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Banks
What's on this page:
- Citizens and First National Banks
- Ethnic banking services
- 20th- and 21st-century banks
- Banks listed in directories 1895-1940
The First National Bank of Freeland was organized in 1902 and was originally located on Front near Centre before relocating to what had been the De Pierro building on the southwest corner of Centre and Front streets. That De Pierro building was remodeled for the bank.
On January 30, 1890 the Citizens Bank of Freeland was incorporated with capital stock of $50,000. In 1912 Lodge No. 1145 B.P.O.E. bought the old Citizen’s Bank building on North Centre Street for a reported $8,500. The following year a new Citizen’s Bank was erected at a reported cost of $60,000.
Above: First location of Citizens Bank is what was later the Elks building. Two photos of the Citizens Bank building, occupied by later banks - the First Valley Bank photo and the next newspaper photo of Citizens Bank staff come from Ed Merrick [see further below in 20th-century section for source and names of staff]. The photo of the interior of the bank and the article about the deaths of three Freeland bank presidents in 1938-1939 were scanned at the YMCA and are here thanks to Tom Landers, Joe Flanagan and the Freeland History Society.
Citizens Bank advertising merchandise.
An 1898 Citizens Bank check, a cash envelope, and an ad from the Freeland Tribune in 1890 (also at top left of page).
History of Citizens Bank, from Ed Merrick:
And, during Labor Day weekend in 1967 Citizens Bank had an "instant" interior transformation, giving the bank a newer, contemporary look without losing any banking time. The board of directors wanted the original marble kept. Working around that mandate the artisans introduced new furnishings and design, an changed the working-counter areas to provide more lobby space.
Ethel Baum, a member of the American Institute of Designers, directed the blending of old and new. Ann Turri, a teacher at the Hazleton Art League, contributed a modern painting of sunset at the coal mines, which became the visual focal point of the bank. Her husband John was a local school teacher.
Recent exterior renovation made the columns look cleaner and the front of the bank was softly lit at night.
Ethnic banking services:
John Shigo (Cajko), a Slovak immigrant and prominent Freeland citizen, had a number of roles in town, including helping eastern European immigrants to arrange ship travel back to the old country, and serving as a bank on his own, exchanging foreign money for U.S. currency, helping immigrants send money back to family in Europe, and performing a number of other banking functions. Anthony Rudewick, a Polish immigrant and another prominent Freeland citizen, had a store in South Heberton and also served as a steamship travel agent and foreign money exchange, particularly for Polish immigrants.
From left: Detail of 1912 Sanborn map showing the location of Shigo's bank; two examples of his letterhead; a Shigo check and a money order; an 1895 Freeland directory ad for Anthony Rudewick's store and services.
This is also very interesting. John Shigo published this ad in Slovak
advertising his services to readers of one of the Slovak publications.
In what may have been an effort to compete, the Citizens Bank did the
same.
A rough translation of the Shigo
Slovak ad:
Speed and security guaranteed.
John Shigo (Cajko)
Lansford, Pa. and Freeland, Pa.
I send money to the old country.
I buy tickets on all travel lines.
I exhibit and give consultations to confirm contracts, power of
attorneys, etc.
In my position, I have been trained from Hungary and through that I do
everything expeditiously.
We will even search for parts of a legacy (umarsciny).
I issue contracts for sale, I make contracts for positions.
I sell properties for auction.
I arrange the collection of money from the savings bank or from the
orphan's case. Just whatever thing you have in the old county, I'll
give you the best order.
Ask for advice on any matter.
A rough translation of the
Citizens Bank Slovak ad:
Capital
Residual and retained earnings
Deposits
All assets involved above
Paying 3 percent interest applied from deposit to withdrawal.
The money of P. S. Jednota is stored in this bank.
Deposit money in this bank. Here you will be served. People have
over $900,000.00 deposited here, proving to have many supporters.
If you’re not one of them, consider this notice as if your bank was
writing a letter to you, and become a depositor. You will be
totally satisfied with their equipment and their service.
Officers: H. C. Koons, president; Thomas Birkbeck, vice
president; Charles Dusheck, secretary; B. R. [F.?] Davis, cashier; A.
Shigo, vice cashier.
20th- and 21st-century banks:
[Thanks to Ed Merrick for additions and
corrections.] Citizen's Bank - Centre St., between Main & Front Streets (Organized 1890. Resources over $6,000,000. ('52 Minamek).) ("Join our Christmas Club." ('53 Minamek)) (later Bank of America, other banks)
First National Bank & Trust Co. - 710 Front St. (later PNC Bank)
From Ed Merrick:
The staff at Citizens Bank, and his old bankbook from 1954-1957. He
later wrote: "I just came across this
photo from the Penny Saver. Francie Varilla, who worked for Citizens
for many years, identified as many of the people as he could. The men,
from left, are Bill Yannes, Emil Lang, John Wilson and Billy Fox. The
only woman he could identify is Agnes Batcha, second from the right. He
guesses the photo was taken in the late 1940s or the early 1950s."
Banks listed in directories 1889-1940:
Both Anthony Rudewick in 1895 and John Shigo in 1921 are listed as conducting foreign money exchange and as steamship ticket agents, performing these services for eastern European immigrants at least, and perhaps for others, too. [If anyone reading this knows more about these men and their services, I'd be grateful to learn more about them. -- CT]
1889 mercantile directory
In business listings:
There's this note, and no bank yet: "Pop. 2,500 - Banking town Hazleton"
1895 Freeland city directory
In business listings:
Citizens' Bank of Freeland - Joseph Birkbeck, President; Henry C. Koons, Vice President; Benjamin R. Davis, Cashier; 15 Front
Rudewick, Anthony, foreign money exchange, also steamship ticket agent, Birkbeck, South Heberton
1897 city directory
In business listings:
Citizens Bank of Freeland, N Centre near Front; B. R. Davis, cashier
1897 city directory
In individual listings:
Brittain, A. W., bank teller, Citizens Bank, 86 N Washington, h
Davis, B. R., cashier, Citizens Bank, Bank Bldg., h
1900-1901 city directory
In business listings:
Citizen's Bank of Freeland, Centre
1912 telephone directory
In general listings:
Citizens’ Bank of Freeland – 15 N Centre
First National Bank – Front
1917 telephone directory
In general listings:
Citizens' Bank of Freeland - N. Centre
First National Bank - 638 Centre
1921-1922 city directory
In business listings:
Brooks, J. H. & Co., investment securities, 1100 Markle Bank Bldg., Hazleton
Citizens Bank of Freeland Pa. – 620 Centre
First National Bank – Centre cor Front
Shigo, John, bank/banker, foreign exchange, also steamship agent, 322 Centre [labeled a bank on 1912 Sanborn map, where the earlier address number there for the same building is 185 Centre - CT]
1928-1929 city directory
In business listings:
Brooks, J. H. & Co., banker, 2d Floor, Markle Bank Bldg., Hazleton
Citizens Bank of Freeland, 620 Center
First National Bank, 638 Center
1940 city directory
In business listings:
Citizens Bank of Freeland, 620 Centre
First National Bank in Freeland, 638 Centre