Belleville in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Belleville Savings Bank
Photographed By Jason Voigt, December 6, 2019
1. Belleville Savings Bank Marker
When the doors opened at Belleville Savings Bank's new building on October 15, 1913, the bank was the oldest and largest in Belleville. It had been chartered in 1859. German immigrant Edward Abend, who came with the first group of "Latin Farmers" to St. Clair County in the 1830s, was its founding president and held that position for over 40 years. The bank hired the local architectural firm of Frank Riester and Otto Rubach to design a building that would symbolize the bank's permanence and its safety for depositors. The front is made of Vermont granite. The pillars are single pieces of granite 25 feet tall. Each weighs 25 tons. After a bank consolidation that created the Belleville National Savings Bank in 1957, the building became vacant. Newhard, Cook & Company, a stock brokerage, later occupied this facility for nearly 30 years. It was succeeded by McKendree College, which offered nursing classes here. In 2003 Bridgeman Insurance Agency moved into the building.
Erected 2014 by Belleville Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is October 15, 1913.
Location. 38° 30.811′ N, 89° 59.005′ W. Marker is in Belleville, Illinois, in St. Clair
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Deidesheimer's Dry Goods Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Belleville Public Square (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Clair National Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); George Bunsen (about 300 feet away); Theodor Erasmus Hilgard (about 300 feet away); Les Mueller (about 300 feet away); Gustavus P. Koerner / Sophia Engelmann Koerner (about 300 feet away); Lyman Trumbull (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belleville.
Photographed By Jason Voigt, December 6, 2019
2. Belleville Savings Bank Marker
The marker is under the 20 E Main Street sign.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 330 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 7, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
