West Side Bank

West Side Bank View all images of West Side Bank

Quick Timeline

1906	West Side Bank moves into this brand new building
1916	Addition nearly doubles size of bank
1932	Bank closes due to Depression
1935	First Federal moves in to building

Location

Architecture

History

founded in 1902 to serve the financial needs of the residents and businesses west of Pigeon Creek, the West Side Bank opened its doors for business just after the New Year in leased quarters on West Franklin St. The bank was successful from the start and a couple of years later, its directors--men such as furniture manufacturer benjamin bosse, dr thomas macer, h frederick riechmann, and businessmen august rosenberger and leon currey--began planning for a more prestigious banking facility. in 1906, plans were implemented and a new building was erected on the corner of west franklin st and 11th ave, on the former site of the peter hess homestead (1857), store, and sausage factory. the architects were the firm of (william j) & clifford shopbell, and the design they developed was a limestone-clad, noe-classical structure that projected an image of tradition and soundness for the young bank. to augment the income of the banking operation, a two-story duplex was constructed at the south end of the bank building for rental purposes. the west side bank continued to thrive through the teens and the 1920s. in 1932, it became a casualty of the Depression and was forced to close its doors. since 1935, the building has been occupied by the first federal saving and loan association (rechartered and named first federal savings bank in march 1988), a west side institution established in 1904 as the west side building loan and savings association Shopbell did plans for addition 1916 built 1916-7

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