NOTE: Over 100 years ago every Delco town had it's own National Bank, from Darby to Marcus Hook, Ridley Park to Clifton Heights. Almost all are gone now. The Media National Bank opened shortly after the town started and this building was built and opened in October of 1900, not 1899 like the plaque on the building says.
Media National Bank Building Opens
The First National Bank of Media opened out for business this morning in the handsome new stone structure at the corner of South Avenue and State Street. It is about one year ago since the old bank building was torn down to make place for the present building and during its construction the business has been conducted in the Fairlamb building on the opposite side of the street. The new building can truly be said to be one of the finest in the State of Pennsylvania outside of the large cities. The approximate cost is $75,000, nearly half of which was expended on the new patent safes which will keep secure the money and books of the bank. Great attention was paid to this feature of the building, but while this is so, nothing to make it a most attractive and comfortable structure was overlooked. The directors are to be congratulated upon giving to Media such a fine piece of architectural workmanship.
The bank not only ranks well up with the State banks of Pennsylvania, but is far up the list in the line of banks of the country at large.
The work of moving was done yesterday after banking hours and while everything is not in apple pie order today, things are in such shape that the business can be done with dispatch. The patrons of this institution will be shown the beauties of the building as they come. It was at first thought to have the building thrown open to the public for inspection several days but President J.W. Hawley and the directors decided that they would enter the building very quietly and do the showing around afterward.
The building must be seen to be appreciated. It is built on the Leiper & Lewis stone. One of the great advantages of the building is the provision made for light. The ceiling is high, and taken all in all, a building more suited for the purpose than this one it would be hard to construct. In addition to the main banking room, there is a fine room for the directors and all other things necessary for an up-to-date bank.
The ceiling down to the top of the windows has a green tint with gold trimmings on the columns. The remainder of the walls down to the floor are made to represent colored marble. The floor is of tile. The furniture is of cherry and contracts very nicely with the other part of the building.
The present directors are: J.W. Hawley, president; Charles R. Williamson, William H. Miller, Edgar T. Miller, George M. Lewis, Media; John Leedom, Manoa; Homer E. Hoopes, Media; Benjamin Brooke, Philadelphia, Chas .L. Serrill, Darby.
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