A photograph of the Gratz National Bank, Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, as it appeared in 1955, with the new addition.
On 12 December 1956, the Gratz National Bank held an open house for the public to inspect “our newly modernized building and banking facilities.”
Along with the invitation, there appeared a brief history of the decision to expand and modernize the bank facility:
___________________________________
IN THE SPRING OF 1955…..
It became increasingly obvious to the board of directors and management that, due to our continuous growth in deposits, loans and a number of customers calling on us for bank service, the banking quarters and equipment with which we were operating since the day we opened, were becoming inadequate.
The board realized that this growth was unprecedented, and that some people were of the opinion that a real depression was just around the corner. If an economic reversal would sweep over the country, business would be back to pre-war levels and our facilities would again be adequate.
However a decision had to be made. Should we improve our facilities now, or wait to see what happens? Based on the fact that regardless of what economic conditions may be at any particular time, banking facilities and service will always be needed. The fact that people of our surrounding area are thrifty, conservative and honest, we believed that they would survive any recession that might occur, and believing that the pessimists were unduly pessimistic, although admitting the possibility of some economic adjustments being very probable, but not serious enough to undermine a sound bank, the decision was in favor of improvement. June, 1955, work was started to build a new directors’ room, officers’ room, customers’ room, rest rooms, and a parking lot on the bank premises. In addition the main lobby was improved and the old director’s room converted into a bookkeeping room with an adjoining book vault. Two rooms for storage or any additional work space if required, were provided on the second floor of the new addition. A modern posting machine, microfilm, and adding machines were were purchased.
This is what we are inviting you to come and inspect.
__________________________________________
From The Valley Citizen, Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 6 December 1956.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.