Posted: 7/10/07
New Albin bank to hold open house to showcase new addition
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
"We were trying to showcase this historic building. It took about a year to complete. We gutted the building, sandblasted the limestone walls, then tuck-pointed and sealed them. It was a major project. We filled 19 30-yard dumpsters. We used local contractors and local materials. We are very pleased with the way it turned out."
Thatís the way New Albin Savings Bank President Barry Fruechte summed up the renovation project of the former Main Street Market building, which is now part of bank. The total remodeling project of the adjoining grocery store building provided an extra 1,500 square feet of office space for the New Albin bank.
Area residents are encouraged to take a look at the new addition and also celebrate former bank president Ray Whalenís 70th birthday during an open house this Friday, July 13, from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Tours of the new addition will be given. Cookies and snacks will be served throughout the day, and beginning at 4 p.m. hotdogs and brats will be served in the park, right across the street from the bank. A concert, featuring CW Von Arx and Highway 3, will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the park.
"We also came across 20 old silver dollars, and will be giving them out as door prizes," Fruechte added.
The original bank building was constructed in 1898. As the bank grew, several additions were needed, the first in 1955, and a major expansion project, which added 1,300 square feet of office space, followed 11 years later in 1966.
"We needed more space, and the Main Street Market went out of business in September of 2005," Fruechte explained. "We bought the building that winter, and the planning process began. We used W. Smith Architectural of Winona, which is the same firm Rippe Hammell and Murphy (law office of Caledonia) used for their remodeling project. "
Fruechte said their desire was to retain the architectural flavor of the original 1898 bank structure. The modern-looking facade was removed from the main bank building, the red-brick exterior was sandblasted and tuckpointed. Matching brick was found for the front of the former grocery store building. Joel Sires of Tri-State Masonry was in charge of the stone and brick work.
Both floors of the 50 by 60-foot grocery store building were gutted, which produced the refuse to fill the 19 30-yard dumpsters. The first floor of the grocery store building was divided in half, with the bank utilizing the south half for two new offices, a sprawling vestibule, and a conference/kitchen/lunchroom area. The century-old limestone serves as the interior walls, and replicated 12-foot high tin ceilings, and locally-harvested oak woodwork help provide the 1890s character.
The raised oak panels used for the bases of the desks, counters, and tables, all of the oak door and window casing, and newel posts came from Konkel Sawmill in New Albin and installed by John Pitts of rural Caledonia.
"We wanted to use locally-produced wood, but decided to stain it red cherry to give it an older look," Fruechte added.
The north half of the ground floor and the entire second story of the grocery store building were opened up, interior walls stripped, sandblasted, tuckpointed, and sealed. New doors and windows, matching the 1890s period were installed, the second story ceiling was insulated, and a new roof was included in the renovation project.
"Weíre not sure what weíre going to do with the north half of the ground floor, or this large room upstairs," Fruechte said, as he looked around the cavernous 3,000 square foot second story room. But thereís a lot of potential," he added with a smile.
With the latest addition, the New Albin Savings Bank, which serves customers in southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and western Wisconsin, now includes 5,000 square feet of working space, and another 4,500 square feet of "potential."
"Weíre inviting everyone to stop by Friday to take a look at what weíve done. It was a major project, and we couldnít have done it without the cooperation of our staff at the bank, the talented contractors and their crews, and our customers, who had to put up with some inconveniences as the project progress during the past year," Fruechte said.
"And, we canít forget Rayís birthday," Fruechte was quick to add. Whalen has been an employee of New Albin Savings Bank for more than 42 years, including bank president for 20 years.
Caledonia Argus
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E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com