Negaunee State Bank Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Negaunee State Bank Building
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | 331 Iron St., Negaunee, Michigan |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | D. Fred Charlton |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000295 |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1995 |
The Negaunee State Bank Building is a cool old bank building. You can find it at 331 Iron Street in Negaunee, Michigan. People sometimes call it the Old Bank Building. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's an important place worth protecting!
Contents
A Look Back: Building History
The spot where the Negaunee State Bank Building stands today has a long story. Before this building, there was another one called the Mitchell Building. It was built in 1873. Captain John P. Mitchell built it to be a bank and office space.
Early Days and Economic Troubles
However, the timing wasn't great for the first bank. A big economic problem called the Panic of 1873 hit the country. Because of this, the planned bank never actually opened. So, the building was used for other businesses instead.
In 1881, a private bank started renting space in the building. Then, in 1887, the First National Bank of Negaunee opened and moved in. This bank stayed there until 1907.
A New Bank and a Fire
In 1909, a brand new bank called the Negaunee State Bank moved into the building. By this time, people were calling it the "Old Bank Building." But on January 3, 1912, a fire sadly destroyed the building.
The Negaunee State Bank quickly bought the land from the Mitchell family. They started building the current bank building on the same spot in 1912. They hired an architect named D. Fred Charlton from Marquette to design the new building. Once it was finished, the Negaunee State Bank moved right in.
The Great Depression and Beyond
The Negaunee State Bank stayed in this building until 1933. This was during a very tough time in history called the Great Depression. Many banks across the country struggled and closed. The Negaunee State Bank also faced problems, partly because of the tough economy and partly due to money issues caused by someone who worked there.
After the bank closed, the building was used by different businesses. Most of them were insurance companies or offices for professionals like lawyers, doctors, and dentists. As of 2017, the building is home to an antique store.
What the Building Looks Like
The Negaunee State Bank Building has a unique shape. It's like a triangle! It measures about 62 feet along the Iron Street side, 102 feet along the Kanter Street side, and 84 feet on the east side.
Outside Features
The building has two main floors, plus a basement. The basement was also designed for businesses. The building is made with a wood frame, and the outside is covered in brick. It sits on a strong stone foundation. The outside walls are painted, which might have been how it looked when it was first built. Some parts of the walls from the original 1873 building were even used in this new one!
The main door is on the Iron Street side. This entrance lets you get to the bank area on the first floor and the offices on the second floor. There's also a separate entrance for the basement at the corner of the building.
Inside the Bank Building
Inside, the first floor has a lobby with white tile floors. This is where the main banking area was. There was also a private office for the cashier, a room for the bank directors, and two other office spaces. The first floor also has a big bank vault and two smaller vaults in the offices.
The second floor has nine office rooms, a storage room, and two more vaults. These vaults are directly above the ones on the first floor. The basement has a large space for businesses, a storage area, and another big vault. The building still has its original floor plan, floor coverings, wooden details, and other cool decorative features.
