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Page 180 BANKING
The building occupied by the bank was a small two-story
frame structure at No. 29 North Brady Street. The furnishings were a
large iron safe in which was a compartment supposed to be
constructed of chilled steel and at that time would be regarded as
burglar proof. The safe was probably six feet high and of a
corresponding width. The counter was a plain board affair with a
wire screen on top three feet high in which was a small wicket,
through which the cashier transacted business. Two or three chairs
and a desk were the additional furniture. This whole equipment
probably did not cost over $500.00. This bank continued in that
location until some time in i887 when the management rented the
corner room in the one-story building located at the corner of East
Long Avenue and North Brady Street. When this building was erected,
a small brick vault had been constructed in one corner of the room
probably 25 feet from the front of the building. The room had stood
idle some little time when the bank rented it.
Mr. Bovard was growing old and wished to retire from
the banking business and on the 4th day of February, 1888, he gave
to W. C. Pentz an option to purchase his bank for the sum of
$11,000.00. $10,000.00 was supposed to represent the capital of the
bank and $1000.00 was a bonus for the business. $500.00 was paid
down and the bank was to be delivered on the first of the following
June. This contract is still in existence.
The persons who were behind this purchase were the
directors of the First National Bank of DuBois City. It was not the
intention of the First National Bank of DuBois City to merge the two
banks, but to carry on the one as a private affair and the other as
a national bank. However, the banks were owned by practically the
same people, there being few stockholders in the First National Bank
outside of the Board of Directors.
The new purchasers took possession of the bank on the
4th day of June, 1888, and on the i8th of June the great fire of
DuBois destroyed all of the furniture and fixtures of the bank,
leaving only the currency, books and probably some stationery. Of
course the safe was not burned up, but it was so destroyed that is
was subsequently sold for junk.
Two or three days after the fire, when the bank secured
its books and currency, it was moved to the Opera House and occupied
the ticket office on the left hand side of the entrance.
Subsequently the bank purchased the lot at No. 29 North Brady
Street, upon which the wooden building had stood, which had been
destroyed by fire, and a two-story building was erected with a
banking roam on one side and a store room on the other with an
apartment overhead. In this bank was placed the first security boxes
brought to DuBois to rent to customers for safe keeping of their
papers.
This bank was continued as a private affair until
the 12th day of
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