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 The stately and sturdy bank building which helps anchor Harrisburg’s Third Street business corridor, directly opposite the ancient Broad Street Market, stands, and shall continue to stand, as a monument to the banking industry and to historic preservation. Its proud banking heritage encompasses many unique ad noteworthy milestones of its industry. As an architectural landmark, this century-old structure has withstood several disastrous fires, two major reconstructions and equally significant, the comprehensive evolution of its industry, its corporate parentage and its neighborhood. It is a noble survivor.
The premises opened for business at the beginning of 1894, housing dual corporate operations of the Central Guarantee Trust & Safe Deposit Co. and the Merchants National Bank. Merchants National had opened for business in 1887 at Third and Cumberland Street, while the Central Trust was incorporated in 1893 in anticipation of doing business under a shared roof and shared hierarchy of officers and directors. The arrangement was not uncommon, and it enabled enterprising bankers to offer a full menu of financial services that crossed the boundaries of federally- and state-regulated banking activities. An imaginary line bisected the interior into two identical halves, each with its own manager, employees, teller windows, vault and set of books.
The first president of both organizations was Hamilton D. Hemler, succeeded sometime after 1906 by William Donaldson. Color postcards published in 1910 show the building much as it appears today, with its fortress-like façade of Hummelestown Brownstone over an Indiana Limestone base. However, the front portion is decidedly different, with a tall hip roof and different window configuration. The design is a mix of Romanesque, Medieval and Queen Anne styles.
In 1911, the front portion of the structure was largely rebuilt, eliminating the hip roof and rose windows. The revised walls rose to a central pediment, which is engraved with the date of the Central Trust Company’s incorporation, 1893. Extensive interior remodeling was made, primarily to accommodate the rapid changes in office technology and banking procedures. It is believed that the building was expanded westward to Susquehanna Street during its remodeling.
Following a disastrous fire in 1929, which destroyed floors and woodwork, the building was again rebuilt. This work was largely confined to the interior, and advantage was taken to make provisions for future additional stories, with new stairways and elevators. Victorian interior elements, such as the separate men’s and ladies’ waiting rooms, gave way to more modern requirements. Surviving plans show this project to be the work of the noted local architectural firm of Lawrie & Green.
Banking regulatory revisions during the New Deal at last permitted a proper marriage of the building’s two cohabitants, which became the Merchants National Bank and Central Trust Co., whose ultimate logo typographically emphasized the nickname, “National Central.”
Another fire some time after World War II destroyed the adjacent retail building, leaving a vacant lot, which continues to this day. This catastrophe, however, enabled the bank to become the first in Central Pennsylvania to install a drive-in window, when most other banks were confined by urban party walls. Central Trust was also a pioneer of branch banking, merging with the East End Trust Co. at 13th and Market, and erecting the city’s first branch bank at Kline Village in the early Fifties. Subsequent merging partners included the Capitol Bank and Trust Co. and the National Bank of York County, yielding the National Bank & Trust Co. of Central Pennsylvania, again shortened to “National Central.”
In 1970, National Central sold this bank building to Pennsylvania National Bank & Trust Co., headquartered in Pottsville, which heralded that firm’s entry into the Harrisburg market. It subsequently purchased the Allison Hill building from National Central.
The hundred-year history of this banking landmark came to a close in 1993, with the retirement of longtime branch manager George Farner and the closing of the venerable office. Wishing to see its historic building preserved for continued service to the community, PNB made plans to donate the building to the Historic Harrisburg Association for use as a headquarters and community resource center. |
