
day and night, the most sumptuous
furnishings have been installed in an
Isolated room to be known as the
Balance Club"
Such a plan is said today by off,
Gals of the Trust company to have
been made possible only by the ad-
vanced art Of safemaking which Is
represented in the enormous burglar
and fre-preof vault on the main
floor.
The front elevation of the building,
facing on State street, is patterned af-
ter the Grecian temple. A massive
granite cornice is supported by huge
one piece granite columns.
Under the portico one has visions
of the Taverne11e marble, Caen stone,
bronze, steel and glass interior that
is delicately set off by the mahogany
furnishings and gilded dome ceiling
through which sunlight enters by an
artistical1y co1ored F1orentfne stained
glass transon.
Bronze and glass swinging doors,
inside the massive bronze gateway,
IL ir-sA 4---4sz
beauty.
One walks upon Georgia marble
squares, surrounded by a border of
costly FERN osa marble. In the CEN
ter of the aisle formed by counters
built upon marble s1abing and sur
rounded. by statuary bronze supports
and plate glass de1icatefy etched, are
lofty standards holding electro1iers,
shedding light upon the TavernelIe
marble check stands and Grecian
benches on either side upon which
one may rest.
The sidewalks. in which radiation
has been c1eVerly secreted to heat
the big space, are of the same marble
to height of IS feet, above which
rear classic Ionic Npi11ars and panel1ed
walls of Caen stone. About the top,
and illuminating the gold and bronze
ceiling are hidden lights diffusing /
their glow.
At the rear is seen the engine-turn
ed steel door of the vault, ten feet in
diameter with it's time clocks and |
many bolts above which, in a, bronze |
grilI-work, is a monster clock and a
mezzanine vision of the quarters oc- |
cupied by the clerical force. /
To the Immediate right of the en-
trance is a novelty in the form of a |
women's room, fitted with desks,
chairs and a well lighted retiring
room, with all requirements. Adjoin- |
ing and separated by low marble par
titions are desks OF the secretary |
and treasurer.
To the left of the entrance are the
offices of the president and vice pres
ident. Extending toward the rear of
the central floor are a series of con- |
sulting rooms, the cages of the savings |
and Christmas club departments and |
the interest and collection depart |
ments. They are fronted by bronze
and glass. Over each wicket is an
sign to guide the patron. i
On the interior, a1l-steeI furniture is
used, finished in imitation mahogany
to match the other interior equip
ment. Special protection has been
taken against the preservation of pa
pers, cards and money. Wire graf
ings protect the top of the compart-
ments. from assault. Glass count
ers aid the clerks in their work.
Similar partitions the right of
the main floor, house the paying teller
and bookkeeping department. All
money drawers and bookracks are so
designed that they may be hastily put
upon rolling platforms and shut in a
special steel fireproof vault built. for
the purpose.
In the central rear Of the main
floor, the large. vault is set, with
moving flooring to per-
NIT opening and closing the nicely
balanced doorway. On the right is a,
similar book, vault. To the left is a
passageway containing a. number of
coupon and safety deposit inspection
rooms, panel1ed in mahogany, having
glass counters, electric lights and an
nuncfator buttons for the call of an
attendant.
In the extreme rear is the directors
rooms fitted with a monster carved
table and deep leather lined chairs.
The room is xpanel1ed and beamed
above in dark weathered oak, At the
end of the apartment is a monster
open fireplace with, mantel piece of
Caen stone, handsomely carved with
grotesque forms to hold the high
shelf.
The burgIar-proof vault needs spe-
sfaI description owing to its design
and modern improvements, This re-
oeptacle, which is built upon solid
cement foundation, supported on rail-
road iron so that it is at all times
visible to Watchmen, is in itself a
arge cement box about 10x3O feet in
.erior, 1t is built up consecutively of
sheets of hard and soft steel, electri-
.alIy connected beneath each layer
and between joints by a network of
copper and lead wires, 1t is so tenn
oered and wired that neither drills,
nor fusing apparatus can effect its Sc
5urity without days of labor or noti-
ication to central points by alarm.
The main and emergency doors are SO
as to Withstand dozens of
charges of nitro-g1ycerine if it were
possible to drill or fuse for the explo-
sive's reception.
Inside it is pane11ed by polished
sheet steel. On the sides are Iocat-
I'd four sizes of safety deposit box
IS with separate key arrangements
so that loss, duplication, theft or |
use cannot effect the boxes. The only