Sunday, June 8, 2008

The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank in Columbus, Wisconsin.

This was the one Louis H. Sullivan building on the "Wright & Like" tour this year. Here's the view from the interior balcony, which is a little museum:

The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

I was thinking: They should do a movie here. In fact, the moviemakers for Johnny Depp's "Public Enemies" came to Columbus to scout out this location, but they ended up picking the bank across the street! Huh? How can there possibly be a better bank across the street? Well, there isn't. But the movie makers rejected this location, the bank manager told me, because there wasn't enough space for the equipment. He was glad, he said, because you don't want your bank used as a set for a robbery scene.

Let's get a clear look at those windows.

The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

I love the colors.

Seen from the outside:

The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

That's the side of the building, with just a taste of the elaborate terra cotta decoration. Go around to the front to see the shameless grandeur bestowed on small-town Wisconsin banking:

The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

The architect wants you to know his name:

The Farmers and Merchants Union Bank

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