Historical highs

Comerica Bank event raises funds for Lansing historical museum

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On a clear Lansing night, the view from the top is a goodone, and on Saturday, patrons of the Greater Lansing HistoricalSociety’s Fall Fundraiser will get a chance to see for themselves theview from the 15th floor windows of Comerica Bank.

For the first time in the bank’s history Comerica Bank ishosting the fundraiser in its historic North Washington Squarelocation, and plans are to allow visitors to tour the building’s firstfloor (including the vault) before heading to the 15th floor to checkout the view.

The event benefits the Greater Lansing Historical Society’s effort to open the Lansing Historical Museum.

Patrons can take tours throughout the evening to see thearchways and Art Deco touches that made the building a work of artduring the Great Depression. Refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will beserved.

Comerica branch manager Mike DeMartelaere said thebuilding was constructed between 1931 and 1933 and has been owned bybanking companies since it opened its doors.

The architectural features of the first floor, vault andthe view from the top floor are most impressive, he said, adding,“You’re able to see quite a ways on a nice evening.”

Touted at the time as a “modern skyscraper,” the originalBank of Lansing building offers more than just a vault and a view.DeMartelaere said the architecture on the first floor and the mosaicsand murals are notable in their own right.

Valerie Marvin of the Greater Lansing Historical Societysaid she thought the bank would be a perfect place to hold this year’sevent. She said the exterior of the building is a showcase ofLansing-centric history, including sculptural depictions of theautomotive industry, agriculture and education.

“It’s such a great building,” she said. “Banks were notbeing built during the Great Depression and to have one whosestructures and art depictions go all the way to a local level wasperfect for us.”

Anyone hoping to take home some souvenirs from the vaultmay be disappointed, however; Martin said there isn’t any money left inthere.  

DeMartelaere said a commemorative postcard was issued inthe 1970s when the bank was still owned by Bank of Lansing. Later, whenManufacturers Bank purchased the building in the 1980s, it published abooklet detailing the history of the building.

DeMartelaere has several of those booklets to hand out topatrons of the fundraiser event — the images in the booklets show theManufacturer’s Bank banner across the top of the building.

Shortly after the building’s 50th anniversary all of the limestone artwork and mosaics were cleaned up and restored.  Theart inside the building depicting life in Michigan during the earlydays of the Great Depression was brought back to its original luster.

Patrons of the Historical Society will have the chance tosee the gargoyles, the stained glass and the carved limestone figures,including the image of National Bank president Benjamin F. Davismiserly curled up around a bag of money.  

Other art carvings include pieces that show signs of thetimes, including bank robbers being caught by local law enforcement anda dentist who formerly occupied the building extracting the teeth ofone of his patients.

The building’s architects, Lee and Kenneth Black, are immortalized in images along the walls of the building as well.

Along with tours of the bank building there will be asilent auction with nearly 130 items, ranging from trips and parties tocrocheted afghans and jewelry. The catalogue features not only weeklongvacations and Detroit Tigers tickets, but Lansing memorabilia as well. 

A full catalogue of silent auction items is available on the Historical Society website at lansinghistory.org.  


Greater Lansing Historical Society Fundraiser

4-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8

Comerica Bank Building

105 N. Washington Square, Lansing

$15 individuals; $25 couples

Order by mail at P.O. Box 12095, Lansing, MI 48901

Resrvations are suggested, but tickets will also be available at the door

lansinghistory.org

(517) 282-0671

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