WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015
HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A7
COMMUNITY
Building built for a bank now serves as civic seat of power
Editor’s note: The fol-
lowing excerpt is from a story
that ran in the Hermiston
Herald on July 1, 1965.
The First Federal Sav-
ings and Loan Association of
Pendleton announced today
that construction would start
immediately on their new
Hermiston Branch Building.
The contract for construct-
ing the building has been
awarded to the Timber Com-
pany of Hermiston who sub-
mitted a low bid of $108,490
for this work. The building
was designed by Pendleton
Architect Wes Korman.
The building will be built
on the corner of NE First
Street and NE Gladys Avenue
across from the Hermiston
Library.
HISTORY Because
the site
borders
residential property, the archi-
tect had set the new building
back from the property line
and has provided landscaping
completely around the free
standing building.
The new building will pro-
The building, which
is of contemporary
design will be
constructed
entirely of fireproof
materials, and
will feature brick
on the exterior in
conjunction with
panels stuccoed
with marble chips.
Hermiston History
Hermiston History will be a regular
feature in the Hermiston Herald. If you
have something to share about the his-
tory of the greater Hermiston area, send
your submission to editor@hermiston-
herald.com with Hermiston History in
vide 2,700 square feet of space
on the main À oor for banking
facilities, 700 square feet on
a balcony for an employees
lounge and 700 square feet
in a basement for mechanical
equipment and storage.
,ncluded on the ¿ rst À oor
is a conference room which
according to Hermiston
Branch Manager Bill Parker
may be used by any groups
requiring a meeting room. ...
The building, which is of
contemporary design will be
constructed entirely of ¿ re-
proof materials, and will fea-
ture brick on the exterior in
conjunction with panels stuc-
coed with marble chips.
Hermiston subcontractors
who will be working on this
building include Shelco Elec-
tric, Hamilton Sheet Metal
Works, and Mr. Five Percen-
ter.
Work is scheduled to
start immediately so that the
Hermiston Branch 2f¿ ce
which has outgrown its pres-
ent leased quarters in the In-
land Empire Bank building
can be moved before the end
of the year.
• • •
The building may be fa-
miliar, but don’t look for it on
NE First Street, which is also
Highway 395. No, the build-
ing didn’t move, the street
names have changed.
The building today is at
NE Second Street and NE
Gladys Avenue. It also is no
longer a bank and hasn’t been
for about 30 years or so. To-
day, the former First Federal
Savings and Loan building is
the subject line. If you have a question
about the area’s history your would like
the Herald staff to look into, you can
send your questions to the same email
address with Hermiston History ques-
tion in the subject line.
better known as Hermiston
City Hall.
The city acquired the
building in June 1986 from
Benj. Franklin Western Heri-
tage Bank for $365,000.
At the time the purchase
agreement was reached the
city planned to spend about
$35,000 for remodeling and
furnishings. The city moved
from the old city call at corner
of NE Third Street and Main
to the renovated bank build-
ing in December 1986.
A public dedication and
open house was held on
March 19, 1987.
STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST
The dedication plague inside City Hall commemorates the
council members and top city staff members at the time the
building was purchased by the city in 1986.
DISCOVER
THE HERMISTON DOWNTOWN DISTRICT
JOIN US FOR FIRST THURSDAYS
4:30-7:00PM • JULY 2 & AUGUST 6
Check out Downtown and join in the fun!
Refreshments, Passport Bonus, Discounts
Stop in the following businesses and enjoy the
hospitality! Pick up a passport and get it marked at four
or more businesses, then turn it in to enter a drawing!
• Alexander Daniel Jewelry Works • Bloomz
• Andee’s Boutique • Defining Details • Goss Jewelers
• Hale’s Restaurant • Hermiston Drug • Indulge • Rescrub
• Lucky Endz Gifts • Mailing Made Easy
• Nookie’s Restaurant & Hermiston Brewing Co.
• The Pheasant Cafe & Lounge
• C&R Mercantile Co. • Country Gourmet & BBQ
T
PASSPOR
THANK YOU TO THE
SUPPORTING MERCHANTS!
American Printing, Banner
Bank, Home Town Mortgage
Group, Kay C ’ s Art &
Collectibles, Premier
Physical Therapy
ton
to Hermis n
Downtow
District
• Home Decor
• Jewelry • Wine
• Candles
541-567-3733
158 E. Main St., Hermiston
Like us on Facebook!
facebook.com/indulgehomedecor
In support of our downtown
Hermiston Merchants!
ALEXANDER DANIEL
JEWELRY WORKS
Family Owned Independent Jeweler
~ Machine & Hand Engraving
~ Custom Designs & Restyling
~ Original & Custom Design
~ Free Cleaning & Inspections
Melisa Webb NMLS #311680
Kim Arbogast NMLS #230847
Samantha Webb
Loan officer NMLS #1210610
An artist rendering on the front page of the July 1, 1965
Hermiston Herald of a bank building planned for downtown
Hermiston. The building did serve as a home to banks, but for
nearly the last 30 years it has had another use.
505 E. Main St., Suite A
Hermiston, OR
541-564-5900
NMLS #471758-1850
hermistonhomeloans.com
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167 E. Main St., Hermiston • 541-289-1800
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Discover Your
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Gifts • Cosmetics
Perfumes • Cards
Old Fashion Soda Fountain
Gift wrapping always a courtesy
H ERMISTON D RUG & G IFT
“Where Old Friends Meet.”
114 E. Main St. • Hermiston • 541-567-3072
Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm • Sat 8am-3pm • Closed Sun
25 % off
DRESSES
STAFF PHOTO BY GARY L. WEST
This is how the building looks today. The former bank building
today is known as Hermiston City Hall.
20% off
All Jew elry &
Repa ir
Phone: 541-786-8413
215 E. M a in St., Ste. A
H erm iston, OR 97838
Hours:
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Sa turda y 10:00 a .m . - 4:00 p.m .
Andee’s Boutique
243-A East Main Street, Hermiston
(541) 567-5618
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Think Local - Shop Downtown Hermiston