Old Second National Bank

Old Second National Bank. Downtown Heritage Tour. , This 1924 building is one of the significant Prairie style designs by George Grant Elmslie. It reflects some of the best features of the Prairie style, such as openings with terra cotta ornament, and the incorporation of sculpture into the design, here representing the uses and purposes of the bank., William George, the bank's president from 1895-1933, selected Elmslie to execute "a structure that would grow old with dignity and charm, but contain the spirit of a new day in commerce, the arts and the social welfare of the community." In 1925 this structure was the cornerstone of a bustling commercial block; however, the buildings to the north have since been demolished., The interior of the building is quite unusual. From the open banking floor, rows of windows are visible two stories above, each with a balcony in front, up to a gabled roof with stained glass visible from the exterior. Inside, the counters and ceiling have been altered. The walls have been divided into squares, with a piece of colored ceramic tile set in each corner, forming a part of the original Prairie style interior. Large murals, showing life in the riverside settlements that eventually matured into the City of Aurora, are an impressive decorative feature.