"The Cathedral of Finance"
Many viewers have commented that The Guardian Building (originally The Union Trust Company Building) reminded them of a church.
This picture shows approximately half of the bank lobby on the main floor. Imagine the original bank building with 60-90 bank teller cages lining the entire length of both sides of this "nave". The ceiling was composed of a 3/4 inch (1.9cm) of horsehair and coated with a layer of plaster cement. Then, a canvas layer was applied, and painted with designs reminiscent of the patterns of Navajo rugs. This was a sound-deadening system.
The "altar piece" ( I suppose) was the three-story mural of the map of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Highlighted were the major Michigan moneymakers of the1890s to 1920s: mining, manufacturing, lumber, fishing, commerce, and agriculture. It was completed in 1929, unfortunately the year of the beginning of "The Great Depression".
This superbly decorated Art-Deco bank building was nicknamed "The Cathedral of Finance." So, if the earlier pictures reminded you of a church (reprised in the first comment below) --you were very observant : -)
"The Cathedral of Finance"
Many viewers have commented that The Guardian Building (originally The Union Trust Company Building) reminded them of a church.
This picture shows approximately half of the bank lobby on the main floor. Imagine the original bank building with 60-90 bank teller cages lining the entire length of both sides of this "nave". The ceiling was composed of a 3/4 inch (1.9cm) of horsehair and coated with a layer of plaster cement. Then, a canvas layer was applied, and painted with designs reminiscent of the patterns of Navajo rugs. This was a sound-deadening system.
The "altar piece" ( I suppose) was the three-story mural of the map of the lower peninsula of Michigan. Highlighted were the major Michigan moneymakers of the1890s to 1920s: mining, manufacturing, lumber, fishing, commerce, and agriculture. It was completed in 1929, unfortunately the year of the beginning of "The Great Depression".
This superbly decorated Art-Deco bank building was nicknamed "The Cathedral of Finance." So, if the earlier pictures reminded you of a church (reprised in the first comment below) --you were very observant : -)