First National Bank III
Life Span: 1872-1883
Location: SW corner of State and Washington Streets
Architect: Edward Burling
The building number designations coincide with those given in the book, “The History of The First National Bank of Chicago,” by Henry C. Morris, Under the Authority of the President and the Board of Directors, 1902
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874
First National Building, State sw. cor. Washington
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
First National Building, 102 and 104 State
Chicago Weekly Post, October 10, 1872
FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.
This building, located at the corner of Washington and State streets, withstood the flame better than any on the South Side, owing to its fire-proof and massive material. Immediately after the fire it was rebuilt, and is now handsomer than before.
The Land Owner, May 1872
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.
Our frontispiece this month is a fine illustration of the new building of the First National Bank, corner State and Washington streets. It will be remembered that this building went through the great fire with comparative safety, preserving intact its vaults with their valuable contents. Its walls, and a portion of its several floors were, however, badly damaged by the furnace blast of heat and flame. It is now rebuilt in the same substantial manner as before, and possesses all the qualities of of a first-class fire-proof building. A feature worthy of special notice in the reconstruction is the addition of a “safe deposit vault” of ample dimensions, made in the strongest possible manner. This vault is furnished with large steel safe, subdivided into compartments of convenient size for private use, each furnished with its separate lock and key. These compartments are leased to parties who desire, at a nominal annual rental.
First National Bank II
Note the fifth story addition was not restored.
The bank now occupies the main floor for its business. Its interior arrangement is on the former general plan, marble floors, counters of iron with marble panels. The window frames and doors are of iron, decorated in green and gold, and give the most pleasing effect. A visit to this beautiful room will well repay the trouble, and as we leave it, we find ourselves strengthened in the hopes we all cherish for an early and complete restoration of all our public buildings to their former grand proportions. The First National is one of the strongest of our great monetary institutions.
Industrial Chicago
The old First National Bank building, on the southwest corner of State and Washington streets, was completed (restored) in 1872 at a cost of $295,000, $75,000 of which was spent on restoration after the fire. It was considered a fire-proof house—iron, stone, and brick being the exclusive material, but it did not prove itself so in the presence of the great fire of 1871, for the inner vaults were the only portions of the building untouched by fire. Part of the walls fell in and the iron work was twisted or melted. It was a Florentine building, with balustraded portico in cut-off and pediment from the cornice. Prior to the introduction of modern houses the old First National Bank was considered a rare architectural work, and was spoken of in connection with the Palmer, Tremont, Field, and other leading houses.
The fifth floor was not restored in the rebuilding.
The History of the First National Bank of Chicago, by Henry C. Morris, 1902
A notable event is the action taken on December 30, 1879, in reference to new quarters. At a meeting of the board of directors, held on that day, Mr. Porter called attention to the cramped appearance and the existing inconveniences in the office arrangements, and it was voted:
- Whereas, the increase of business of this bank imperatively demands increase of room, and facilities to properly accommodate it, therefore,
Resolved, that the president and cashier be and they are hereby appointed a committee to ascertain and report upon the feasibility of procuring more, whether by the alteration of present building and purchasing adjoining lot, or by the sale of present building and the purchase of new lot.
The project of enlarging the structure then occupied by the institution was soon found impracticable; consideration was therefore given to the selection of another site. During the summer of 1880 the decision was gradually reached that the northwest corner of Dearborn and Monroe streets, where before the fire the post-ofifice had stood, would be an admirable location. This lot was school property. In the original proposition made to the Board of Education it was contemplated to take a lease for fifty years with an additional option of twenty years, and to erect a fireproof building, of which the upper floor should be rented to the board and to the public library. It was also necessary to buy out the leasehold interest held by J. H. Haverly in the old post-office building, then known as the Haverly Theatre.
Chicago Tribune, May 6, 1883
The history of the lot upon the southwest corner of State and Washington streets is remarkable in that Mr. W. E. Hale’s recent purchase is said to be the but the fourth transfer from the government, The building, which at the time of its erection in 1867 for the First National Bank Company, was conceded by press and public to be one of the finest, most substantial, and thoroughly fire-proof in the West, was built with brick walls two feet in thickness, faced with stone, and its fire-proof qualities, taking it through the great fire almost unharmed. Upon its purchase, Mr. Hale at once set about making the property valuable as a model building for wholesale and retail trade.
It is intended by the owner to add four stories to the building in the early future, and to support the additional weight the building was “screwed up,” the old columns taken out, and enlarged stone piers and iron columns and girders introduced, the entire fronts taken out and iron columns substituted. As an engineering feat, this is remarkable. Messrs. Hollingsworth & Coughlin, the oldest and it might be said the only firm in Chicago who have made a decided reputation in this class of work throughout the West, were the contractors for this part of the reconstruction. They have the reputation for being able to successfully raise and even move any building of any size in Chicago.
Two of Hale’s passenger elevators are used. Though the building is comparatively small elevator service has become so much of a necessity that elevators are now in almost all cases duplicated. The steam-heating of the building was reconstructed so as to be used with either high or low pressure by John Davis & Co. All the painting inside and outside as well as the calcimining, was done by S. S. Berry & Son, 260 Wabash avenue. The hardware used in the trimming of the building is of a superior grade. Yale locks are largely used and bronze nobs and butts. Messrs. Jones & Stebbins, hardware-dealers at 580 State street, are popular among builders because of the first-class order of the goods supplied as well as for their promptness in placing them—a work that is attested by the hardware trimmings of some of our best buildings.
These improvements have given to this noted fire relic and landmark a fitting restoration and made the building so perfectly adapted to trade purposes that it yields a large revenue for the space occupied.
Prominent among the tenants is the firm of Logue & Bard, who will occupy part of the third floor, carrying a line of jewelry and watches. Mr. J. H. Logue is a prominent dealer from Peru, Ind., and Mr. A. C. Bard has been identified with the trade in Cleveland.
Fred Blauer, manufacturer of gold and silver watch-cases, occupies large and conveniently-appointed apartments upon the third floor. In this centre for the watch-case manufacturers of Chicago all but one firm in Chicago are represented, and Mr. Blau is spoken of as a leading manufacturer in this line.
Spacious apartments have been fitted up for the practice of dentistry, and will be called the New York Dental Rooms The operating and mechanical departments will be kept wholly distinct and under the management of skilled practitioners.
Dr. T. C. Duncan will occupy offices upon the fourth floor. Dr. E. L. Smith will be associated with him, and also occupy these offices.