Trifter

The building I visited was the Ephrata National Bank in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.  It is located on Main Street Route 322 in the center of the city of Ephrata.  The building itself functions as the main branch of “ENB” (Ephrata National Bank) serving the people of Ephrata and the surrounding areas.

          As you approach the building you are greeted by four large columns made of solid marble.  The face of the structure is made of course yellowish brick and has giant bay windows that reach up from the ground and on the 2nd story.  Along the tops of the columns there are well decorated abacuses of almost curls.  As you make your way up the stairs to the front passageway you notice an architrave or stature of a Bald Eagle and into the main doors you go. 

Even from the outside of the building you can there of some Greek and Roman influences on the building at hand.  Seeing from how the pillars support gives great functionality to the building.  Everything about the outside of the building flows and has a purpose in the liveliness of the area.

Inside the building I quickly took notice of the plan dull floor that obviously been placed there after the new section of the bank was added in the early 60’s.  Which I read on a giant bronze and brass plaque that stated during the early 60’s the west wing of the bank was added and all the floors where pretty much re-done and that was the last time over 30 years ago.  Aside from that the rest of the building was very charming and detailed in its design.  When you enter the main part of the building there is a wide open area where the tellers are present.  Above them is a open sky area in which you can see on to the second level where offices are, the 2nd story is enshrined totally in glass and marble in-between the glass.  The ceiling of the structure is comprised of a stained glass mosaic almost of different shapes and colors.  Directly in front of me was the vault which stuck out as it was a giant steel door surrounded by gold colored accents and shined incredibly bright.  As I was not allowed to venture much around the building I could see more Roman and Greek influences on the inside of bank as well, most of the rest of the floor was updated post 60’s/70’s décor.

All in all I found the building to be very beautiful and a delight to visit and do research on.  I wouldn’t mind going back and asking if I could peek around some more when they were closed and whatnot.   I would also like to adventure around the city of Ephrata more and explore some older buildings to see if the same influences are present.