The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-01-19
NEW
BANK BUILDING
THE FARMERS AND MECHANICS NAT
IONAL BANK OF WESTMINSTER.


we take pleasure III presenting to
our readers picture of the new
building erected BY the Farmers and
Mechanics National Bank, OF this city.
X The old house, occupied by the cashier
fpr many years, was taken down TO
make room for the present structure,
which has a greater width, and q con-
siderably greater depth, the dimen-
sions being 34x50 feet.
The building is or Vermont marble,
with large columns 0f the same ma
teriaT with windows ana doors Oh
metal with bronze letters over the
entire front of the building Farmers
and Mechanics National Bank" The
building t. 26 feet high with marble
couplings, and Ii greatly beautifed by
tine Grecian Doric columns and two
piIasters.
The interior OF the first floor A. in
CippOlino marble with mahogany
wood work. It contains cashiers
room, etenographer's room, private
coupon room, cloak closet and two
vaults, made doubly secure, fire and
burglar proof. Safe deposit boxes for
the use Of the public. The vault door
weighs three and one-half tons and IL
of q handsome design OF polished
steel and gun metal.
The second floor has the director IS
room, cloak room and balcony over
looking the first floor with lavatories-
The ceiling Is panneled with artistic
stained glass skylight. The front of
the balcony is finished with colon
ade and Grecian balustrade.
"a quite noticeable and interesting
fact in connection with this building
is that from beginning to end 1T is the
production of local skill. The build
ing was designed and erected by MIR.
m. G. Erb, contractor and builder, of
this city, and reflects great credit up
ON him and his force of WOrkmen. Mr.
Joseph L. Matthias was the contractor
for the marble work Mr. VIM Man
ming did the brick work, Gross Bros,
of Manchester, plasterers, Meade
Ohler, painter
What Is now the Farmers and Me-
chanics National Bank of Westmirls-
ter was originally the Farmers and
Mechanics Bank of Carroll County and
was chartered by the Legislature of
Maryland, February 27, 1850 The
OriginatOrs of the bank were Jacob
Matthias and Jacob Reese, the former
Oh whom became Its first president
and the latter its first cashier. Among
the prominent men named in the act
of incorporation were Joshua Smith,
VIM. Bachman, David Cassell, John
Roop, David H. Shriver, John Smith
of Wakefield; Sterling Gait, John
Roberts, John Swope, Joshua G. Gist
and John ID. Boyle. Immediately after
the organization was completed the
directors appointed committee To Sc
cure al eligible location for the erec-
ton ,offa banking house. This com
mittee reported on the 25th of Octo-
ber, 1850, that they had purchased for
$4,000 the house and lot OF ground
then occupied by Capt. John McCol-
lum, on Main street near Court. Work
was &C once begun OH bank building,
which was to be connected with the
McCOllum house and to have frcnt-
age of Is feet and depth of 80 feet
In January, 1851, the building was
completed by the contractors, Wamp-
Ter e Evans, and occupied by the
bank until August, 1900, when ii was
demolished and the building just va
Gated erected on it, site
The institution, with no change i'm
Ill officers VI management was con
verted, June 20, 1865, under the Ma
tional Banking Act, into the Farmers
and Mechanics National Bank OF
Westminster, the name it now bears
During Its existence of half a century,
the office off president has been filled
by Jacob i1athias, John Smith, Of
Wakefield; DR. J. IT.. Warfreld, Joseph
Shaeffer, f. Writ Shriver. William F.
Thomas and Frank C Sharrer The
cashiers have been Jacob Reese, - D-
Schaeffer, VIM a. Cunningham and
John H. Cunningham
The capital Of the bank is $4,000,
with surplus fund of $67 900 and in
dividual deposits $430, ,000 The Off
GERS are president, yice-president and
cashier The board or directors are
J. Wesley Biggs, Andrew p, Frizzell,