Allentown National Bank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Allentown National Bank
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Allentown National Bank, October 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | 13-17 North Seventh Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Jacoby, Weishampel & Biggin; Gangewere, William |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001490 |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 2005 |
The Allentown National Bank building is a really old and important building in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1905 and looks very grand with its Beaux-Arts style. This building used to be a bank, but now it's a place where senior citizens live! It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, which means it's a special landmark.
Contents
Building History
This beautiful building was designed by local architects Jacoby, Weishampel & Biggin. It's one of the last old commercial buildings in downtown Allentown that still looks like it did when it was first built.
How the Bank Was Built
Construction of the bank started on August 12, 1903. The strong steel frame was finished by May 7, 1904. The steel came from Guerber Engineering in Bethlehem. Carlucci Stone Co. from Scranton did all the stonework.
The concrete ceilings were put in by Roebling Construction Co. This company was founded by the same family who built the famous Brooklyn Bridge! Sadly, one worker, Fred Mummey, died during construction. He fell from a high steel beam on February 4, 1904. The bank officially opened its doors on March 15, 1905.
Inside the Bank
When the bank opened, it had some very modern features. It had a new telephone system that connected to two different phone companies. It also had two "smoothly running hydraulic elevators," which were considered very safe.
A local newspaper described the inside, saying it had "A spacious dome 32 feet in height." This dome was supported by six shiny onyx columns. The beautiful carvings and designs inside were made by Herman Merkel, a well-known local artist.
Changes Over Time
In 1934, the Allentown Bank became the Allentown National Bank. This meant it was now a national bank, regulated by the government. The bank stayed in this building until the mid-1950s.
Later, it became the First National Bank. In 1959, the bank moved to a new building nearby. The old Allentown National Bank building then became home to different businesses. It even housed the Allentown Business School for a while. The building became empty again in the early 1990s.
What It Is Used For Now
In 2002, a company called Pennrose Properties Inc. bought the building. They decided to turn the upper floors into apartments for senior citizens.
Renovation Project
The renovation project also included the old Trojan Powder building next door. Workers had to remove old, unsafe materials from both buildings. They made sure the buildings' structures were strong and safe again.
They also worked to restore the beautiful inside of the Allentown National Bank. This included removing a floor that had been added to the bank lobby. The project created 63 apartments in total.
Allentown Center Square Senior Housing
In 2007, the building reopened as Allentown Center Square Senior Housing. It has 63 one-bedroom apartments for seniors aged 62 and older. Most of the apartments are about 548 square feet.
The building also has great community spaces for the residents. There's a gym, a computer lab, and a community room. There's even a special room for doctors and nurses to visit. The apartments filled up very quickly after they opened!
Images for kids
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Allentown National Bank, October 2011
