First National Bank Building
The First National Bank Building (FNB Building) is significant because of its dominance of the architectural heritage of Rock Springs and its association with the commercial development of the city.
The FNB Building, as it is situated on South Front Street, was ‘the dominant building in this town of 11,000. Its importance to the skyline was noted in contemporary reports which said “the building stands as a credit to the town and may be seen for miles from every direction as you come into town”. The architects, Walter J. Cooper of Salt Lake City and D.D. Spanni of Rock Springs chose terra cotta to face the building and for architectural ornamentation. This building represents the most elaborate use of terra cotte in southwestern Wyoming and is significant for that reason.
Walter J. Cooper, architect of the FNB Building, worked with architectural firms in New York City before coming to Salt Lake City in 1910. He was in SLC to supervise the construction of the Boston and Newhouse Buildings and the Newhouse Hotel, all designed by Henry Ives Cobb. In 1911, Cooper formed a partnership with Charles Snead McDonald under the firm name of McDonald and Cooper. Their two most important projects were Keith-Obrien Building and Walker Bank in Salt Lake City. Other works of Mr. Cooper include residences and mine buildings for Chief Consolidated Mining Company at Eureka, Utah (National Register Historic District nominee), Tracy Loan and Trust Company Building (National Register nominee), Isolation Hospital, Beck Hot Springs Sanatorium, Salt Lake City; Tomahawk Hotel in Green River, Wyoming; and banks in St. Anthony, Idaho, and Manga, Utah.
Located at 502 South Main Street in Rock Springs, Wyoming and added to the National Register of Historic Places (#80004054) on March 13, 1980.
D.D. Spanni, a local architect, was in charge of construction supervision. Little is known of his work although local newspaper accounts credit the building design to him. J.F. Leefers of Rock Springs was general contractor for the project.
The First National Bank Building is also significant because it housed the first bank in Rock Springs to open under a state charter. Augustine Kendall arrived in Rock Springs on August 1, 1887, with the intention of establishing a financial institution. Mr. Kendall stated about his arrival:
“You could hardly have selected Rock Springs in the year of 1887 as a town in which to start a bank. Its physical aspect was uninviting, its business houses few and all outward inducements lacking. Its latent possibilities were not on the surface but were being uncovered.“
The Sweetwater County Bank was open in a converted butcher shop with Mr. Kendall assuming all bank responsibilities. Within a year business had progressed enough to warrant the conversion of the bank into a National bank under the name of First National Bank of Rock Springs.
As the First National Bank grew it became the city’s largest banking institution. Improved quarters were needed and they had their present building constructed in 1919.
