Valley National Bank (Casa Grande, Arizona) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Valley National Bank
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | 221 N. Florence St., Casa Grande, Arizona |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1950 |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| MPS | Casa Grande, Arizona MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000733 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 2002 |
The Valley National Bank building in Casa Grande, Arizona, is a special old building in the city's downtown area. It was built in 1950. This building is important enough that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This list helps protect places that have a lot of history.
Contents
A Look Back: The Bank's Story
This building was constructed in 1950 for the Valley National Bank of Arizona. This bank was one of the most important financial companies in Arizona during the 20th century. The building sits on a corner lot in downtown Casa Grande. It's right in the middle of the original town site.
Why This Bank Was Special
Valley National Bank was one of the first banks in Arizona to open branches in smaller towns. They wanted to make banking easier for people everywhere. In 1934, the bank opened its first branch in Casa Grande. This first location was used until 1991.
How Casa Grande Grew
The location of this building is also a big part of its history. It's at the corner of Second Street and Florence. In the 1940s, Casa Grande started to grow and become more successful. People began using cars more, which changed how towns developed. New buildings were built away from the old main street and railroad.
By 1952, Second Street became the main highway through Casa Grande. This made the bank's location even more important.
Building Design: What It Looks Like
The Valley National Bank building is made with a strong steel frame. It has bricks on the outside. The building is about 5,000 square feet (465 square meters) in size. It has a T-shaped layout. An entry canopy makes the building look more like a rectangle from the front. The outside also has cool details made from concrete and a special type of stone called cast stone.
Key Features of the Building
Some important parts of the building's design include:
- The outdoor canopy: This is a concrete cover over the entrance. It has a brick column supporting it.
- The windows and doors: The windows are very large. They are made of plate glass with aluminum frames. They are grouped together in several places.
The building looks very "horizontal." This means it looks wider than it is tall. The canopy goes across the front of the building. The long rows of windows also help make this horizontal design stand out.
Changes Over Time
In September 1960, the inside of the bank was updated. The old windows and doors were replaced with new ones that looked similar. A special design was added to the canopies. This design was a cast stone shape of a thunderbird.
