BUILDING

OF THE

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK

OF

CLEVELAND

MARCH 1. 1937

REVISED AUGUST I, 1948 1948 EXTERIOR OF BUILDING

Size

The building, covering 200 feet on East Sixth Street and approximately 216 feet on Superior Avenue, is 200 feet high from street level to r oof and 225 feet hi gh from street level to upper pent house.

The st ;;-le of the architecture is a modern adaptation of Italian Renaissance; i t s dignif:L ed simplicity recalling the security of the fortress buildings of Florence.

Material

The material of the exterior of the building is Etowah Georgia mar ble, a stone which resembles granite and has a pinkish cast which, however soi led it may become, still retains a vmrm tint. Below the marble is a base of Moose-a-Bee granite from Maine.

The design in the center of the stones around the large arched wina_ows is called the ;'Keystone" and is formed of an with outspread wings surmotmted by a star with outwardly radlat:tng rays. The large arched windows are protected by heavy grilles of Swedish iron.

Entrances

The main entrance doors ar e ma_de of bronze. About the main entrance is seen concentrated a group of architectural and decorative sculpture symbolic in intent and composed with relation to t he architectural forms which are its background and setting.

Inte_g:::-ity and Security_:

Flanking the tall archway of the min entrance stand the figures carved in stone of Security and Integrity. The female figure on the right, representing Security, gazes forth in firm strength, clad in armor and bearlng in one hand her iron-b01.md casket, in the other her sturdy sword ; Strong, determi ned, serious, crowned wi th oak leaves, she stands undlsmayed, conscious of her power to repel, every danger. Corresponding to her on the other aide of the door stands the gentler figure, Integrity, cr owned with olive, her face calm and thoughtful, her ga ze fixed on a future untroubled by doubt. In one hand she bears the important rolls of office whose contents and seals remain inviolate in her keeping . In her ot her hand she raises aloft a rod, tipped with an uplifted right hand, symbollc of the oath which witnesses her confession of responsibility. These two statues keep guar d at the entrance door, the one wi th uplifted sword as though to protect, if necessary by force, the strong box entrusted to her care, the other with the pledging hand as though to swear by all that is holy, to her worthiness of the t rust reposing in her. Bronze Panel

Between these two, the main entrance door is topped by a bronze panel in which the orb of the world, bound by Zodiac, is held in equilibrium, guarded by two eagles with outspread wings, who have the talons of one claw firmly implanted on the shield of the United States.. The great scales of Conmwrce just behind each eagle are held in the same minute balance as the Orb of the World, symbolizing financial practice and stability.. The pattern here is not left to end abruptly but gracefully vignettes itself by a classic Greek border at each end into the side columns.

In the metopes of the doorway frieze occur, in bronze, replicas of classic coins which suggest the ancient origin of modern currency, while the stone cartouche above bears the of the Federal Reserve Bank of the Fourth District and is flanked by the fruits and flowers symbolic of a bountiful prosperity.

On Superior Avenue at the aide of the building a dignified stone screen is pierced by two entrances for the employees of the bank. This wall is treated with monumental severity, and against the closed arch beneath a curved pediment is placed the colossal bronze figure of "Energy." The figure is that of a man in the fullest development of his physical powers, his great muscles hardened by bodily work, not by athletic play, his face instinct with the intelligence which gove:i.~ns his muscular labor. He typifies the great physical energy which, directed by intelligence, is characteristic of the tremendous activity of the district for which this great bank serves as· the economic and commercial stabilizer.

In thls group of sculpture of the Federal Reserve Bank of the Fourth District are symbolized in monumental form the ideals of the great institution of v1hich it is a part. At the entrance, Integrity and Security, flanking the symbols of world and national economic equilibrium reassure the public which enters the portal. At the side, Energy under intelligent control looks down upon the workers who enter the gates and who share, in large measure, the qualities "lvhich the figure tYIJifies in enduring bronze.

The sculptor of the three statues iS Henry Hering of New York City ..

MAIN BANKING ROOM

The Main Banking Room is designed in the period of the Italian Renaissance to harmonize with the building exterior.

The cage grilles are Swedish iron, and the window grilles, which appear to be of wrought iron, are in reality inexpensive cast iron.

The seals in the window grilles are the seals of the twelve Federal Reserve cities in the United States.

The marble in the lobby is Sienna.

1~e ceiling is made of ornamental plaster, decorated by hand in oil by Joseph Stur~y of Chicago. ' · The three center doors leading to the corridor are made of bronze, the six end doors of wood which resembles bronze.

-2- Mu:val Painting

Above the center door of the central lobby of the Main Banking Room is a mural pa~atir1g of the steel industry, painted by Miss Cora Holden, a Cleveland artist. The painting portrays the open-hearth process in the steel industry, one of the basic industries of the Fourth District, at the moment when the soft hot metal is being poured into the ingot mouids from the huge ladle swung on a great crane. The picture, which is called "Steel Production~' " wns painted from actual observation at the steel mill and. is the process of the Upson Nut Works of the Bourne-Fuller Steel Company. The tones of this painting are so delicately blended that, while adhering strictly to fact, they are inuperfect harmony with the gold and brown of the lobby mar~le.

-----·Decorative Maps (by Joseph. F. Sturdy Company of Chicago, Illinois) On the left and right walls of the central lobby and flanking this painting are two decorative Ill8pe called, respectively, the "Modern Map" and the "Historical Map."

The Modern Map

This map shows the Federal Reserve banks, districts, and branches i n the United States, and the geogre.phical distribution of the resources of the country, indicative of the nation-wide scope of Commerce.

T~e Federal Reserve banks are represented by a gold star in· a circle having a red background. The branch banks are shown by smaller circles of red and gold, with .the respective names in blue lettering. The boundary lines of the main districts are composed of black and gold squares, the branches of broken black lines. The district numbers are shown in large gold numerals.

T~e main subdivisions of products of the country are shown in large white letters, the area producing them outlined with a broken white line. The local produc's of the various states are shown in appropriate lettertng or in painted illustrations. The on areas are shown with wavy light brown lines.

The in~ividual state lines and ne.mes are shown in red. Canadian provinces are decorated with their respective emblems, and in the province of Quebec we see both the badge of Canada· and the of Great Britain.

The territory of is' decorated with the seal of Mexico showing the eagle with the snake in its beak.

List of Ships on Modern Map

Starting in the left upper corner: fishing boats; a large Pacific Mail stee.mer (United St ates Shipping Board); a four-masted schooner; a sail boat; a Munson Line steamer (United States Shi pping Board); a full-rigged ship, two sail boats, a large Admiral 011iental Line Steamer (United States Shipping Board); a small white coast­ wise steamer and some tug boats.

-3- In the Gulf of Mexico we see a white trading schooner and an A. H. Bull Line Company steamer in the sugar trade. On the west and east coast of Flo:rida we find some yachts, above them a Royal Mail steamer, at its side a small rum r1n1ner; then a Munson Line steamer (United States Shipping Board)~ a full-rigged ship; then the Berengaria (Cunard Line), the leviathan (United States Line); and then Hew England fishing boats.

Description of Cartouches - Modern Map

The two figures in the lower right and left hand corners of this rrap are called "cart ouches." In the center of the left cartouche {nearest t he main outer door) is the present seal of the United States on a gold backsround. At t he top is a beehive symbolical of industry, thrift and savings. Below are two £Olden keys which suggest the bank, the vaults, and the Treasury. The key at the left is supported by a Vltlcan, who personifies Industry - industrial sciences and in­ dustrial arts and manufacture - while the key at the right is supported by Mercury, who personifies transportation - by air, land and water, and Commerce. The shells on which the two male figures rest suggest pearls and precious gems, the pendent corals the treasures of the sea. The date shown on the ribbon, 1923, is the date of the opening of the present Federal Reserve bank bui lding in Cleveland, Ohio.

The cartouche on the right hand side is of the same general design but con­ tains a compass in its center. The date shovm on this, 1914, is the date when the twelve Federal Reserve banks throughout the country, including Cleveland, were opened.

Hlstorical Map

This map shows the growth of the United States from the early Colon :i.es to the territory it now occupies, the date of the acqulsition of this territory, and the emblem or seal of the nation to which it previously belonged. The map also shows various expeditions, trai ls, and voyages marked with respective dates and. repre­ sentative flags.

On the Pacific Coast are shown the flags under which the different navigators explored the coast.

The upper Spanish flag in the Strait of Juan De Fuca stands for Cabr i llo, who sailed along the Pacific Coast and through the Northern Strait 1.n 1542. It also reminds us of Perez, who sailed a~ong the Pacific Coast in 1774.

The British standard marks the voyage of Drake, who, after rounding the Horn, explored the coast of Oregon and stopped for a time in the Bay of San Francisco in 1579.

The other British flag stands for Cook's voyage along the Pacific Coast in 1778.

On the coast of the Gulf of Mexico the Spanish flag of the period, at the left, reminds us of Pineda's voyage in 1519, exploring the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The one at the right marks the western end of Ponce de Leon's voyage in 1512 .

-4- Description of the United States and Adjoining Territory Un~ted States in 178~ In the eastern part, bounded by a Une of black and gold squares, is the Territory of the United States occupied in 1783. It is embellished by the first Great Seal designed by Charles Thompson, then Secretary of Congress, who modified and improved the design by William Barton. It was adopted by Congress on June 20, 1782, and is first found on a co~iaaion of September 16, 1782, authorizing General Washington to exchange prlsoners of war with Great Brita in.

The white iflaga shown on this territory were carried by the French explorers.

The first waa -Cartier, who explored the St. Lawrence in 1534. Champlain discovered the lake bearing his name in 1609 and explored the northern part of the present State of New York from 1615-1616.

Marquette and Joliet pushed inland to the headquarters of the Mississippi and sailed down that river to the mouth of the Arkansas in 1673, returning by way of the Illinois River, Chicago and Lake Michigan.

LaSalle, after exploring Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, went to the Mississippi and followed it to ita mouth, where he took possession of all territory drained by that river, in the name of the French King in 1681. He also explored part of what is now the State of Ohio and Indiana.

In the extreme north is shown the winding trail of Radisson and hi s brother­ in-law Groseillers, who starting from the Three Rivers opposite Montreal, in 1658 discovered the Great Northwest. It was Radisson's third perilous voyage and owing to his meager data is shown on the map in a conjectural way only.

The flag on Lake Superior shows Jonathan Carver's exploration's in 1776, after which he returned to Boston.

Near Plymouth Rock we see pre-revolution Colonial flag,probably displayed from the mainmast of the Mayflower i n 1620 and on the ships bringing English s ettlers to Jamestown in 1607 (al~o shown on the map).

Near New York is the flag of Henry Hudson, an Englishman in the employ of the Dutch East India Company, who in 1609 founded New Amsterdam, which became the present city of New York.

To the left is the red Continental flag 1775-1777; in its left corner the original Pine Tree Flag of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, authorized by the council in April 1776 for sea service.

The flag shown at Annapolis was hoisted on December 3~ 1775, on the stern of "The Alfred" by John Paul Jones, then Senior Lieutenant, as the first Navy Ensign of the thirteen Colonies when Commodore Esek Hopkins assumed command of the Navy built by Congress. Out of compliment to the United .Colcnies it was raised at Cambridge on January 2, 1776, when General Washington's army began its official existence.

-5- On the site of Cleveland is a portrait of General Moses Cleveland, who founded it ~n July 1796, surveyed the ctty, and laid it out.

Near Washington, symbolizing the later Central Bank, is a portrait of Alex­ ander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury and the "Father of our Finan­ cial System."

The upper Spanish flag in the southern section of the United States marks the expedition of DeSota from 15}9-1542 in search of gold. Hie party was nearly anni­ hilated by the warlike Chickasaw Indiana who burned hie camp and live stock and fought him fiercely.. DeSota died of fever and was buried in the Mississippi where the tre. 11 ends.

The section embracing Florida and a strip along the Gulf of Mexico was ceded by Spain in 1821 for $15,000,000. This was brought about by the Seminole Indians in Florida and the Creek :ndians in Alabama harassing white settlers. General Andrew Jackson finally invaded the Spanish Territory and took possession of it, for which he was officially rebuked b~t publicly applauded.

Louisiana Purchase

The central portion of the country known as "Louisiana Purchase" was bought from France under Napoleon on April 30, 1803, for about $16,000,000. This treaty was signed in Paris by the newly arrived minister, James Monroe, on his own responsj.biJ.ity, there being no time to communicate with Washington. '.Phis epoch­ making transaction precipitated the war between England and France.

Starting from the Mississippi is the route taken by Captains Lewis and Clark, sent by President Jefferson in 1804 to explore the Oregon country, whose acquisition later on was materially helped by this valuable expedition.

Under 1803, near New Orleans, is the emblem of Napoleon, the flag of France. The Spanish flag above it marks the last part of DeSota's Expedition. Above and below we see the beginnlng and the end of the route which s. H. Long of the United States Engineer Corps took in 1819-1820, surveying west of the Misslesippi. Long's Peak in the Rockies is named after him. In 1843 the National Government sent John c. Fremont to find a path across the Rock,y Mountains to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Arrived at West Port (Kansas City), an order comma.nding his return reached the city. 'l'he assigned reascn was his taking along a 12 pound Howitzer without authority. His wife, receiving the order, did not forward it but sent him a message to get to the wilds as quickly as possible. Asking no questions, he hurried to South Pass, Great Salt Lake, and made the rest of his memorable trip, including 3,500 miles in sight of eternal snow, returning to St. Louie in J.8Jt4. His report created a sensation. Congress distributed 10,000 printed copies. He was made a captain. As the arrows in his army flag suggested war to the Indians, he inserted in their place a Calumet, the Pipe of Peace.

The Oregon Trail and branching off from it, the Californla Trail, saw the great migration to the Northwest and West, which resulted in the acquisition of that territory.

-6- Near and above is the route the Mormons took on their final migration ending at the Great Salt Lake.

Cabeza DeVaca, survivor of an expedition to Florida in 1528, landed west of the mouth of the Mississippi and, after eight years of captivity among the Indiana, returned to the Spanish Colony on the Pacific.

Coronado, searching for supposed wealth among the Indians in 1540, found the contary. His is the first authentic description of the Buffalo, the Great Prairies and Deserts of , and the towns of the Pueblo Indians.

Above the Louisiana Purchase is territory ceded by Great Britain in 1819.

Texan Annexation

Below is shown the Texan Annexation in 1845. The admission of the State of Texas and its southern boundry dispute brought on the war with Mexico. The Lone Star flag shown was adopted April 9, 1836, when Texas seceded from Mexico as an independent republic.

The old Chihuahua Trail rune through this territory. ~ The coat of arms of Mexico suggests the former ruler.

Mexican Cession

The Mexican war ended with t he Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalge in 1848. For $18,ooo,ooo Mexico sold to the United States all the northern half of her territory, comprising California, Nevada, most of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and part of Colorado.

The old white Spani sh flag symbolizes the various Spanish Missions .

J. s. Smith's route is shown starting from Salt Lake in 1826 and returning there i n 1827.

In the lower right an old Spani sh flag marks Coronado's trip previously des­ cribed.

Then comes the old Gila Trail.

Gadsden Purchase

Below the Mexican Cession is some territory ceded by Mexj_co in 1853, known as the Gadsden Purchase.

The old Spanish Trail is also marked with a flag of the period.

The Route of Domingues-Escalante is similarly emphasized.

-7- Oregon Country

In 1846 the United States and England drew the Oregon Boundary Li.ne at the 49th parallel, and Oregon became part of the United States.

We see the end of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Fremont Expedition, and the Oregon Trail.

The Indian Shield with the black Thtmder Bird, the eagle feathers, and the spears symbolize in a decorative way the former Lords of the Wilderness.

Dom.inion of Canada

It is embellished with the Canadian Badge at the left and the coat of arms of Great Britain.

The Old French Galley Standard and the English Royal Standard in the right corner symbolize the early explorers and traders.

Mexico

Mexico is decorated with its present flag, its coat of arms, and the white flag at the bottom which was carried by Spanish troops in the war of Mexican Independence.

List of Ships Shown on Historical Map

Starting at the left hand upper corner we see three Boston Clippers, an English Galleon, small sail boats, and at the bottom a large Boston Clipper ship.

In the Gulf of Mexico is a large Columbus Caravel, commemorating his great discovery in 1492, and several smaller boats of a- somewhat later date.

On the east coast of Florida is a large Spanish Caravel reminding us of the DeSota Expedition in 15!~2 and the voyage of discovery by Ponce de Leon in 1512 in search of the Fountain of Youth. It also stands for the first settlement of Euro­ peans in St. Augustine by the Spaniards in 1565.

Then come some small boats, further up an English Galleon, suggesting the first Anglo-Saxon settlement in the present boundry of the United States at Jamestown.

It also reminds us of an English expedition under John and Sebastian Cabot, Italians, who explored our Atlantic Seaboard in 1479, and the voyage of Sir Walter Raleigh, who attempted to make a settlement at Roanoke Island in 1585, but it was a · failure, the returning settlers bringing back with them tobacco and potatoes (novel­ ties for Europe) which aroused great interest in the western hemisphere.

Then come two Boston Clippers.

Off Long Island we see Henry Hudson's "Half Moon" in 1609, end then further up the "Mayflower" that brought the Pilgrims over in 1620.

-8- RECEPTION ROOM - EIGHTH FLOOR

The Reception Room on the eighth floor is panelled in American walnut; the floor is made of teakwood, laid in herringbone pattern. On the panels, modelled in clay, in relief, and painted, are the seals of the four states of the Fourth Federal Reserve District, surrounded by decorative art. The ceiling painting is in the style of the Italian Renaissance and is done by Joseph Sturdy, decorator. The chandeliers are wrought iron and Florentine gilt, and the candelabra modelled after the style of the Italian Renaissance.

Portraits

The two portraits over the fireplaces in this room are of Alexander Hamilton, over the north fireplace, and Robert Morris, over the south fireplace. They 1-rere painted by· the late Alonzo Kimball of Cleveland.

Alexander Hamilton was the first Secretary of the Treasury and laid the founda­ tion not only of finance but of the Union, for it was largely due to him that the colonists were carried through the Reconstruction period, a protesting and separated nat ion, into a consolidated Union.

Robert Morris was the financial cornerstone of the American Revolution, the Good Samaritan who helped the inexperienced statesman over their chaotic financial troubles durlng the latter part of the Revolutionary period. This portrait of Morris, with the exception of the head, had to be developed by the artist entirely from descriptions of Morris's physical attributes and habits contained in contempor­ ary documents, as no full length portrait of the Philadelphia financier now exists.

VAULTS

Summary of Weights and Dimensions of the World's Largest Vault Installation

Main Vault

Total weight of vault door and entrance complete o••••••••••••••• 300 Tons Weight of swinging part of the door •••••••••oooooo•••••••••••o•o 100 Tons Overall thickness of the door •••••••••o••o••o••oo••o•••••••••••o 60 Inches Solid steel thickness of the door ••••o••o•••o•••••o••••••••••••• 48 lnches Weight of crane hinge completely assembled ••••••o••o•o•••••••••• 47 Tons Overall height of the crane hinge •••••••••••o••••••••••o•••••••• 18ft. 10 Inches Diameter of hinge pins •••o•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 15 Inches Inside diameter of door ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 90 Inches Outside diameter of door ••••••••••••••••••oooooo••••o••oo••••o•• 124 Inches Number of locking bolts in the door ••••••••••oo•••o•o••o••••••o• 16 Diameter of locking bolts •••••••••••o•oooo••••••••••••••o••••••• 5~ Inches Weight of each bolt •o••o•••••••••••••••••••o••••••••••••••o••o•• 246 Pounds Diameter of Pressure· system pilot wheel o •• o •••• o •••••••• ; ••• o... 50 Inches Diameter of smallest screw in the vault door •o•••••••••oo••••••• 1/32 Inch Diameter of largest screw in the vault door ••••••••••••••••••••• 3 Inches Total weight of emergency door and entrance complete •••••••••••• 100 Tons Total weight of steel lining i~ main vault ••••••••••o•oo•o•••••• 133 Tons Door locked by four-movement time lock and double combination locks.

-9- It took weeks to lTIBchine the main door. Forty-eight continuous hours were re­ quired to make one complete cut. After the machining came many weeks of hand filing to make an absolutely perfect fJ.t and insure protect ion.

The same long, painstaking machining and expert hand filing were required on the vestibule as on the door. The vestibule required the largest car in the United States to carry it (200,900 pounds). Special routing was required to avoid bridges because of the crushing weight. It was the largest single-car shipment the Pennsyl­ vania ever made. Four times en route from York to Cleveland the car broke down, even though continually inspected. The ueight was too much for a huge crane to unload. I t could be used only for balancing. One-hundred-ton hydraulic jacks were necessary. It took a crew of 12 men 2 days end 2 nights to unload t he vestibule from the car. It took 4 days and nights to move the vestibule from the stati on to the bank -- a distance of 1 mile. It was pulled by trucks and block and tackle after being bridged between two espe c ialJ.y constructed trailer e • It took an hour per block d.mm Superior Avenue. Seven days of superhuman effort were required to get the vestibule into positi on at the bank.

The door welghs 100 tor1s, yet it is as easily swung by one man as a s ix-or­ eight-inch door. It is a fortress aga inst fire, water, burglary, or mob attack.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

The engineering agencies include a power plant, where electricity is genera­ ted to operate elevators, air conditioning equipment, ventilating equipment, other building machinery and electric office equipment.

Steam for gpera'j;ion of the power plant and for heet:f.ng the building is produced in the boiler room adjoining the engine r oom on the basement floor of the buil ding.

-10-