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Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: May 07, 2010 01:00PM
Corner of North, Damen and Milwaukee. No longer a bank, but was told it was quite a facility - huge domed ceiling, etc. Gangster ghosts?
Would like to learn more about this place.
TIA.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2010 02:26PM by daveg.
Would like to learn more about this place.
TIA.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/10/2010 02:26PM by daveg.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: May 07, 2010 02:20PM
Found this article on a recent happening at the bank building.
http://oururbantimes.com/moviestheatres/robbery-progress-milwaukee-damen-and-north-not-really
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2010 05:31PM by daveg.
http://oururbantimes.com/moviestheatres/robbery-progress-milwaukee-damen-and-north-not-really
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2010 05:31PM by daveg.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
WayOutWardell
()
Date: May 07, 2010 02:36PM
Came across this gem:
[url=http://www.prices4antiques.com/banks/lead/Still-Bank-Rehberger-Noel-State-Bank-Lead-2-inch-D9815774.htm]Noel State Bank Bank[/url]
[url=http://www.prices4antiques.com/banks/lead/Still-Bank-Rehberger-Noel-State-Bank-Lead-2-inch-D9815774.htm]Noel State Bank Bank[/url]
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: May 07, 2010 03:40PM
Hope the link works.
If not then search google books for:
Chicago: Its History and Its Builders, a Century of Marvelous Growth, Vol. 4
Josiah Seymour Currey
1912
S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago
pages 417-419
Article on Joseph Noel, founder of the bank in 1905 then called North West Savings Bank.
Note that the article uses Robey instead of Damen to describe the location of the bank. Robey was renamed to Damen in 1927.
http://books.google.com/books?id=JP8TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA418&lpg=PA418&dq=noel+state+bank+chicago&source=bl&ots=U6KxiEEbie&sig=3NCzo0_STex-HnqHULw-tkvGrdE&hl=en&ei=Ti7kS6imK8L-8Aag76DNDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=noel%20state%20bank%20chicago&f=false
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2010 05:38PM by daveg.
If not then search google books for:
Chicago: Its History and Its Builders, a Century of Marvelous Growth, Vol. 4
Josiah Seymour Currey
1912
S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago
pages 417-419
Article on Joseph Noel, founder of the bank in 1905 then called North West Savings Bank.
Note that the article uses Robey instead of Damen to describe the location of the bank. Robey was renamed to Damen in 1927.
http://books.google.com/books?id=JP8TAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA418&lpg=PA418&dq=noel+state+bank+chicago&source=bl&ots=U6KxiEEbie&sig=3NCzo0_STex-HnqHULw-tkvGrdE&hl=en&ei=Ti7kS6imK8L-8Aag76DNDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CDQQ6AEwCA#v=onepage&q=noel%20state%20bank%20chicago&f=false
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2010 05:38PM by daveg.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
captain54
()
Date: May 08, 2010 03:55AM
not sure about the date of this pix, but I did find out that Noel funded the building of the tower across the street. Also, the steel structure above the bank held the name of the bank in big letters..."NOEL STATE BANK"
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/4588536570/" title="Noel State Bank - Tower - Wicker Park Chicago by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/4588536570_698a301e39_o.jpg" width="432" height="572" alt="Noel State Bank - Tower - Wicker Park Chicago" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/20205384@N03/4588536570/" title="Noel State Bank - Tower - Wicker Park Chicago by captain54_01, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3303/4588536570_698a301e39_o.jpg" width="432" height="572" alt="Noel State Bank - Tower - Wicker Park Chicago" /></a>
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
captain54
()
Date: May 08, 2010 04:08AM
if you're looking for an old Gangster Ghost bank, this would be a pretty well known establishment in Chicago lore. The old "Italian trust and Savings" during prohibition, now "Emmit's Irish Pub"
http://www.yellowbot.com/emmits-irish-pub-chicago-il.html
http://www.yellowbot.com/emmits-irish-pub-chicago-il.html
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: May 08, 2010 11:28AM
Thanks for the picture and additional infomation captain54.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
fleurblue
()
Date: May 24, 2010 11:34PM
I stopped when I saw the name Noel Bank. My mom told me that the bank I worked at was once the Noel Bank and now called Fairfield Savings and Loan, when I was in college in the 70s.
My mom said my grandfather lost $5 in the Noel Bank during the depression.
The building is very impressive; all gray marble and dark wood. The perimeters of the lobby have raised office and teller areas. Large windows graced the walls. Office areas were partitioned off in the rear and a large marble staircase led to the mezzanine level which housed the loan department which overlooked the entire bank.
A coffee room and large retro women's lounge with a wall of mirrors and vanities was located in the basement. There were creepy dark areas of the basement which must have been under the main floor above. Never went there.
In spite of the massiveness of this building, one day in the 70s we felt the structure lurch. That was the day a small earthquake hit Chicago.
The bank hit some controversy in the 60s and 70s for refusing to make loans in the Wicker Park area (redlining). I guess they had no faith in the future of the Wicker Park neighborhood. Ha!
The bank eventually moved and built an impressive building at the the corner of Routes 53 and 85 in Long Grove, IL. The name was now Fairfield Savings Bank.
I miss those days and my co-workers at Fairfield. Also the local color; Busy Bee Restaurant pirogis, Andies Candies ice cream, and the bazaar that was and still is Milwaukee Ave.
My mom said my grandfather lost $5 in the Noel Bank during the depression.
The building is very impressive; all gray marble and dark wood. The perimeters of the lobby have raised office and teller areas. Large windows graced the walls. Office areas were partitioned off in the rear and a large marble staircase led to the mezzanine level which housed the loan department which overlooked the entire bank.
A coffee room and large retro women's lounge with a wall of mirrors and vanities was located in the basement. There were creepy dark areas of the basement which must have been under the main floor above. Never went there.
In spite of the massiveness of this building, one day in the 70s we felt the structure lurch. That was the day a small earthquake hit Chicago.
The bank hit some controversy in the 60s and 70s for refusing to make loans in the Wicker Park area (redlining). I guess they had no faith in the future of the Wicker Park neighborhood. Ha!
The bank eventually moved and built an impressive building at the the corner of Routes 53 and 85 in Long Grove, IL. The name was now Fairfield Savings Bank.
I miss those days and my co-workers at Fairfield. Also the local color; Busy Bee Restaurant pirogis, Andies Candies ice cream, and the bazaar that was and still is Milwaukee Ave.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
daveg
()
Date: May 25, 2010 08:07PM
Wow, nice Noel story fleurblue.
I have recently been in that area and saw the buildings shown in the picture above. Nike had a party in the bank building and really spiffed it up. I saw some pictures of the event and the insides of the bank. Very impressive both now and for sure back then.
I wondered why the building is now shuttered. Someone with the right idea, even another bank, and a little luck could turn that into quite a corner.
And I've many times passed Fairfield Savings. I think you meant the corner of Routes 53 and 83, not 85 in Long Grove.
To close, Milwaukee Ave and that whole area was really buzzin'. Good to see.
I have recently been in that area and saw the buildings shown in the picture above. Nike had a party in the bank building and really spiffed it up. I saw some pictures of the event and the insides of the bank. Very impressive both now and for sure back then.
I wondered why the building is now shuttered. Someone with the right idea, even another bank, and a little luck could turn that into quite a corner.
And I've many times passed Fairfield Savings. I think you meant the corner of Routes 53 and 83, not 85 in Long Grove.
To close, Milwaukee Ave and that whole area was really buzzin'. Good to see.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
Richard Stachowski
()
Date: May 26, 2010 12:20AM
[b]If I remember the tower building was a Zenith hearing aid company. Could look it up on Polk's 1930 address guide.[/b]
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
saintniec
()
Date: May 29, 2010 10:28AM
I was at a rummage sale just a bit north of Lake Geneva and cound an ad sheet from the bank dated 1923. I have a son, Noel. If I can get a picture I will try to get it here.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
fleurblue
()
Date: May 30, 2010 11:15PM
Daveg, I didn't know so many events and films took place at the old bank building but knowing the interiors, I can see why.
As to current use, I think I saw somewhere that the Chamber of Commerce had offices on the mezzanine. I remember there being a back entrance at the time.
I wonder who holds title to the property now. I doubt it is the family that ran the bank when I was there.
The family hired a lot of college students for part time work. They even gave a small Christmas bonus check to us.
I remember there was a man down on his luck with a family to support; lost his job, I guess. The bank president offered him weekend chores at the bank and in exchange he could pay what he could on his mortgage and avoid foreclosue. I remember he showed up once and never returned.
It seems that the banking industry today is in favor of putting up cheap structures that can easily be vacated when business mandates. Massive edifices like Fairfield/Noel, originally designed to evoke a feeling of safety and almost temple-like reverence, are no longer valued in today's financial world.
As to current use, I think I saw somewhere that the Chamber of Commerce had offices on the mezzanine. I remember there being a back entrance at the time.
I wonder who holds title to the property now. I doubt it is the family that ran the bank when I was there.
The family hired a lot of college students for part time work. They even gave a small Christmas bonus check to us.
I remember there was a man down on his luck with a family to support; lost his job, I guess. The bank president offered him weekend chores at the bank and in exchange he could pay what he could on his mortgage and avoid foreclosue. I remember he showed up once and never returned.
It seems that the banking industry today is in favor of putting up cheap structures that can easily be vacated when business mandates. Massive edifices like Fairfield/Noel, originally designed to evoke a feeling of safety and almost temple-like reverence, are no longer valued in today's financial world.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
tom12ga
()
Date: April 22, 2013 09:23AM
I thought that the following [url=http://blog.chicagoarchitecture.info/2012/11/20/first-look-flagship-walgreens-inside-historic-noel-state-bank-building/]update[/url] and photos might be of some interest to the group:
Walgreens has restored (and modified) the interior of the bank and there is a link to Chicago Architecture blog's article above.
Walgreens has restored (and modified) the interior of the bank and there is a link to Chicago Architecture blog's article above.
Re: Noel State Bank - info request
Posted by:
Chipast
()
Date: April 23, 2013 09:36PM
Richard Stachowski Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I remember the tower building was a Zenith
> hearing aid company. Could look it up on Polk's
> 1930 address guide.
It was in the building until the early 1980's, I guess.
-------------------------------------------------------
> If I remember the tower building was a Zenith
> hearing aid company. Could look it up on Polk's
> 1930 address guide.
It was in the building until the early 1980's, I guess.
