Manistee County Savings Bank

The Manistee County Savings Bank was organized in May of 1891. The bank's first months were spent in temporary quarters but the opening of the Ramsdell Building on the corner of Maple and River streets in 1892 found the bank located on the second floor of the new building. Within 15 years, the bank had grown to the point where it could afford a building of its own. A Chicago architect, Albert E. Colcord, was hired to provide plans for the building. A site was purchased on the southeast corner of River and Poplar streets. On July 13, 1906, Colcord arrived in Manistee with plans for a "Colonial" style building having large columns on the front. Work quickly got underway but was delayed later that year due to the cold weather. As such, while the contract called for completion of the project by August 1, 1907, the bank building did not open for business until November 8, 1907. Upon completion of the first concrete floor, 23 men stood on the floor to test the structure. It sagged three sixteenths of an inch without cracking.