Forum: Albert Lea Photos
Topic: The Vault
started by: Liberal
Posted by Liberal on Feb. 06 2005,7:43 pm
Is that Skinner Chamberlain sign still visible when you're going south on Broadway?
Posted by Replicant on Feb. 06 2005,9:16 pm
It seems like the Skinner sign is still visible.

I really hate the "Vault" name that the Freeborn Bank building acquired just because some guy ran a "antique" business there for a year or two and stuck the name "Vault" on the corner with some vinyl lettering.

Finally someone took down those stupid letters a couple years back, but unfortunately the name persists.

Another piece of local history was lost in the bank building at one time.  Lloyd Herfindahl did a huge mural in there behind the teller windows.  At some point it got vandalized and it got painted over.
Posted by MADDOG on Feb. 06 2005,10:06 pm
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Lloyd Herfindahl did a huge mural in there behind the teller windows.  At some point it got vandalized and it got painted over.
 I thought it was mostly intact.
Posted by Replicant on Feb. 06 2005,10:21 pm
No, it's long gone.  Ed Shannon did a story on this lost Herfindahl mural a year or so ago.  He also noted how at some point a doorway was cut into the mural, then at a later time someone broke into the bank office, vandalized it with spray paint or something, and the mural was then painted over.

For quite some time in the 1980's an insurance office (Associated Insurance Brokers run by Ken Cafourek and Bob Holton) was in the old bank building, it wasn't there then.  In fact, this mural was gone before Freeborn National Bank became First Bank and/or moving to the "new" building across W. College from the courthouse (now USBank).
Posted by Botto 82 on Feb. 07 2005,4:02 am
If that building had been in Austin, it wouldn't be in Austin anymore. Austin seems to hate old buildings.
Posted by ICU812 on Feb. 07 2005,7:22 am
Sure would be neat to see what the three local investors could have done with Freeborn Bank building. But Sparks backed out on the deal. I wonder who else wanted the building that knows Sparks??? I dont want to turn this thread into a rant about Sparks but at least there were 3 people with a vision for the building and now it sits still empty and untouched. I wonder how the 12" of rain we received last fall affected the structure?

Quote
July 14 2003


FREEBORN BANK BUILDING REDEVELOPMENT LETTER OF INTENT AUTHORIZED
City Manager Sparks noted that he has met with three local individuals who are interested in the renovation of the Freeborn Bank Building. The individuals have requested that the City enter into a Letter of Intent. The authorization for a Letter of Intent will permit staff to negotiate terms of any formal proposal to be presented to the City Council.
Discussion included a need to bring the formal proposal back to the City Council for final approval and a question regarding the term of the Letter of Intent. City Manager Sparks responded that the final approval would come back to the Council and that the Letter of Intent would be for a four month period between August and November, 2003.
After Council discussion, Councilor Kron moved, Councilor Marin seconded, that a Letter of Intent with Scott Knutson, Tom Throlson and Greg Jensen for the Freeborn Bank Building Redevelopment be authorized. On roll call vote, all Councilors voted in favor of said motion. Mayor Eaton declared the motion carried and the letter authorized.
Posted by DrBombay on Feb. 07 2005,9:33 am
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I really hate the "Vault" name that the Freeborn Bank building acquired just because some guy ran a "antique" business there for a year or two and stuck the name "Vault" on the corner with some vinyl lettering.


Me too....I always hated that.  I will always and forever call it the old "Freeborn Bank Building"!
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