Allentown National Bank: Difference between revisions
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'''Allentown National Bank''', also known as Meridian Bank, is a historic [[bank]] building located at [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]]. It was built in 1905, and is a large eight-story, steel frame and masonry-clad building in the [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] style. The building was abandoned in the 1990s, however in the early 2000s, it was re-developed into apartments for independent living senior citizens. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2005.<ref name="nris"/> |
'''Allentown National Bank''', also known as Meridian Bank, is a historic [[bank]] building located at [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]], [[Lehigh County, Pennsylvania]]. It was built in 1905, and is a large eight-story, steel frame and masonry-clad building in the [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] style. The building was abandoned in the 1990s, however in the early 2000s, it was re-developed into apartments for independent living senior citizens. It was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2005.<ref name="nris"/> |
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<ref name="arch">{{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| title = "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania"| publisher = CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System| format = Searchable database}} ''Note:'' This includes {{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce_imagery/phmc_scans/H102376_01H.PDF| title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Allentown National Bank | accessdate = 2012-03-04| author = Shelby Weaver Splain and Stuart Wells | format = PDF| date= April 2005}}</ref> |
<ref name="arch">{{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce/SelectWelcome.asp| title = "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania"| publisher = CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System| format = Searchable database}} ''Note:'' This includes {{cite web| url = https://www.dot7.state.pa.us/ce_imagery/phmc_scans/H102376_01H.PDF| title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Allentown National Bank | accessdate = 2012-03-04| author = Shelby Weaver Splain and Stuart Wells | format = PDF| date= April 2005}}</ref> |
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==History== |
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Allentown architects Jacoby, Weishampel & Biggin designed the building in a beaux arts style. Today, it remains the last commercial structure downtown built in the central business district of Allentown before 1920 that stands in its original condition.<ref name="LCHS"/> |
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Construction of the building started on 12 August 1903. Its steel framework was finished the following 7 May. The steel came from Guerber Engineering of west Bethlehem. The stonework was done by Carlucci Stone Co. of Scranton. The concrete ceilings were installed by Roebling Construction Co., founded by the the same Roebling family that built the Brooklyn Bridge. One worker, Fred Mummey, died in the construction of the eight-story structure. He was knocked from a high steel beam on Feb. 4, 1904, by the boom of a swinging derrick. It opened as Allentown Bank, on 15 March 1905.<ref name="LCHS">Allentown, 1762-1987, a 225 Year history, Volume II, 1921-1987, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987. Chapter Thirteen, A History of Allentown: 1966-1975</ref> |
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When opened, it had a modern telephone exchange was tied in with both the Lehigh and Consolidated phone systems, the region's two phone companies. And the two "smoothly running hydraulic elevators" were said to be the ultimate in safety. The building has "A spacious dome 32 feet in height supported by 6 onyx columns surmounts the rotunda," noted a local newspaper at the time. The rotunda is not visible from the street. "The carving and molding is the work of Herman Merkel.<ref name="LCHS"/> |
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In 1934, Allentown Bank became Allentown National Bank after being re-chartered as a National Bank. The bank remained at that location until the mid-1950s, when it became the First National Bank. Operations were moved to a new building at the northeast corner of Seventh and Hamilton in 1959,which replaced the former Allen Hotel, and the structure was vacated. <ref name="LCHS"/> First National merged into Meridian Bank in the 1980s.<ref name="LCHS"/> The 1959 bank building also remained vacant until being raised in 2012 for the construction of Two City Center. |
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During the 1970s and 1980s the Allentown National Bank building was home to several businesses and the Allentown Business School for a time. It again was vacated in the early 1990s. In 2002, Pennrose Properties Inc., Philadelphia, purchased the property and converted the upper floors to independent living apartments for senior citizens. It was also planned at the time to convert the first floor to retail space. The retail space, however, never materialized and remains vacant. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 01:24, 11 May 2013
Allentown National Bank | |
 Allentown National Bank, October 2011 | |
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| Location | 13-17 N. Seventh St., Allentown, Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1905 |
| Architect | Jacoby, Weishampel & Biggin; Gangewere, William |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001490[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 28, 2005 |
Allentown National Bank, also known as Meridian Bank, is a historic bank building located at Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1905, and is a large eight-story, steel frame and masonry-clad building in the Beaux-Arts style. The building was abandoned in the 1990s, however in the early 2000s, it was re-developed into apartments for independent living senior citizens. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.[1] [2]
History
Allentown architects Jacoby, Weishampel & Biggin designed the building in a beaux arts style. Today, it remains the last commercial structure downtown built in the central business district of Allentown before 1920 that stands in its original condition.[3]
Construction of the building started on 12 August 1903. Its steel framework was finished the following 7 May. The steel came from Guerber Engineering of west Bethlehem. The stonework was done by Carlucci Stone Co. of Scranton. The concrete ceilings were installed by Roebling Construction Co., founded by the the same Roebling family that built the Brooklyn Bridge. One worker, Fred Mummey, died in the construction of the eight-story structure. He was knocked from a high steel beam on Feb. 4, 1904, by the boom of a swinging derrick. It opened as Allentown Bank, on 15 March 1905.[3]
When opened, it had a modern telephone exchange was tied in with both the Lehigh and Consolidated phone systems, the region's two phone companies. And the two "smoothly running hydraulic elevators" were said to be the ultimate in safety. The building has "A spacious dome 32 feet in height supported by 6 onyx columns surmounts the rotunda," noted a local newspaper at the time. The rotunda is not visible from the street. "The carving and molding is the work of Herman Merkel.[3]
In 1934, Allentown Bank became Allentown National Bank after being re-chartered as a National Bank. The bank remained at that location until the mid-1950s, when it became the First National Bank. Operations were moved to a new building at the northeast corner of Seventh and Hamilton in 1959,which replaced the former Allen Hotel, and the structure was vacated. [3] First National merged into Meridian Bank in the 1980s.[3] The 1959 bank building also remained vacant until being raised in 2012 for the construction of Two City Center.
During the 1970s and 1980s the Allentown National Bank building was home to several businesses and the Allentown Business School for a time. It again was vacated in the early 1990s. In 2002, Pennrose Properties Inc., Philadelphia, purchased the property and converted the upper floors to independent living apartments for senior citizens. It was also planned at the time to convert the first floor to retail space. The retail space, however, never materialized and remains vacant.
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ ""National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania"" (Searchable database). CRGIS: Cultural Resources Geographic Information System. Note: This includes Shelby Weaver Splain and Stuart Wells (April 2005). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Allentown National Bank" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-03-04.
- ^ a b c d e Allentown, 1762-1987, a 225 Year history, Volume II, 1921-1987, Lehigh County Historical Society, 1987. Chapter Thirteen, A History of Allentown: 1966-1975
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