Savings Bank Building

The Marquette County Savings Bank is a steel-frame, flat-roofed, rectangular building with a five-story front facade and seven-story rear.[2] The structure is faced with ashlar on the lower two levels and red brick on the upper five.[2] The front facade has a central recessed bay, with a one-story entrance flanked with granite columns at the bottom and gable at the top.[2] Above the entrance are stone panels decorated with a foliage design.[3] Surrounding the central bay are two semi-circular bays at each corner; the streetcorner bay is topped by a clock tower with copper roof.[2]

Inside, the elevator, stairs, and lavatories are located on the south side of the building to deaden the sound of ore cars that once rumbled through town.[3] The basement and subbasement held the janitor and boiler room, a barbershop, and safety deposit boxes.[3] On the upper floors, offices were accessed via a central hallway.[3] The interior construction was of iron, steel, and tiling to resist fire; the only combustible building materials used were oak flooring and window and door casings.[3]

The Marquette County Savings Bank was founded in 1890 by Nathan M. Kaufman, along with other prominent Marquette businessmen.[3] The bank grew rapidly,[4] and within four months directors made plans to move from their temporary headquarters and construct a new bank building.[3] The lot at the corner of Front and Washington was purchased in January 1891.[3] The new building was designed by the architectural firm of Barber and Barber and built in 1892 by Noble and Benson for a cost of $174,000.[2]

The structure reflects the importance of late 19th century Marquette as an iron shipping port.[2] Although there were originally balconies,[4] the building is substantially intact, and is currently used as office space.[2]

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  Detail over door
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  Front Street around 1909. The Marquette County Savings Bank Building is in the middleground at right

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