The Old First National Bank on Miner Street

First National Bank opened January 28, 1913 under the direction of Joseph L. Jefferson, with six charter members and $60,000 in resources. In this first year, it operated out of the Scott Insurance and Real Estate office on Miner Street. By June of the same year, plans were underway for a permanent home.

An order was placed for a Terra Cotta facade from the Midland Terra Cotta company of Chicago, designed by an architect named Rowe. There were a pair of architect brothers in Park Ridge named Charles Barr Rowe and Lindley Phelps Rowe at the time, so it is likely they were responsible. Midland specialized in stock, off the shelf terra cotta, instead of only custom work; this building may be composed of such stock elements.

The building opened Saturday, December 6, 1913. It is a single-story white terra cotta building in the Beaux Arts style, typical of the then-popular City Beautiful movement. Built on the site of the Des Plaines Suburban Times' previous printing press, the shiny white temple must have really stood out in Des Plaines then, with its dirt streets and buildings of brick and frame. It was the first terra cotta-faced building in Des Plaines. The building is exceptionally well-detailed, with fluted Roman Ionic columns placed in antis, a frieze reading FIRST NATIONAL BANK with paired consoles, with a dentilled cornice above topped by a toothed plaque reading 1913. Its storefront facade followed this classical theme, with belt courses and fancy iron work. 

By the end of 1913, the initial $60,000 had already ballooned to $206,659. In 1916, the officers of the bank were: Joseph L. Jefferson, President; George M. Whitcomb, Vice-President; Charles Boesche, Vice-President; Glenn C. Tolin, Cashier. Directors were Harry T. Bennett, Henry Goede, Louis C. Spiegler, Charles Boesche, Dr. A. M. Purves, Arthur L. Webster, Ning Eley, W. L. Plew, and George W. Sykes.

In 1927, the bank expanded into the adjacent Gillespie Printery building (better known as Bremer's Stationers - the subject of an upcoming entry.) This was at the height of Des Plaines' roaring 20s growth spurt - the highways, Masonic Temple, Des Plaines Theatre, and new homes brought much more attention to Des Plaines. The older and larger Des Plaines State Bank was building its new marble building at the time. At some point a neon sign was added over the frieze, starting the tradition of inappropriate signs. In 1937, the bank moved into the much larger, and by then vacant, second Des Plaines State Bank building. 

The building was an early home for the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce. Soon after, the Des Plaines Agency (Insurance) moved in. The building also started holding a second tenant - over the years Benjamin Electric's employment office, Singer Sewing Machine Repair, Dooley Real Estate, Ladendorf Real Estate, Lutheran General, Becker Roofing, Phillip Mizok, attorney, and more.

The Des Plaines Agency was replaced by the current tenant, Des Plaines Currency Exchange, in the mid-1960s. The frieze sign was changed again and an hourglass shaped projecting neon sign was added. Some time later the upper window was covered by a mansard roof and another big panel sign, and the neon hourglass was replaced by a backlit plastic panel, leaving the eyesore we see now. Surprisingly, much of the original iron work still exists, altered to fit two doors instead of one.

This building looks like an excellent candidate for rehabilitation. The building would be well-suited for a number of uses, especially across from the train station. It would make a good coffeeshop, sandwich shop - maybe even a nice little Greek restaurant! And remember, it attaches to the adjacent building, which adds more flexibility. The First National Bank building is another almost forgotten piece of history downtown with a lot of character and potential.