The Story of Banking in New Rochelle

N^4THE STORY OF A 1 NANKING INSTITUTION IN

NEW ROCHELLE

1888 -1913

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institution in

3 1924 014 042 745

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Cornell University Library

The tine

original of

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is in

Cornell University Library.

There are no known copyright

restrictions in

the United States on the use of the

text.

http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924014042745

THE STORY OF A BANKING INSTITUTION IN

NEW ROCHELLE 1888-1913

PRESIDENT— 1888

to 1913

THE STORY OF

A BANKING INSTITUTION IN NEWROCHELLE 1888-1913

PUBLISHED ON THE

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE BANK OF NEW ROCHELLE

NOW THE NEW ROCHELLE TRUST COMPANY

NEW ROCHELLE,

N. Y.

NEW ROCHELLE 1914

2-

COPYRIGHT I9I3 BY THE NEW ROCHELLE TRUST

CO.

—

ILLUSTRATIONS

....

Portrait of William W. Bissell, President 1888-1913

The

Starting Point

—Center Avenue

— 1888-1893

%°eoe^ Facing page

Main

near

Street

6

The New Banking House on Main

Street

8

1893-1903

The

First

Expansion with Change of Title to

New Rochelle

Trust

Present Office Building.

— 1903

Company

Erected 1908

— 1913

Main Banking Room Ladies'

.

.

.

.

,

.

.12

-14

Room— 1913

Portraits of Representative

The Bank

of

10

16

Men, Founders

of

New Rochelle, now The New

Rochelle Trust

Company.

.

at

end of volume

THE STORY OF A BANKING INSTITUTION IN NEW ROCHELLE 1888-1913

BETWEEN

when the Huguenots

1688,

entered the Harbor of

New

Rochelle,

and 1888, when the Bank Rochelle opened

of

New

doors for business, one

its

commercial and two savings banks carried on business in It

New

Rochelle.

appears that the

lished in 1844

first of

by Dennis

these

was estab-

Sayre, as an indi-

vidual bank, operating under the

"Bank

of

New

Rochelle."

name

It issued circula-

ting notes supposedly secured

by a

deposit

of securities with the State Comptroller. failed to

redeem

its circulating

1851 the securities

it

of

It

notes and in

had pledged with the

State were sold at auction, the holders of its

circulating notes finally receiving some-

thing less than the face value thereof.

This

bank was located on Pelham Road, near

Meadow

Lane, adjacent to the boat landing,

the principal hotel being near by; this 3

lo-

A BANKING INSTITUTION be the business section

cality promising to

of the Village.

The next was the New Rochelle Savings Bank, beginning business in January, 1866,

and

failing in

December, 1877, owing to em-

bezzlement.

For four years thereafter the Village was without any banking

facilities

commercial or savings.

Iselin

opened a private

for the

whatsoever,

Then Mr. Adrian savings bank of3fice

purpose of providing a convenient

depository for the earnings of working people.

In 1902, after twenty-two years of highly honorable

service

the

to

people

Rochelle, Mr. Iselin closed his

office,

of

New

because

other banks had been estabHshed in the mean-

time and he desired to be relieved from his personal

Mr.

responsibility.

was not a bank that term, but

in it

Iselin's

office

the legal meaning of

surely

well

served the

purpose of such an institution.

At an

earlier period

than twenty-five years

ago attempts had been

banking

facilities

for

made

the

to

people

provide of

New

IN

NEW ROCHELLE

Rochelle, but for several years prior to 1888

the Village had been without that necessary

complement to thriving communities, a suc-

At

that time a

large part of the present area of

New Rochelle

cessful

commercial bank.

was farm

land, but even then the Village

had

nearly eight thousand inhabitants and needed

a commercial bank.

New

Rochelle merchants were obliged to

carry sufficient currency on hand to cash the

checks of such of their customers as needed the accommodation, the nearest bank being

Mount Vernon. When our business men made a bank deposit it required a trip located in

which seriously interfered with their day's work.

Our smaller business men, because

they were operating at such a distance from

banking

possible to establish a credit

enable

found

institutions, frequently

them

to

it

im-

which would

negotiate the loans

often

legitimately needed in the routine of a grow-

ing business.

When

their goods they

they made payment for

had to send the cash by mail

or express, or carry

it

in person.

5

Citizens of

A BANKING INSTITUTION means,

who had

from active business

retired

and had come here to live, found it necessary to carry their bank accounts in other places.

Housewives could not have a local bank account for the accommodation of themselves

More important than New Rochelle was without that great

or their tradesmen. all else,

help

to

system,

commercial order,

thrift,

punctuality and morality which a well con-

ducted bank imparts to a community.

In 1888, Mr. William

came

to

New

W.

Rochelle,

Bissell,

and

a banker,

in connection

with a few of the most prominent citizens tablished the little

Bank

of

one story-building

es-

New

Rochelle in the

still

standing at No.

40 Centre Avenue, just south of Main Street.

Mr.

Bissell's banking experience

began in the

Village of Rome, N. Y., where as a youth he en-

tered the service of the

as a junior clerk.

Rome Exchange Bank

Later he took the advice of

Horace Greeley and "went West," locating at

Kansas City National

employment of the First Kansas City. After serving

in the

Bank of

several years in important positions in that in-

1888—1893 The

starting point

— Center Avenue near Main Street

NEW ROCHELLE

IN stitution,

he removed to Austin, Texas, accept-

ing the position of Cashier of the First National

Bank

He

of Austin.

soon after resigned and

engaged in private banking, conducting for fifteen years

a successful business.

Mr. Bissell'sbelief was and still is that a bank should be controlled by successful and high-

minded business men residing in the community the bank serves. Those of otir citizens

who were familiar with the leading business men living in New Rochelle a quarter of a century ago realize that this policy was put into actual practice at the very beginning of

the organization.

The

first

board of directors

New Rochelle

of the

consisted of William

Bank

W.

of

Bissell,

Alonzo Guest, Albert Mahlstedt, James A. Grenzebach, James

W. Todd,

Alexander B.

Hudson, George Ferguson, Edward Lambden,

John Q. Underbill, Samuel C. Knapp, James Gibson, Jr., Bradford Rhodes and Willson M. Reynolds.

Henry D. Phelps and Winiield

now

deceased,

S.

Spencer,

subsequently and for 7

many

A BANKING INSTITUTION years served on the Board of Directors.

were truly representative

These

citizens.

was Rochelle has grown from a

Since the original board of directors created,

New

Village of 8,000 to a floiirishing city of 30,000.

Many

public improvements have been

fi-

The old roadways have been paved, curbed and guttered, and sidewalks laid; a sewer and drainage system established; the Centre Avenue opening over the railroad track, and Webster Avenue opening under the railroad, with the widening of North Avenue, and the opening nanced and successfully completed.

of Division Street,

have welded the City which

was divided by the railway barrier; an lighting system has trolley transit

By

electric

been established; and the

system developed and improved.

purchase, the City has acquired a most

—

desirable outlet to the waters of the

Sound

Hudson Park, and a necessary

recreation

ground in City Park, to which gift

by Mr. Adrian IseUn

^in

added the Park at the

is

of Iselin

other extremity of the City.

Modern and commodious 8

school buildings

.

'.

''Wr-

ililW

I

ijpilliiiiiipjjil^

>*«igoa«5.;-,

1893—1903 The new Banking House on Main

Street

IN

NEW ROCHELLE

have been erected; the High School on North Avenue, a notable building with ample grounds,

Weyman Avenue, Winyah Avenue, Ma37flower,

Huguenot,

Columbus and Stephenson Gram-

mar and Primary Schools.

The City has also constructed a Stone Dock at Hudson Park and a Mtmicipal Court House.

During

this period,

many

public buildings

have been erected, notably the Masonic Temple

and Cathohc, Presbyterian, Methodist and Baptist Churches.

Along the many miles

of splendid

Avenues

opening up the attractive residential sections of

New Rochelle many homes

have been erected

which represent the most charming tectural effects,

famous as

and have made

the Queen City

archi-

New Rochelle

among

suburban towns contiguous to

the

all

the

great

Metropolis.

The New Rochelle Trust Company has been an important splendid

factor in bringing about these

improvements.

It

has

developed

and grown with the development and growth of

New Rochelle.

both in

its

Indeed,

it

has led the way,

own development and growth, 9

A BANKING INSTITUTION and in the in the

spirit of civic pride it

community through

own

devotion

business procedure

high ideals of

to

its

has inculcated

commercial pursuit.

Its

transactions

and have

always been characterized by liberality tempered with sterling business sense, and the signal success

which

its

methods have brought

made its impress upon had business dealings with has

all

those

who have

it.

The New Rochelle Trust Company has been a free buyer of the obligations of the local

government, and the individuals composing

board of directors have always been active

its

promoting

in

make New in

which to

Not the

all

movements tending

to

Rochelle a highly desirable place live.

least

semblance of sensationalism

has ever crept into the business methods of

Bank of New RocheUe or its successor, the New Rochelle Trust Company, either by the payment of unduly high interest, in the the

acceptance of doubtful security, in

its efforts

to obtain patronage, in taking unfair ad-

vantage of its patrons, in loans to its directors, or

by

favoritism in

any form.

10

During

its

The

first

expansion with change

1903 "The New Rochelle Trust Company"

of title to

IN

NEW ROCHELLE

entire history, covering a period of

a quarter

of a century, it has scrupulously followed the

high ideals of

and

organizers

its

profited

greatly thereby, until to-day it has reached

the point where useful

of

all

it is

New

the leading and most Rochelle's

commercial

institutions.

Truly

which in

it

it

has accompUshed the ptupose for

was organized.

It has

been useful

a high degree to the public, has brought

profit to its stockholders,

and

is

a credit to

the community.

Many a successful New Rochelle business man will be glad to testify that he was started and helped on the highway to success by the

Bank

of

New Rochelle or New Rochelle Trust

Company, and no depositor or stockholder has ever had cause to complain that its loans were not amply safeguarded.

Of the first board

New

of directors of the

Bank of

two resigned upon their removal from New Rochelle, and of the others Rochelle,

only three are

now

living—President

Alonzo Guest, and Albert Mahlstedt.

11

Bissell,

— A BANKING INSTITUTION The

present directors are:

SWINBURNE

WILLIAM W. BISSELL

SAMUEL

ALONZO GUEST

CHARLES BABER

ALBERT MAHLSTEDT

HARRY

ROBERT

P.

CARPENTER EDSON

THOMAS

S.

DRAKE

J.

JOHN

J.

VAN ZELM

HENRI J.

A.

J,

P.

J.

VAN ZELM,

HUNTINGTON,

citizens will

men engaged in human endeavor.

ful

H.

LOTT

TROY

President

CARPENTER,

Vice-President

Secretary

Asst-Secretary

MARSHALL PERLEY,

These

S.

COLWELL

DANIEL W. TIERNEY

WILLIAM W. BISSELL,

ROBERT

E.

CHARLES W. HARMAN

ADDISON YOUNG

HENRI

F,

Trust Officer

be recognized as successwidely separated lines of It

also

can

justly

be

claimed for them that they are broad-minded

gentlemen representing public opinion from

many

angles.

They thus form a body

calculated to honorably

duct the It

may

affairs of

and

successfully con-

any corporation.

be stated that from the directorate

of this banking institution the people

chosen

well

many

public officials 12

a

have

village presi-

Present Office Building.

Erected 1908

NEW ROCHELLE

IN

dent, a mayor, a district attorney, a judge, a comptroller,

members members

a city

many

and

of important city boards; indeed the of the board of directors of the

Rochelle Trust

most

treasurer,

Company

citizens of otir City

Pictures are

are

among

New

the fore-

and County.

shown herein

of the rented

quarters (No. 40 Centre Avenue) occupied

the

Bank

of

New

Rochelle

when

it

by

started

bank with Thirty Thousand Dollars capital and an office force of three; of the quarters (264 Main Street) it owned and (1888) as a State

moved

into in 1893; its enlarged quarters in

and of its present commodious, convenient and attractive home, made by the purchase of additional frontage and converting 1903,

the building into a thoroughly

modem

bank-

company building with all the appurtenances and conveniences known to present day banking, at the same time causing a marked improvement in the general appearance ing and trust

of our principal business street.

13

A BANKING INSTITUTION Dtiring this quarter-of-a-century period the

grown from

capital of the institution has

$30,000

to

$100,000

by a

first— in

$200,000;

—

stock dividend, and then

1907—to $200,000 by a

50% and

1900— to

the balance

by

stock dividend of

subscription.

New

In 1901 the Bank of

^in

Rochelle was re-

organized as the New Rochelle Trust Company,

with the same stockholders, directors, and officers

—

^that it

might

legally transact a trust

as well as a banking business.

Its first official

statement under date of

September 22d, 1888, reported: Capital

$30,000.00

Stuplus and Profits

11.42

Deposits

47,091.77

now has a capital of

$

200,000

A surplus and undivided profits of

100,000

It

amotmt to over amount to over

Its deposits

2,700,000

Its assets

3,000,000

In addition to the above the value of the estates under

its

control

trustee, guardian or agent

$4,000,000.

14

as executor,

amounts to nearly

— IN

NEW ROCHELLE

Its increase in deposits

1888 to 1893

incl.

1894 to 1898

"

has been:

average yearly " "

"

"

"

1904 to 1908

"

"

"

1909 to 1913

"

"

"

1899 to 1903

is

350,099 595,712 1,541,160

2,548,978

New RocheUe

Under the law the

Company

219,472

$

Trust

authorized to transact a general

banking business and in addition

powered to administer the

it

is

em-

affairs of estates

to act as guardian, executor, trustee or agent.

Special laws have been enacted

by

this State

to safeguard trust funds under the care of a trust

by is

company. The

law,

fees

have

also

been fixed

and are no greater than an individual

allowed to charge.

Its Trust

Department, an important and

growing branch,

offers

you

individual cannot supply.

16

facilities

which an

— —

—

,

A BANKING INSTITUTION The New Rochelle Trust Company, under the charter granted to it by the State of New York, acts in the following capacities: general commercial bank, accepting

As a

deposits subject to check

As agent ness as

may

for others, transacting such busi-

be

legally entrusted to it

As executor of estates, with all the powers and none of the disadvantages of individuals As flict

trustee, to execute all trusts

not in con-

with the laws of the State.

Through the

New

Rochelle Safe Deposit

Company (owned and controlled by the New Rochelle Trust Company and its stockholders) it

provides lock boxes with keys for the safe-

keeping of stocks, bonds, mortgages, notes, instu-ance policies, wills, private papers, jewelry

and other things accessible

of value; such boxes being

only to the rightful

the keys.

16

holders

of

Ladies'

Room

IN

NEW ROCHELLE

It also receives

ware,

etc.,

on storage valuables,

silver-

contained in trunks, boxes or pack-

ages, (and issues certificates insviring

owner

against loss) at a reasonable monthly charge.

The New Rochelle Trust Company tially a home corporation.

90%

Over

New

essen-

of its stockholders are citizens of

Rochelle and these stockholders

more than 90%

From of its

is

own

of its stock.

the beginning

management

it

has been the policy

to keep free from outside

control or influence.

Today, as always, not a share of is

held

by a banking

its

corporation.

The New Rochelle Trust Company important factor in the commercial and life

of

New

stock

Rochelle.

It

is

an

social

has been helpful to

the best interests of our community through twenty-five years of efficient service.

It offers to the

munity a

banking and business com-

service that will

those seeking banking

management and

commend

facilities

itself

to

where prudent

financial strength are con-

trolling factors.

17

PORTRAITS OF

REPRESENTATIVE MEN FOUNDERS OF

THE BANK OF NEW ROCHELLE

NOW THE NEW ROCHELLE TRUST

CO.

VICE-PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR— 1888

to 1900

DIRECTOR— 1888

to 190D

DIRECTOR— 188S

to 1892

OMC. DIRECTOR— 1888

to 1S94

DIRECTOR— 1888

TO 1908

/i^t^^^^^-^c^

DIRECTOR— 1888

to 1906

iM:iiB?iSi^!^iSi!&!iiMi^il!Si;iii?i

DIRECTOR— 1889

^'

to 1910

y^

<' ''

DIRECTOR— 1893

to 1909

DIRECTOR— 1888

to 1893

1

/H^U^OtMAUJDIRECTOR—

TO 1907