Bank of Ensley: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:1917 Bank of Ensley.jpg|right|thumb|275px|1917 Bank of Ensley building as it appeared in a 1929 advertisement for the Georgia Marble Co.]] | [[Image:1917 Bank of Ensley.jpg|right|thumb|275px|1917 Bank of Ensley building as it appeared in a 1929 advertisement for the Georgia Marble Co.]] | ||
[[Image:Bank of Ensley building.jpg|right|thumb|275px|1917 Bank of Ensley building. Photo by André Natta]] | [[Image:Bank of Ensley building.jpg|right|thumb|275px|1917 Bank of Ensley building. Photo by André Natta]] | ||
The '''Bank of Ensley''' was a bank founded by [[Erskine Ramsay]] and [[George McCormack]] with [[Robert Chadwick]] in [[1900]]. The bank's slogan was "Strong enough to protect you. Large enough to serve you. Small enough to know you." | The '''Bank of Ensley''' was a bank founded by [[Erskine Ramsay]] and [[George McCormack]] with [[Robert Chadwick]] on [[May 10]], [[1899]]. It opened for business in [[1900]]. The bank's slogan was "Strong enough to protect you. Large enough to serve you. Small enough to know you." | ||
In [[1906]] the Bank of Ensley merged with the [[First National Bank of Ensley]]. The president of that company, [[Gordon Dubose]], was arrested later that year on a charge of embezzling $40,000 of his bank's money prior to the merger. | In [[1906]] the Bank of Ensley merged with the [[First National Bank of Ensley]]. The president of that company, [[Gordon Dubose]], was arrested later that year on a charge of embezzling $40,000 of his bank's money prior to the merger. | ||
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[[Category:Defunct banks]] | [[Category:Defunct banks]] | ||
[[Category:1899 establishments]] | |||
[[Category:1917 buildings]] | [[Category:1917 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:19th Street Ensley]] | [[Category:19th Street Ensley]] | ||
[[Category:Avenue E Ensley]] | [[Category:Avenue E Ensley]] | ||
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places]] | [[Category:National Register of Historic Places]] |
Revision as of 02:01, 21 January 2011
The Bank of Ensley was a bank founded by Erskine Ramsay and George McCormack with Robert Chadwick on May 10, 1899. It opened for business in 1900. The bank's slogan was "Strong enough to protect you. Large enough to serve you. Small enough to know you."
In 1906 the Bank of Ensley merged with the First National Bank of Ensley. The president of that company, Gordon Dubose, was arrested later that year on a charge of embezzling $40,000 of his bank's money prior to the merger.
In 1917 the bank constructed a new monumental Beaux-Arts style building, clad in Georgia marble, at 19th Street and Avenue E in downtown Ensley.
In 1929 the bank moved across the same intersection to the ground floor of the new 10-story Ramsay-McCormack building. The effects of the Great Depression, however, forced the bank to close its doors on January 11, 1930.
A branch office, managed by H. J. Cummings, was located in Wylam. A bench outside the building served as a gathering spot for retired miners to swap stories and pass the time.
The building was later used by the First National Bank of Birmingham. Later it was used for storage by the Birmingham Public Library while the Ensley Library and East Ensley Library underwent renovations.
The building is currently the home of the Monumental Contracting Company, which performed a restoration.
The Bank of Ensley building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1984.
References
- "Bank president arrested." (May 27, 1906) The New York Times
- Ennis, William (July 1940) "Wylam Old Timers Have Nothing to Do Now but Just Talk." Birmingham News - via Birmingham Rewound
- Prince, A. G. (1982) Landmarks of Ensley: Past and Present. revised edition. Ensley: Best Printing Service
- Natta, André (October 11, 2007) "Random shots: A facelift for an Ensley landmark" The Terminal