Brooklyn Trust Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Brooklyn Trust Company Building
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Brooklyn Trust Company Building, January 2007
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 177 Montague Street Brooklyn, New York City |
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| Area | 66,315 square feet |
| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | York & Sawyer |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000632 |
| Added to NRHP | August 20, 2009 |
The Brooklyn Trust Company was an important bank in New York City. It helped people and businesses in Brooklyn manage their money. Its main building is a famous landmark in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood.
Contents
History of the Brooklyn Trust Company
The Brooklyn Trust Company started in 1866. In 1873, it faced some problems and had to stop working for a short time. But it recovered and continued to grow.
Between 1913 and 1930, the company grew by joining with five other banks. This helped it become a bigger and stronger bank.
In 1950, the Brooklyn Trust Company joined with another bank called Manufacturers Trust Company. At that time, the Brooklyn Trust Company had 26 different locations, or branches, where people could do their banking.
Important People at the Bank
Many people worked at the Brooklyn Trust Company. Here are a few who played key roles:
- George Vincent McLaughlin became the president of the Brooklyn Trust Company in 1940.
- Charles Jeremiah Mason, Jr. joined the bank in 1939. He was an assistant vice-president when the bank merged in 1950. He later became a vice-president at the new company before he retired.
- William Boone Nauts started working at the Brooklyn Trust Company in 1925. He also became a vice-president at the merged company before retiring in 1967.
The Historic Headquarters Building
The main building of the Brooklyn Trust Company is a very old and beautiful bank building. It is located in the Brooklyn Heights area, at the corner of Montague and Clinton Streets.
Building Design and Construction
The building looks like an Italian Renaissance palace. It was designed by the famous architectural firm York and Sawyer between 1913 and 1916. The architects were inspired by a real palace in Italy called the Palazzo della Gran Guardia in Verona.
The new building was built on the same spot where the bank's old headquarters used to be. The construction company, Marc Eidlitz & Son, built it in two main parts. The first part started in late 1913 and was finished in 1915. The second part was completed in 1916. A photographer named Irving Underhill took pictures of the building every month as it was being built.
Inside the Bank Building
The main area inside the bank is called the banking hall. It is very grand and looks like ancient Roman and Italian Renaissance buildings. It has large, fancy lights hanging from high, decorated ceilings. The windows are arched, and the floor is made of beautiful mosaic marble in a special style called Cosmati.
Landmark Status and Current Use
Because of its beauty and history, the building was made a landmark in 1996. This means it is protected and cannot be changed easily. The inside of the building is also landmarked. In 2009, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which is a list of important historic places in the United States.
The building was sold in 2007. Today, a law firm uses most of the building. However, Chase Bank, which is connected to the original Brooklyn Trust Company through mergers, still has a bank branch on the ground floor.
Gallery
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1916
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Sept 1914
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Oct 1914
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Nov 1916
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Dec 1914
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Jan 1915
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Feb 1915
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Mar 1915
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Apr 1915
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May 1915
