A week or so ago, my friend Jenny messaged me and said she had something to drop off (hmmm did I write about this already? I don't know. That's ok because there's more this time). She came by on a sunny Sunday and gave me a gorgeous book on Prairie architects Purcell and Elmslie. I was utterly delighted with it. Then things got hectic with phones and chemo and preparing for our trip and I set it aside to look at later. Thursday evening as we were driving around Rhinelander, Wisconsin in the rain we stopped at a light. As I glanced to the right I jumped seeing the ornamentation on the building. I knew it wasn't Louis Sullivan because I have all his banks listed in my head. I quickly googled and sure enough, we were sitting next to a Purcell and Elmslie bank! Of COURSE I'd forgotten to bring the book with me!! I was so excited. We went back the next morning when it was merely gray and not raining and grabbed some pictures.
When we got home I read a bit about it in my book. The bank originally wanted to be in the front with two stores behind them. Purcell and Elmslie convinced them to have the two stores have entrances on the front (see the facade) as well as on a hallway that led to the bank behind them. This way all three would have street access and the stores would have windows for display on the street as well as on windows on the hallway. Reportedly the drugstore didn't really get this concept and put shelves up on the window on the hallway.
Delightful. Thank you so much, Jenny!!