Farmers State Bank Building

Donated by Bloedorn Family

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

1. Farmers State Bank Building Marker

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Plains.

West,

Plains,

Plains.

America,

Hemisphere,

World,

Anglosphere.

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Lyn Deal, 6/1990:
The Farmers State Bank building is a finely articulated example of classical Moderne and Art Deco style with its smooth surfaces, carved stone panels and stylized decoration emphasizing the geometric form. Eugene G. Groves, a sought-after Denver architect, designed the new modern bank building in a modified Greek temple form with fluted pilasters, stylized flat capitals, and a dentiled cornice. In these details the Farmers State Bank building is one of the most classically styled buildings in the downtown

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

2. Farmers State Bank Building (west/front elevation)

business district. When the bank was completed and opened to the public on December 20, 1930, it was one of the most complete and up-to-date bank buildings in the state.
The president of the Farmers State Bank, John H. Bloedorn Sr., and his brothers built this building on the site of the 1900 Curry Hotel which had been demolished in 1930. The new bank building incorporated the most modern ideas of bank architecture and planning. The classical form of the building with stone, steel and marble and the modernistic treatment of ornament expressed strength, security, conservative progressiveness and wholesomeness for the ever-growing clientele.
The new building was faced with smooth oblong limestone blocks placed in linear patterns to form clean lines with distinct spacial divisions. The streamline bronze lettering for the bank sign was unified with the design of the building. The projected entrance bay embellished with vertical fluting and horizontal motifs of zig-zag bands and carved stone panels caused a conspicuous degree of attention toward the drama of life within.
The bank's style capitalized on window treatment to lead the eye along

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 31, 2021

3. Farmers State Bank Building (southwest elevation)

The marker is mounted on the southwest corner of the building, facing Main Street.

lines of continuous movement. The windows in the southwest corner bays were designed to smoothly move the eye from the facade around to the side of the building. The architectural design of the strip of windows was used to break up the flat plane of the surface and to emphasize the vertical lines. The dimensional use of set-backs also amplified the qualities of lightness and openness.
The finest quality of traditional materials for the Art Deco style were also used on the interior of the building. Imported black and gold Italian and domestic marble fixtures were prepared and matched for their location. Also common to the modern style is the hard high gloss terrazzo floor with brass inlay to form geometric patterns to match the marble. The wrought iron electric light fixtures, stair railings and iron grillwork play an important part in the Art Deco style and also heighten the use of the color black. The walls were cream colored stucco with walnut wainscot and trim. The ceiling was the latest in modern soundproof Acousti-Celotex panels finished with stencil painted pastel murals designed by Mr. Groves.
The new modern bank building had

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every feature of beauty, convenience and safety including 30,000 pounds of vault equipment from Charpiot Safe Company of Denver. Even though the vault was equipped with the most modern burglar proof triple time locks, the bank was robbed of $10,311 on July 8, 1939. Most of the money was recovered after the bank robbers, Myron Howan and Kenneth Alien of Denver were tracked down and killed in Sidney, Nebraska and Garden City, Kansas.

Excerpt:  Denver architect Eugene G. Groves designed the Art Deco bank building. Completed in 1930, the one-story building features carved buff colored Indiana limestone. Built by John H. Bloedorn, Sr., a prominent social leader in town, and his brothers, the structure was one of the most complete and up-to-date bank buildings in the state.

(by Thomas J. Noel)  Excerpt:  The Denver architect of the Morgan County courthouse, Eugene G. Groves, also created this classically derived, single-story building of buff Indiana limestone in smooth ashlar blocks. The little-altered bank combines a vertical Art Deco feeling with horizontal zigzag banding above windows. Both street elevations have slightly protruding central bays with modest raised parapets and dentiled cornices. On the narrow west facade, double doors are recessed between flat, fluted pilasters with plain plinths and stylized capitals, and the entry and window transoms feature carved floral patterns.