To spot the Old Second National Bank, just look for a tall, sturdy building made of golden-brown brick with a sharp peaked roof and a big clock hanging on the corner above the sidewalk at the intersection of River Street.
Now, let’s dive into the story-don’t worry, this isn’t a math test in a bank! Back in 1924, Aurora needed a bank as unique as its people, and they called in George Grant Elmslie, a brilliant architect already nearing the twilight of his career. Now, let’s set the scene: Elmslie was famous for his Prairie School style, the style that loved to stretch buildings out low and wide, almost like they were trying to hug the earth. But just like when your stubborn uncle tries the latest dance craze, Elmslie decided to mix things up. Instead of all those familiar horizontal lines, he reached for the sky-filling this bank with strong, confident vertical brick columns rising all the way from that pink granite base right up to the red-tiled roof.
Elmslie didn’t work alone. He brought in Emil Settler to carve the stone, muralist John W. Norton to splash history across the walls inside, and Kristian Schneider to sculpt details with flair. Only the south side got all the fancy exterior decorations-like someone who only irons the front of their shirt! Step closer to the bank and you might imagine hearing the echoes of Aurora’s early days, painted on a three-panel mural by Norton just inside-horses, wagons, and river life from the 1830s.
Notice the red-tiled floor inside, designed to look like a giant oriental rug. Can you imagine bank tellers tiptoeing across it, making sure not to disturb the patterns? The bank’s story is one of bold design and creative teamwork-so striking, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Standing here, you’re not just near a bank-you’re beside a powerful splash of Aurora history… all without making a deposit!
