Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-17
W. H. CAKUTHERs BUILDS
pETRoIT's FINEST BANK

William H Caruthers, son of a former
Norwich postmaster, the late William
Caruthers has been in general supervi-
sion of the work Of erecting the New
First National bank building in Detroit,
to which the Detroit Free Press recently
devoted five pages of a Sunday issue i'll
giving description Of the bank with
pictures Of the officers and sketches of
those concerned in the construction work.
Under the heading Man 80, Built First
National Bank, w. H. Caruthers, ex-arnny
Captain, Had Charge Of All Details" ap-
peared the following
''Wf1iam H Caruthers, 33 years old,
built the First National Bank building.
That is, there were architects, con-
tractors, workmen, bank directors, and q
host Of others who had hand or two in
the business, out Caruthers sitting in the
midst Of his stan Of auditors clerks. and
general assistants, audited adj the bills, d1-
rooted all detail work OF, the whole build
ing, consid cred bids Of specializing CON
tractors, paid all the bills, approved all
the drawings. made weekly and monthly
reports to the bank board-in fact was
paid for acting as If he owned the build
ing.
His business was to act as lia4son Of
fcer between the building committee ap-
pointed by the board and the architect. He
also acted as liaison officer between the
| architect and contractor, between the
| contractor and the board, between every
body and everybody else, Hardly de
| tail of the construction and planning but
came through his hands for inspection,
report or auditing.
! Caruthers served as a captain in the
| American army under Colonel. C. G. Edgar,
chairman of the building committee Of the
| new bank. In that capacity he superin-
tended the construction of the enormous
| aviation fields which the government
erected during the war. When Col Ed
gar was appointed chairman of the com
| mittee of the enormous office building, he
specified that he be allowed to select his
| own staff He wired CarJHhers WHO was at
that time a captain in charge OF the cree
| ton of a flying fed at San Diego, asking
him to act as secretary Of this committee
and also to take entire charge of the
building. As soon as his resignation from
| the army was effected Caruthers came tc
Detroit, and took up his duties,
| Through his office, all the detail work
Of planning and construction Of the build
| ing came for inspection and his approval
| Every bill submitted by the architect
came through this office for approval and
payment Every change suggested by
| any member OF the committee came into
| this office for discussion and a report
Bids 10y contractors for minor operations
| about the building-everythin,y was pre-
| scented to Caruthers.
The planning Of the bank quarters in
particular was let to New York concern
| and they submitted to C>aruthers the
| latest features on construction Of banks
Caruthers made reports and handed down
his approvala after discussion with The
committee. Not the least Of the duties Of
his office force was to keep d record in
great detail Of the building under con
struction. A complete history OF this
great structure could be written in his
office.
THE First National Bank building
which has been in process of building foi
two years is the last word in Commercial
architecture. The structure is t1uflt on tn,
site OF the Hotel Ponchartrain, situated OF
Woodward avenue and Cadillac square. 4
Is "a stories high and the foundations res
on "a concrete bters. reaching So feet below
the street level. It has a floor spac,
covering 10 IL acres, or 100000 squar.
feet
1T is the talIest building In Michigan
and the vision Of a group of Detroit fin
ancial meu materialized into a monumea
OF solid steel concrete and stone IL
contractors assisted in its construction
The site Il this splendid new building cos
the First and Old Detroit National BanJ
the sum Of $4,000, OOo.".