Laramie State Bank
Laramie State Bank
Posted by: Artista (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: May 31, 2010 11:19AM

I recently drove past this beautiful building of old. I haven't done any research on it but it has all the markings of the Art Deco period (which i have always loved). Any thoughts or comments, old photos? http://www.flickr.com/photos/metroblossom/445716806/page2/



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/31/2010 11:20AM by Artista.

Re: Laramie State Bank
Posted by: Berwyn Frank (---.lightspeed.cicril.sbcglobal.net)
Date: May 31, 2010 09:19PM

Artista, here is a rare real photo postcard from my collection circa 1910 of the Ruzicka (Czech or Slovak surname) Drug Store building that stood in the place of the bank before it was built. Note the fire house behind the building which still stands today but serves some other purpose.



Here is sort of the same view today.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=laramie+%26+chicago+ave+chicago&sll=41.876166,-87.754648&sspn=0.444803,1.055374&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=W+Chicago+Ave+%26+N+Laramie+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois&ll=41.89513,-87.755592&spn=0,0.01649&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.895219,-87.755599&panoid=ds3R--_jRzDtX19FmpUpfQ&cbp=12,310.48,,0,-10.22

Just for the heck of it, here is a better circa 1910 view of the fire house behind where the bank building now stands.



Here is a view of the fire house in 2007-2008.



Re: Laramie State Bank
Posted by: Artista (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: June 01, 2010 02:03PM

Fantastic pics Frank,,thanks.

Re: Laramie State Bank
Posted by: Elaine W (192.175.17.---)
Date: June 07, 2010 09:07PM

Laramie State Bank, 5200 W. Chicago Ave., is listed in "AIA Guide to Chicago." The listing credits Meyer & Cook for the 1928 remodeling of what was originally a 1909 building. Probably the first photo posted here by Berwyn Frank is the 1909 building, which then got an exuberant Art Deco remodeling in 1928. The terra cotta is from the Northwestern Terra Cotta Company.

Re: Laramie State Bank
Posted by: Artista (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: June 08, 2010 12:36PM

Elaine thank you so much for that tidbit of information..great stuff



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/08/2010 12:36PM by Artista.

Re: Laramie State Bank
Posted by: tomcat630 (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: June 23, 2010 03:05AM

It was my parent's bank when we lived in Austin 1960-70. Was called Citizen's Bank. When we moved to Portage Park, we had to swith to Irving Bank. The days before branch banking, had to change checking accounts to closest banks.

Re: Laramie State Bank
Posted by: Artista (---.hsd1.il.comcast.net)
Date: September 17, 2010 03:20PM

Hi Tom,,sorry for the delayed response. Thank you for that bit of info.

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