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Encyclopedia Dubuque

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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.




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[[Image:DSC01084_1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]GERMAN SAVINGS BANK. The formation of the German Savings Bank was announced on October 14, 1864. The founders purchased the former banking office of the Langworthy brothers and sent [[JUNKERMANN, Otto|Otto JUNKERMANN]] and William Westphal to St. Louis to observe operations in a similar German bank. The articles of incorporation for the German Savings Bank were made public the next day. Included among the incorporators were:  
[[Image:DSC01084_1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]
On October 14, 1864 the formation of the German Savings Bank was announced. The founders purchased the former banking office of the Langworthy brothers. (1) [[JUNKERMANN, Karl Frederick "Otto"|Karl Frederick "Otto" JUNKERMANN]] and William Westphal were sent to St. Louis to observe operations in a similar German bank. The articles of incorporation for the German Savings Bank were made public the next day. Included among the incorporators were:  


Henry Baade, grocer
[[HENRY BAADE]], grocer
   
   
Hennan Brinkman, pork packer  
Hennan Brinkman, pork packer  
Line 7: Line 8:
Jacob Christman, hardware salesman  
Jacob Christman, hardware salesman  


Julius Haas, druggist  
[[HAAS, Julius W.|Julius W. HAAS]], druggist  


[[HERANCOURT, Valentine|Valentine HERANCOURT]], furniture maker  
[[HERANCOURT, Valentine|Valentine HERANCOURT]], furniture maker  
Line 13: Line 14:
[[HEEB, Anton|Anton HEEB]], owner of a brewery  
[[HEEB, Anton|Anton HEEB]], owner of a brewery  


William Hintraeger, grocer
[[WILLIAM HINTRAGER]], grocer
   
   
Henry Honach, coppersmith  
Henry Honach, coppersmith  
Line 23: Line 24:
J. H. Kroesen, leather dealer  
J. H. Kroesen, leather dealer  


Adam F. Jaeger, wine and liquor salesman  
[[JAEGER, Adam Francis|Adam Francis JAEGER]], wine and liquor salesman  


Otto Junkermann, druggist
"Otto" Junkermann, druggist
   
   
Francis M. Pleins, soap and candle manufacturer
[[PLEINS, F. M.|F. M. PLEINS]], soap and candle manufacturer
   
   
[[SCHMID, Titus|Titus SCHMID]], brewer  
[[SCHMID, Titus|Titus SCHMID]], brewer  


Bernard Scherr, brewer  
[[SCHERR, Bernhard C.|Bernhard C. SCHERR]], brewer  


[[THEDINGA, John H.|John H. THEDINGA]]  
[[THEDINGA, John H.|John H. THEDINGA]]  
Line 37: Line 38:
[[TSCHIRGI, Mathias|Mathias TSCHIRGI]], brewer  
[[TSCHIRGI, Mathias|Mathias TSCHIRGI]], brewer  


William Westphal, hardware salesman  
[[WESTPHAL, William|William WESTPHAL]], hardware salesman  


While the articles of incorporation were similar to others of the period, one article set this bank apart. It stated that no person could hold the office of president or be employed as cashier or teller unless they were capable of speaking and understanding the German language. (2) This article was not included when the articles were renewed in 1884.


While the articles of incorporation were similar to others of the period, one article set this bank apart. It stated that no person could hold the office of president or be employed as cashier or teller unless they were capable of speaking and understanding the German language. This article was not included when the articles were renewed in 1884. The first directors of the bank were Jacob Christman, Anton Heeb, William Hintraeger, Otto Junkerman, Peter Kiene, F. M. Pleins, Titus Schmid, J. H. Thedinga, and William Westphal. Thedinga was chosen president.  
[[Image:gsb.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]]The hours of banking operation were set at 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday the bank was open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The bank opened for business on November 20, 1864, at 57 Main Street. The 1873-74 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed 60 Main.


[[Image:gsb.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]The hours of banking operation were set at 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday the bank was open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The bank opened for business on November 20, 1864, at 57 Main Street.  
The German Savings Bank survived the financial depression of 1873 and the panic caused by the failure of the [[MERCHANTS' NATIONAL BANK]] due to [[BABBAGE, Richard A.|Richard A. BABBAGE]]. In the same year, downtown [[STREETS]] were renumbered and 60 Main Street became 342 Main Street. In 1874 the Iowa Legislature passed a law prohibiting institutions calling themselves savings banks from any business other than savings. Effective January 15, 1875, German Savings Bank was renamed the German Bank.  


German Savings Bank survived the financial depression of 1873 and the panic caused by the failure of the [[MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK]] due to [[BABBAGE, Richard A.|Richard A. BABBAGE]]. In 1874 the Iowa Legislature passed a law prohibiting institutions calling themselves savings banks from any business other than savings. Effective January 15, 1875, German Savings Bank was renamed the [[GERMAN BANK]].  
[[File:germansavingsbank.jpg|200px|thumb|left|]]The significance of the word "German" in the bank's name had lessened greatly by 1884 when all but three directors were non-German.  


The significance of the word "German" in the bank's name had lessened greatly by 1884 when all but three directors were non-German.  
German Bank underwent great change in leadership in 1890, and the next year it joined the [[DUBUQUE CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION]], a local bank organization that established rules for the operations of member banks. Among the new directors of the bank was [[SCHRUP, Nicholas J. Sr.|Nicholas J. SCHRUP, Sr.]]


German Bank underwent great change in leadership in 1890, and the next year it joined the Dubuque Clearinghouse Association, a local bank organization that established rules for the operations of member banks. Among the new directors of the bank was [[SCHRUP, Nicholas J. Sr.|Nicholas J. SCHRUP, Sr.]]


Limited space and expanding business led to the need for new facilities. In 1901 a new three-story building was constructed at 342 Main Street. Banking operations were conducted on the first floor. Apartments were built on the upper two stories. The beautiful building did not, however, hide the fact that the bank had been growing more slowly than its competitors. In 1904 the articles of incorporation were renewed with the addition of an amendment that returned the bank to the status of a "savings bank." The institution was renamed the German Savings Bank. The articles also called for the establishment of a branch bank. This opened along Couler Avenue in 1905. The branch bank remained under the complete control of the head office.  
[[Image:GB1.png|right|thumb|250px|]]Banking operations were conducted on the first floor. Apartments were built on the upper two stories. The beautiful building did not, however, hide the fact that the bank had been growing more slowly than its competitors. In 1904 the articles of incorporation were renewed with the addition of an amendment that returned the bank to the status of a "savings bank." The institution was renamed the German Savings Bank. The articles also called for the establishment of a branch bank. On January 1, 1905 a north end branch of the bank was established at 18th and Couler (Central). (3)


In 1907 a financial panic challenged Dubuque's confidence in its banks. The control offered by the Dubuque Clearing House Association led to less hoarding and eliminated runs on banks.  
The 18th Street and Couler Avenue branch of the German Savings Bank continued to grow in popularity. The board of directors of the bank met on October 14, 1911 and discussed the organization of a savings bank to replace the branch. This became the [[GERMAN AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK]].  


The Couler Avenue branch of the German Savings Bank continued to grow in popularity. The board of directors of the bank met on October 14, 1911, and discussed the organization of a savings bank to replace the branch. This became the [[GERMAN AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK]].  
The outbreak of [[WORLD WAR I]] saw anti-German sentiment sweeping the United States. In Dubuque both the German Savings and German American Savings Bank felt that their business was endangered by the word "German" in their names. In 1918 the German Savings Bank was renamed the Pioneer Savings Bank and Trust Company. (4) One year later the name was changed to the Pioneer Trust and Savings Bank.  


The outbreak of [[WORLD WAR I]] saw anti-German sentiment sweeping the United States. In Dubuque both the German Savings and German American Savings Bank felt that their business was endangered by the word "German" in their names. In 1918 the German Savings Bank was renamed the Pioneer Savings Bank and Trust Company. One year later the name was changed to the Pioneer Trust and Savings Bank.  
The announcement that the Pioneer Trust and Savings had merged with the Consolidated National Bank came on November 9, 1926. On January 1, 1927, the business records and employees of Pioneer moved to the Consolidated bank offices at Main and Sixth Streets. Less than six years later Consolidated National closed its doors, a victim of the [[GREAT DEPRESSION]].


The announcement that the Pioneer Trust and Savings had merged with the Consolidated National Bank came on November 9, 1926. On January 1, 1927, the business records and employees of Pioneer moved to the Consolidated bank offices at Main and Sixth Streets. Less than six years later Consolidated National closed its doors, a victim of the Great Depression.
In 1978 the building was placed on the [[NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES]]. At the time, a note was made of the contrast between the two styles used in the building's construction. John Spencer and W. Williamson, the team that also designed Dubuque's [[CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY]], used [[GREEK REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE]] on the first floor and Renaissance Revival style on the top two stories. The columns, rosettes, and crown eagles over the second-floor windows are made of glazed terra cotta.
 
The German Bank building became the home of taverns and restaurants including the [[NAVY CLUB (THE)]] and the [[SILVER DOLLAR]] owned and operated by [[GINTER, Donna|Donna GINTER]]. In 2001 construction nearby on a parking ramp was blamed on cracks in walls in the German Bank and several other businesses. The presence of sub-basements used originally for storage may have contributed to the problem. The Building Services Department ordered the rear portions of buildings at 342, 36, 372, and 378 Main Street vacated forcing the businesses to temporarily close or relocate.
 
In 2007 city officials entered into a development agreement with the German Bank Building, LLP, a building ownership group. The agreement required the developer to make a capital investment of $1.5 million in exchange for a $300,000 low-interest loan. The developers sold the property to James Madison, LLC in 2012. This shifted all the obligations including the development agreement to the new owners. The Mainstreet Steak and Chophouse opened at the site in 2013, but closed in early 2015. (5)
 
In 2015 the City Council approved an inter-creditor agreement between the city and [[PREMIER BANK]] which would enable to bank to sell the German Bank Building as a result of the owners being in default of mortgages from the city and the bank. This was the first local instance of a business defaulting on a loan provided through the Downtown Rehabilitation Loan Program. Seventeen successful projects had occurred in the last two decades with nine more planned through 2026. The agreement would allow the city to recoup some of the outstanding balance of a $300,000 loan. The city, however, was still likely to lose nearly $100,000.(6)
 
[[Image:exterior.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The removal of the fire escape when the top floors were no longer rented allowed more of the Renaissance Revival architecture to be visible. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]]
[[Image:sdginter.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Donna Ginter serves up refreshments in front of the Silver Dollar. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]]
[[Image:interiorsd.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Interior view of the Silver Dollar. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]]
[[Image:vault.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Donna Ginter used the old bank vault to store food. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]]
[[Image:dining.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Dining room at the German Bank (circa 1950s). Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter]]
[[Image:GB21.png|right|thumb|350px|]]
See: [[BANKS AND BANKING]]
See: [[PANIC OF 1873]]
 
---
 
Source:
 
1. "German Banking House," ''Dubuque Democratic Herald'', October 14, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18641014&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
 
2. Bragg, Mary Rae. "German Bank Not Just Another Pretty Facade," ''Telegraph Herald'', January 22, 2001, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OANaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UEsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3171,4166938&dq=history+of+german+bank+dubuque&hl=en
 
3. U. S. Bank Profiles. Online: http://www.bankencyclopedia.com/American-Trust-Savings-Bank-13150-Dubuque-Iowa.html#ovHistory
 
4. Cooper, Brian. "Reconfiguring Words: Why?," ''Telegraph Herald'', May 18, 2003, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nsRFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=470MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6490,3464523&dq=german+savings+bank+history+dubuque&hl=en
 
5. Montgomery, Jeff. "City Program Faces 1st Default of Business Loan in 19 Years," ''Telegraph Herald'', April 16, 1915, p. 1
 
6. Ibid. p. 2A
 
Interview with Donna Ginter November 1, 2010
 
"Our History...the Beginning," an American Trust Publication, compiled by [[ENZLER, Jerry|Jerry ENZLER]], Winter 2011
 
"Butchers, Bankers, and Cabinet Makers," Booklet accompanying the Robert Reding exhibit at the [[OLD JAIL]] 2007-2010.





Latest revision as of 18:05, 23 November 2016

DSC01084 1.jpg

On October 14, 1864 the formation of the German Savings Bank was announced. The founders purchased the former banking office of the Langworthy brothers. (1) Karl Frederick "Otto" JUNKERMANN and William Westphal were sent to St. Louis to observe operations in a similar German bank. The articles of incorporation for the German Savings Bank were made public the next day. Included among the incorporators were:

HENRY BAADE, grocer

Hennan Brinkman, pork packer

Jacob Christman, hardware salesman

Julius W. HAAS, druggist

Valentine HERANCOURT, furniture maker

Anton HEEB, owner of a brewery

WILLIAM HINTRAGER, grocer

Henry Honach, coppersmith

J. Nicklaus

Peter KIENE, insurance agent

J. H. Kroesen, leather dealer

Adam Francis JAEGER, wine and liquor salesman

"Otto" Junkermann, druggist

F. M. PLEINS, soap and candle manufacturer

Titus SCHMID, brewer

Bernhard C. SCHERR, brewer

John H. THEDINGA

Mathias TSCHIRGI, brewer

William WESTPHAL, hardware salesman

While the articles of incorporation were similar to others of the period, one article set this bank apart. It stated that no person could hold the office of president or be employed as cashier or teller unless they were capable of speaking and understanding the German language. (2) This article was not included when the articles were renewed in 1884.

Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter

The hours of banking operation were set at 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday the bank was open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The bank opened for business on November 20, 1864, at 57 Main Street. The 1873-74 Dubuque City Directory listed 60 Main.

The German Savings Bank survived the financial depression of 1873 and the panic caused by the failure of the MERCHANTS' NATIONAL BANK due to Richard A. BABBAGE. In the same year, downtown STREETS were renumbered and 60 Main Street became 342 Main Street. In 1874 the Iowa Legislature passed a law prohibiting institutions calling themselves savings banks from any business other than savings. Effective January 15, 1875, German Savings Bank was renamed the German Bank.

Germansavingsbank.jpg

The significance of the word "German" in the bank's name had lessened greatly by 1884 when all but three directors were non-German.

German Bank underwent great change in leadership in 1890, and the next year it joined the DUBUQUE CLEARING HOUSE ASSOCIATION, a local bank organization that established rules for the operations of member banks. Among the new directors of the bank was Nicholas J. SCHRUP, Sr.


GB1.png

Banking operations were conducted on the first floor. Apartments were built on the upper two stories. The beautiful building did not, however, hide the fact that the bank had been growing more slowly than its competitors. In 1904 the articles of incorporation were renewed with the addition of an amendment that returned the bank to the status of a "savings bank." The institution was renamed the German Savings Bank. The articles also called for the establishment of a branch bank. On January 1, 1905 a north end branch of the bank was established at 18th and Couler (Central). (3)

The 18th Street and Couler Avenue branch of the German Savings Bank continued to grow in popularity. The board of directors of the bank met on October 14, 1911 and discussed the organization of a savings bank to replace the branch. This became the GERMAN AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK.

The outbreak of WORLD WAR I saw anti-German sentiment sweeping the United States. In Dubuque both the German Savings and German American Savings Bank felt that their business was endangered by the word "German" in their names. In 1918 the German Savings Bank was renamed the Pioneer Savings Bank and Trust Company. (4) One year later the name was changed to the Pioneer Trust and Savings Bank.

The announcement that the Pioneer Trust and Savings had merged with the Consolidated National Bank came on November 9, 1926. On January 1, 1927, the business records and employees of Pioneer moved to the Consolidated bank offices at Main and Sixth Streets. Less than six years later Consolidated National closed its doors, a victim of the GREAT DEPRESSION.

In 1978 the building was placed on the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES. At the time, a note was made of the contrast between the two styles used in the building's construction. John Spencer and W. Williamson, the team that also designed Dubuque's CARNEGIE-STOUT PUBLIC LIBRARY, used GREEK REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE on the first floor and Renaissance Revival style on the top two stories. The columns, rosettes, and crown eagles over the second-floor windows are made of glazed terra cotta.

The German Bank building became the home of taverns and restaurants including the NAVY CLUB (THE) and the SILVER DOLLAR owned and operated by Donna GINTER. In 2001 construction nearby on a parking ramp was blamed on cracks in walls in the German Bank and several other businesses. The presence of sub-basements used originally for storage may have contributed to the problem. The Building Services Department ordered the rear portions of buildings at 342, 36, 372, and 378 Main Street vacated forcing the businesses to temporarily close or relocate.

In 2007 city officials entered into a development agreement with the German Bank Building, LLP, a building ownership group. The agreement required the developer to make a capital investment of $1.5 million in exchange for a $300,000 low-interest loan. The developers sold the property to James Madison, LLC in 2012. This shifted all the obligations including the development agreement to the new owners. The Mainstreet Steak and Chophouse opened at the site in 2013, but closed in early 2015. (5)

In 2015 the City Council approved an inter-creditor agreement between the city and PREMIER BANK which would enable to bank to sell the German Bank Building as a result of the owners being in default of mortgages from the city and the bank. This was the first local instance of a business defaulting on a loan provided through the Downtown Rehabilitation Loan Program. Seventeen successful projects had occurred in the last two decades with nine more planned through 2026. The agreement would allow the city to recoup some of the outstanding balance of a $300,000 loan. The city, however, was still likely to lose nearly $100,000.(6)

The removal of the fire escape when the top floors were no longer rented allowed more of the Renaissance Revival architecture to be visible. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter
Donna Ginter serves up refreshments in front of the Silver Dollar. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter
Interior view of the Silver Dollar. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter
Donna Ginter used the old bank vault to store food. Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter
Dining room at the German Bank (circa 1950s). Photo courtesy: Donna Ginter
GB21.png

See: BANKS AND BANKING See: PANIC OF 1873

---

Source:

1. "German Banking House," Dubuque Democratic Herald, October 14, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18641014&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2. Bragg, Mary Rae. "German Bank Not Just Another Pretty Facade," Telegraph Herald, January 22, 2001, p. 1. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OANaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UEsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3171,4166938&dq=history+of+german+bank+dubuque&hl=en

3. U. S. Bank Profiles. Online: http://www.bankencyclopedia.com/American-Trust-Savings-Bank-13150-Dubuque-Iowa.html#ovHistory

4. Cooper, Brian. "Reconfiguring Words: Why?," Telegraph Herald, May 18, 2003, p. 3. Online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nsRFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=470MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6490,3464523&dq=german+savings+bank+history+dubuque&hl=en

5. Montgomery, Jeff. "City Program Faces 1st Default of Business Loan in 19 Years," Telegraph Herald, April 16, 1915, p. 1

6. Ibid. p. 2A

Interview with Donna Ginter November 1, 2010

"Our History...the Beginning," an American Trust Publication, compiled by Jerry ENZLER, Winter 2011

"Butchers, Bankers, and Cabinet Makers," Booklet accompanying the Robert Reding exhibit at the OLD JAIL 2007-2010.