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Health & Fitness

Terry Emma: Treasures Found in Former US Bank Building

Items found in the basement of the former US Bank/First National Bank building were donated to the Geneva History Center archives.

When Barbara Montes, the sales agent of the former US Bank/First National Bank of Geneva building at 21 N. Third St., asked if the Geneva History Center would be interested in taking a look at some items left behind in the basement of the building, GHC Curator Jessica McTague and I quickly replied, "Yes!"

A few Friday's ago, Barbara invited Jessica and me to the old bank basement and let us look through the treasurers filling suitcases, boxes and shelves.  There was so much "stuff" that it will take quite a while to go through it all, but we decided to bring it all back for consideration to the archives of the Geneva History Center.

Items include documents, letters, pamphlets, news clippings and even some large framed prints of the original First National Bank (corner of State and Second streets, presently Geneva Cleaners) during and after the fire on Feb. 1, 1953.

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The headline in the Feb. 5, 1953 Geneva Republican stated "Fire is Worst in Geneva in Forty Years" with an estimate of $500,000 in damage. At the time of print, they were not sure of the cause of the fire but reported it was enhanced when the fire reached cans of paint in the adjoining Ace Hardware building. The bank opened the following day in the window of the Skoglund Furniture Store.

They moved to the Third Street building on May 15, 1967.

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Also on the shelves were leather-bound bank ledger books dating back to the early 1900s. Each transaction is handwritten and carried forward page by page with care. As much as we wanted them, we weren't allowed to take the ledgers. They are considered corporate documents and will be returned to US Bank Corporation.

I wonder how many other basements and attics throughout town are full of such treasures? It will be exciting to sift through. Thank you, Barbara!

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