First National Bank of Mankato
Encyclopedia
The First National Bank of Mankato, also known as the Old First National Bank of Mankato and located at 229 Front Street South in Mankato
, Minnesota
, is a fine example of Prairie School
architecture in a commercial building, relating rural life to the development of downtown Mankato as a regional center of commerce and finance. The recently restored exterior is now part of the Mankato Civic Center, the Verizon Wireless Center.
beginning in 1852, on land previously occupied by the indigenous Sisseton (“Lake Village”) Dakota Sioux
until they were forced to cede it under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux
of 1851. Experiencing rapid growth, Mankato sprouted quarries, industries, stores, hotels, and other commercial concerns. "Perhaps most crucial to these businesses, and to the farmers in Blue Earth County, were Mankato’s banks."
The First National Bank of Mankato was one of the three competing financial institutions in the early 20th Century, along with the Citizens’ National Bank and the Mankato State Bank (earlier Mankato National Bank). First National had already been the target of the famous aborted robbery attempt by Jesse James
and the James-Younger Gang
in 1876, which immediately preceded their defeat at Northfield
.
The building eventually built by Ellerbe and Round for the First National Bank involves a likely case of stolen designs. Looking for a new building, First National officials approached Carl K. Bennett of Owatonna
, Minnesota, who connected them with the famous Minneapolis-based architectural firm of Purcell and Elmslie in 1912. According to several accounts, Purcell and Elmslie drew extensive sketches for the proposed building which they left with the bank officials. Later informed by mail that the bank would not be using them, they requested that the sketches be returned. The sketches were, but only after a delay of many weeks, during which time the bank hired Ellerbe and Round to be their architects.
It appears that their 1913 design made extensive use of the Purcell and Elmslie sketches. Purcell and Elmslie even received several congratulatory letters from people familiar with their work who had assumed the design was theirs. Although the design closely follows the Purcell and Elmslie design, Ellerbe and Round did eliminate the landscaped forecourt and a deep arch at the front.
Ellerbe and Round would go on to become famous for designing a number of structures for the Mayo Clinic
, including the original "Red" Building of 1914.
Originally occupying the prominent corner of Front Street South and West Hickory Street, the First National Bank building was threatened with demolition. Instead, the exterior has been restored and incorporated into the south side of the Verizon Wireless Center as one of the center's event spaces. With that portion of Front Street gone, the restored bank exterior can now be accessed at approximately 105 West Hickory Street.
or the banks of his former employees, William Gray Purcell and George Elmslie. The brick building's architectural features include Frank Lloyd Wright
-inspired stained glass windows and intricate ornamentation at the roof-line.
Even though David Gebhard and Tom Martinson conclude that the resulting building lacks the "liveliness" of a work by Sullivan or by Purcell and Elmslie, they consider it "a good academic exercise in the Prairie Style" and "the most important single building in Mankato."
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, is a fine example of Prairie School
Prairie School
Prairie School was a late 19th and early 20th century architectural style, most common to the Midwestern United States.The works of the Prairie School architects are usually marked by horizontal lines, flat or hipped roofs with broad overhanging eaves, windows grouped in horizontal bands,...
architecture in a commercial building, relating rural life to the development of downtown Mankato as a regional center of commerce and finance. The recently restored exterior is now part of the Mankato Civic Center, the Verizon Wireless Center.
History
Mankato was settled by WhitesWhite people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
beginning in 1852, on land previously occupied by the indigenous Sisseton (“Lake Village”) Dakota Sioux
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
until they were forced to cede it under the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux
Treaty of Traverse des Sioux
The Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was a treaty signed on July 23, 1851, between the United States government and Sioux Indian bands in Minnesota Territory by which the Sioux ceded territory. The treaty was instigated by Alexander Ramsey, the first governor of Minnesota Territory, and Luke Lea,...
of 1851. Experiencing rapid growth, Mankato sprouted quarries, industries, stores, hotels, and other commercial concerns. "Perhaps most crucial to these businesses, and to the farmers in Blue Earth County, were Mankato’s banks."
The First National Bank of Mankato was one of the three competing financial institutions in the early 20th Century, along with the Citizens’ National Bank and the Mankato State Bank (earlier Mankato National Bank). First National had already been the target of the famous aborted robbery attempt by Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
and the James-Younger Gang
James-Younger gang
The James-Younger Gang was a notable 19th-century gang of American outlaws that included Jesse James.The gang was centered in the state of Missouri. Membership fluctuated from robbery to robbery, as the outlaws' raids were usually separated by many months...
in 1876, which immediately preceded their defeat at Northfield
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
.
The building eventually built by Ellerbe and Round for the First National Bank involves a likely case of stolen designs. Looking for a new building, First National officials approached Carl K. Bennett of Owatonna
Owatonna
Owatonna is both a city and a township in Steele County, Minnesota, in the United States:*Owatonna, Minnesota*Owatonna Township, Steele County, Minnesota...
, Minnesota, who connected them with the famous Minneapolis-based architectural firm of Purcell and Elmslie in 1912. According to several accounts, Purcell and Elmslie drew extensive sketches for the proposed building which they left with the bank officials. Later informed by mail that the bank would not be using them, they requested that the sketches be returned. The sketches were, but only after a delay of many weeks, during which time the bank hired Ellerbe and Round to be their architects.
It appears that their 1913 design made extensive use of the Purcell and Elmslie sketches. Purcell and Elmslie even received several congratulatory letters from people familiar with their work who had assumed the design was theirs. Although the design closely follows the Purcell and Elmslie design, Ellerbe and Round did eliminate the landscaped forecourt and a deep arch at the front.
Ellerbe and Round would go on to become famous for designing a number of structures for the Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
, including the original "Red" Building of 1914.
Architecture
The First National Bank building includes Mankato limestone, brick, and terra cotta in a manner similar to that of the "jewel box" banks of Louis SullivanLouis Sullivan
Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...
or the banks of his former employees, William Gray Purcell and George Elmslie. The brick building's architectural features include Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
-inspired stained glass windows and intricate ornamentation at the roof-line.
Even though David Gebhard and Tom Martinson conclude that the resulting building lacks the "liveliness" of a work by Sullivan or by Purcell and Elmslie, they consider it "a good academic exercise in the Prairie Style" and "the most important single building in Mankato."