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Show Memories of Old Residents Taken Back Fifty Years by First National Bank Sign Finance and Society Mingled in Recollections of Building Erected With Materials Transported Trans-ported by Ox Teams. across the plains with ox teams Then, to., the structural iron used also was hauled across the plains by ox teams t the time of its completion the building build-ing not onlv was the finest in Salt Lake, hut the banking quarters were the most sumptuous between the Missouri river and the raclfie coast. In addition the top floor was constructed con-structed as a ballroom and it was the largest and most elegantly fitted of any in the eitv at that time. In fact, so famous was this ballroom that a mention men-tion of it found Place in 1 U,1"" dends." written as of IS, 1-2 by the late Archibald Clnvering Gunter, author of -Mr l'otter of Texas.," "Mr. Barnes of .New York," and many other novels. Mr Gunter. who had been a civil en-gineer en-gineer on the Central Pacific but who also was a chemist, resided in Utah from 1S71 to 1874, during which time he was assayer at the HomanviJle smelting works and then superintendent of the McKay mines in southern I, lab During these years Gunter spent much time at the old Townsend house later the Continental hotel, in Salt Lake and it was there that he compiled the material ma-terial for "Miss Dividends," an antl- Me sBtorT Miss Dividends, otherwise Miss Emma Lucille Travevion, attends a ball on the top floor of the Hussey bank building and Mr. Gunter says: ., .r. ...ia r,f the banking house TH memories of old-time Salt Lakers harked back more than a half century lately. when they noted the words. "First National bank," long hidden, but recently brought into view by workmen who are placing a new front in the old Bamberger building on South Main street. Some of the old-timers were puzzled a bit. as flflv years Is a considerable period pe-riod of time, but they set their memories to work and the result repaid the effort. The First National bank was established by Warren Hussey, an Iowa man, and was the successor to a private hank, which had been operated by Hussey and bis partners. It not only was the First National bank in name, but also was the first national bank established in Salt Lake, the Desoret National being the second. sec-ond. The Leveret National was organized in KtSS. During the panic which swept the country coun-try in lS7:i the First National succumbed and closed its doors. That was Salt Lakes first bank failure, and It was not until approximately twenty years later, with the exception of a small private hank, that the second one occurred. The second big Institution to fall was the Hank of Salt Lake, formerly the American Ameri-can National bank, in which James H. Bacon was the controlling factor. Shortly after the First National bank closed its doors, Mr. Hussey went to the northwest. Later the Deseret National bank occupied the quarters for a time, while a building was being constructed on the corner of First South and Main streets. Later. T. R. Jones Sc Co. moved in and remained there until McCornick & Co. removed from directly across Main street to the new McCornick block. Jones & Co. then took the quarters made vacant va-cant by the McCornick move. After the failure of the First National bank efforts were made In Salt Lake to obtain the name, "First National." but under the workings of the banking act this was not permitted, and, unless the law is changed, S-alt Lake will never have a "First National" bank. Aside from the fact that the building has housed three big financial Institutions, Institu-tions, however, it is noted in other ways. The building was erected by Mr. Hussey in 1871-2, his bank, preceding that time, being in a location further up the street. A large amount of marble was used in the construction of the banking office and in other ways in the building, and this all was Imported from Italy and hauled a string of carriages is depositing most of the Gentile magnates and some of th-"The0r"hlrd 'storV 'of the building has been arranged with a view of letting It f r public balls and Mr Bussey (Hussey) (Hus-sey) is utilizing it for his private one th"Heeree"in gthe large dancing room the Livingstons are received by the hospitable banker and his wife, who are shaking hands with the stream of guests now pouring into the ballroom and making it ook quite bright and much diversified. The site of the building was acquired In the early '60's by W. T. Godbe, who sold it to Henry W. Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence sold it to Mr Hussey, when the- banker decided to build a Palatial house for his financial Institution. After Hussey failed the property was purchased pur-chased by W. W. Chlsholm, who was the owner until It was bought by the Bamberger interests. i,. Tho famous ballroom was the home for many years of the Wasatch lodge, F & A M and since the Wasatch lodge moved out has been occupied by numer-' numer-' ona other lodges and orders. |