The Hanover Bank: A Classical Gem

I am a little baffled as to why you write that “J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is now headquartered not in the hallowed caverns of Wall Street but — wait for it — Chicago, Illinois!” Their headquarters are on Park Avenue in New York City. See http://www.jpmorganchase.com/cm/cs?pagename=Chase/Href&urlname=jpmc/about/history

Forgive me, I meant that Chase (not J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.) is headquartered in Chicago, and have duly corrected it.

The most telling part of this latest posting is the final photograph. From the left: a decent apartment block from 1900 or so, the bank, two ordinary but pleasing brownstones, and then a particularly detestable example of the cheap and shoddy product of modern New York and its greedy masters.
How they do debase everything which comes within their ken.

There is nothing to forgive, Mr. Cusack. I have been in the mood to be “helpful” lately.

Do you think that Chase can be prevailed upon to get rid of those blue awnings, though?

As for that “particularly detestable example of the cheap and shoddy product,” will we find it more agreeable in fifty years, should it stand so long?

As for that “particularly detestable example of the cheap and shoddy product,” will we find it more agreeable in fifty years, should it stand so long?

No.

I second the sentiment on the blue awnings, they’re hideous!

I don’t condone violent activities, but if I happened to see any of those radicals from the Classical Architecture Movement of the People (CAMP) setting fire to those awnings or simply removing them, I would look the other way, and suffer a sudden memory loss if questioned by the police!

Mr. Flâneur,

Perhaps it would be agreeable if those readers of this blog who live in or near New York City were to gather on a weekend afternoon at some public house and then emerge therefrom to stroll for a bit through the neighborhood, animadverting on the architectural sights (and upon each other’s animadversions), after which to repair again to some other tavern for perhaps well-needed spiritual refreshment. I could bring my Sir Banister Fletcher for possible reference, provided I didn’t have to carry it the entire time. Is there any interest? If so, and with Mr. Cusack’s consent, perhaps I could make the preliminary arrangements.

And here is another Chase branch, fitted out to possibly even more ridiculous effect: href=”http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/07/big_bank_on_mon.php”>http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/07/big_bank_on_mon.php.

Sorry, I meant to say:

And here is another Chase branch, fitted out to possibly even more ridiculous effect:
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/07/big_bank_on_mon.php

In point of fact, it was the Chemical Bank which acquired Chase Manhattan and changed the name of the combined entity to Chase because that name was more widely known and hence easier to market.

I always thought that “Chemical Bank” was a dangerously exciting name.

More “hideous” blue:
Egregiously vulgar and cheap blue pendulous lamps have been installed above the tellers’ stations. In an exquisite marble water fountain a chrome spigot has been installed which is more appropriate for a garden hose hook-up in one’s garage. Whoever is in charge of this sort of thing there should be deeply ashamed. He or she is totally out of his or her depth.