Columbus in Columbia County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Farmers & Merchants Union Bank

Established 1861

Farmers and Merchants Union Bank Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, July 11, 2013

1. Farmers and Merchants Union Bank Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

In 1919, Bank President J. Russell Wheeler and his wife, Anna May Wheeler, retained Architect Louis Sullivan. Known as the father of the skyscraper, Sullivan was to design a building that would give the bank an image of financial security, civic monumentality, and community activity. This building is the result of that endeavor. Sullivan referred to it as his “Jewel Box”. It was the last of eight mid-western banks that he designed and it was his last building commission.

Erected by Columbus Historic Preservation Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.

Location. 43° 20.329′ N, 89° 0.935′ W. Marker is in Columbus, Wisconsin, in Columbia County. Marker is at the intersection of West James Street (State Highway 16-60) and South Dickason Boulevard, on the right when traveling east on West James Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 159 W James St, Columbus WI 53925, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Grand Army of the Republic Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Columbus Public Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Columbus City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Governor James Taylor Lewis / Governor Lewis: Civil War Era (approx. 0.4 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 3.3 miles away); Fall River Dam (approx. 3.8 miles away); Lowell Women Firefighters (approx. 9.8 miles away); Frederick Douglass (approx. 12 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbus.

Also see . . . Farmers & Merchants Union Bank History. (Submitted on August 6, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin.)

Farmers and Merchants Union Bank National Historic Landmark image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, July 11, 2013

2. Farmers and Merchants Union Bank National Historic Landmark

Farmers and Merchants Union Bank image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, July 11, 2013

3. Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

Columbus Historic Preservation Commission Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, July 11, 2013

4. Columbus Historic Preservation Commission Plaque

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, July 11, 2013

5. Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

Marble marquee above door

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 498 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 2, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.