The Bank and Community: Growing Up Together


The St. Anthony Park Community
In 1873, William R. Marshall, a land developer and businessman who served as Governor of Minnesota from 1866 to 1870, employed prominent landscape architect Horace W.S. Cleveland to design an attractive residential area of country estates. Mr. Cleveland had previously been instrumental in the creation of New York City's famous Central Park and was principally responsible for designing the Park systems of both St. Paul and Minneapolis. He chose to divide the rolling landscape in the area with streets that conformed with the slopes and irregular terrain. In 1885 the first homes were built for sale to private owners. By the time it was annexed to the city of St. Paul in 1887, there were 60 families in the community.
In 1891, electric streetcars began running on Como Avenue, which spurred further development. They continued to operate until 1954, when they were replaced by the current metropolitan bus system.
In 1887 the Minnesota State Legislature passed a bill to create the University Farm School in St. Anthony Park, and the first class was graduated in 1890. It developed rapidly into what is now the School of Agriculture and related studies on the University's St. Paul campus. With the coming of the Children's Home Society (1889), Luther Seminary (1902), and the St. Anthony Park Branch Library (1917), what had originally been envisioned as an enclave of country villas for wealthy landowners evolved into a community with a rich diversity in people, homes and businesses.


St. Anthony Park Bank Chartered
The Park grew very quickly between 1900 and 1929. About halfway through this period of rapid growth, leaders in the community saw the need for a bank to serve residents and businesses. They attracted an experienced banker, Luman C. Simons, to join with them. The Bank, which was to be located near the corner of Como Avenue and Carter Avenue, was officially established on May 8, 1916, with $30,000 of Capital and Surplus.
There were seven members of the St. Anthony Park Bank Board of Directors when it was organized. They were: Andrew Boss, Alvah Bull, Arthur Evenson, August J. Franke, J.A. Hummel, Glenn Greaves and Luman C. Simons. Mr. Simons became President and Mr. Greaves the Cashier and Managing Officer. Greaves' service with the bank continued until his retirement in 1959 and resignation as a Director in 1966 (50 years). John D. Hunt was employed in 1927, and although he retired as Executive Vice President in 1975, he continued as an integral part of the Bank Board until 1996 (69 years).
The Bank's first building, at 2250 Como Avenue, was designed by Charles Hausler, who also designed the St. Anthony Park Branch Library across the street from the bank. It was completed and occupied in 1917, as was the Library. The two buildings created a stunning effect in the community by mirroring each other with their similarly arched windows and limestone and brick exteriors.


The Como and Carter Area
To the west of the Bank was an attractive complex of three English Tudor style buildings surrounding a central courtyard, designed for August J. Franke by Franklin Ellerbe, who lived nearby. Mr. Franke built these buildings in 1909 to house a grocery store, a meat market, rental apartments and Fireside Hall, a social gathering place for dances and entertainment(This complex is now called Milton Square).
East of the Bank building was the large playground and garden of the Children's Home Society of Minnesota, which provided care for homeless children until permanent homes could be found for them.
Across Commonwealth Avenue, further to the east, was Murray Grade School (named in honor of State Senator William Pitt Murray). Diagonally across Como Avenue from the Bank was Bethel Academy, built in 1907 by Swedish Baptists for the education of young Swedish immigrants. When the Academy later merged with Bethel Seminary on Snelling Avenue, its building became the home of St. Paul Mutual Insurance Company, and later an H.B. Fuller Company laboratory.


Growth of the Bank
The original Bank building remained relatively unchanged from 1917 through World War I, the "Roaring 20's", the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war economic boom years of the late 1940's and early 1950's.
In 1955, however, the need of the growing Bank for additional space to serve customers called for an expansion and remodeling. The original dark brick exterior with limestone arched windows were removed and the building was expanded. A new facing of brick, lighter in color, was chosen, reflecting the style of the 1950's.
Other changes followed. In 1963, a parking lot was created behind the bank building and the first Drive-in teller window was installed. In 1972, a new drive-in/walk-up Bank was built. That building, designed by St. Anthony Park architect, Joseph Michels, opened in May 1974 and won an award for design excellence from the Minnesota Society of Architects.
For a time it seemed that Bank expansion would force a move away from St. Anthony Park. Finally, however, in 1985, the former H.B. Fuller Company site became available. The new Bank building was a challenge to design and build in a way that would maintain and enhance the feeling of the Park's commercial area. It was designed by architect Jack Boarman and constructed by Kraus-Anderson Co.
In November of 2004 St. Anthony Park Bank changed its name to Park Midway Bank to better reflect the growth of the Bank's services into both the Saint Anthony Park and Midway communities.


Community Involvement and Commitment
Since its founding, Park Midway Bank, its staff and directors have provided community leadership as well as financial services to families, individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. The commitment to help develop St. Anthony Park and surrounding communities and keep them strong has been, and continues to be, a primary focus of the bank.
Today, when people describe "The Park" as quaint and charming, they're referring to more than the gracefully curving streets lined with antique lampposts. Part of what they feel is a sense of place where tradition lives on and where a larger sense of community good doesn't preclude individualism. New institutions relative to today's needs are being built on a foundation of community involvement that extends back to before the turn of the century. The Park is special because it was planned a hundred years ago with a vision of quality of life that still attracts quality people today.

1916	Bank charter granted - Luman C. Simons elected President and Glenn Greaves hired as Cashier and Managing Officer (he served a total of 52 years).
1917	New building completed and occupied.
1927	John D. Hunt hired. (He was still an active Board Member in 1996 - with 69 years of service.)
1933	Reorganization of bank accomplished under new federal laws - survives the Great Depression.
1955	Bank building expanded and remodeled, with original facade removed and replaced.
1959	Bank control sold to new group including Wallace L. Boss, son of Andrew Boss, a bank founder. W.M. Bollenbach is named President and John D. Hunt Executive Vice President and Managing Officer.
1960	Bank Director Elmer L. Andersen, President of H.B. Fuller Company, elected Governor of Minnesota.
1963	First drive-in teller installed.
1970	Bank control sold to group formed by W. Andrew Boss, grandson of founder, Andrew Boss.
1977	Offered first Money Market Certificates of Deposit.
1980	Creation of Minnesota Non-Profit Assistance Fund in collaboration with the Minneapolis Foundation.
1984	Automated teller machine (ATM) installed at Drive-In/Walk-Up Bank.
1986	Moved into the current Park Midway Bank Building.
1991	St. Anthony Park Bank celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
1993	Control of bank sold to William S. Reiling, who becomes Chairman, with W. Andrew Boss continuing as President.
1994	Bank director Ann Wynia becomes an endorsed candidate for the United States Senate.
1995	W. Andrew Boss retires as President and assumes the position of Chairman of the Board. Richard B. (Rick) Beeson, Jr., named President.
2000	Internet banking commences.
2001	University Ave/Vandalia branch opens.
2004	Name changed to Park Midway Bank.
2006	Park Midway Bank celebrates its 90th birthday.
2007	New headquarters Bank opens at 2300 Como Ave. in September.