Dime Savings and Trust Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dime Savings and Trust Company
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Dime Savings and Trust Company, October 2011
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12 North 7th Street, Allentown, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Tilghman Moyer and Co. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 85000036 |
| Added to NRHP | January 3, 1985 |
The Dime Savings and Trust Company building, also known as First Valley Bank, is a historic bank building located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1925. This five-story building is made of red brick. Its base is covered in limestone. The top part, called the attic level, has a special design with brick and limestone. This design shows the cool Art Deco style.
This important building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it is recognized as a special place in history.
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History of the Dime Savings Bank
The Dime Savings and Trust Company started in 1921. It became the fifth largest bank in Allentown. The name "Dime Savings" had been used before, even in the 1840s.
When the Dime Savings building was finished, it was one of three main buildings in downtown Allentown. The other two were the Americus Hotel and the Pennsylvania Power and Light Building. All three were built around the same time, showing off the popular Art Deco style in Allentown.
Inside the Bank Building
The main banking room inside is very well-preserved. It looks much like it did when it was first built. This large room takes up the whole front of the building. It even goes back past the elevators.
At the back of the room, there is a balcony. This balcony shows how tall the room is, covering two stories. The room has fancy walls and a deep, decorative border near the ceiling. This makes it feel like a grand, solid space, just like many big banks of that time. You can also see two beautiful Art Deco bronze chandeliers. They hang from the ceiling at each end of the room.
Challenges and Changes
Even though it was a big bank, the Dime Savings and Trust Company faced problems. It closed down in 1932, just seven years after it opened. This happened during a tough time called the Great Depression.
After the bank closed, the building was empty for many years. Different owners tried to find new ways to use it. In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1991, a private owner fixed up the main banking room on the first floor. They even won an award for their work. For a few years, the building was home to an antique market. It also survived a big sinkhole collapse nearby in 1994.
Over time, the building changed owners several times. But it often stayed empty. In 2001, one owner even tried to sell it on eBay! Later, in 2004, a company that made fancy furniture bought it. They planned to open a restaurant and furniture store. However, they stopped that plan in 2007.
Modern Redevelopment
The Dime Savings building got a new life starting in 2012. It was part of a big project to build the PPL Center. This is a large arena complex in Allentown. The old bank building was made a part of this new complex.
Today, the Dime Bank Building serves as the lobby for a 170-room Marriott Renaissance Hotel. This hotel is connected to the arena. The two-story main banking area is now the hotel's front desk. The upper floors of the building are used for offices and meeting rooms for the arena's operators.
Renovation Work
During the construction of the arena, the old bank building was made stronger. Its foundation was supported, and the building was made more stable. The outside walls were also fixed. New roofing and windows were put in. These new parts help save energy. They were also designed to look just like the original building.
However, some parts of the building had to be changed. Because of leaking bricks, the arena owners decided to remove the exterior walls above the first floor. They went down to the building's steel frame. The building's original columns and beams were made stronger. This helped them support the new uses as part of the arena. Sadly, the unique Art Deco attic story was removed. The beautiful decorated ceiling in the main banking room was also lost.
The remaining parts of the building became part of the Renaissance hotel. The hotel opened in the summer of 2015. The restaurant inside the hotel is named "The Dime." This name honors the building's history as the Dime Savings and Trust Company.
