Third National Bank Building, Syracuse

By Pamela Priest

In adding old photographs to OHA’s new online Image Database, many questions are popping into my head. When I added The Third National Bank image #517, I knew nothing about this bank, its location, or whether the building still existed today. Today I added image #573 which shows a portion of the Third National Bank Building. Okay, I had to find out about this building right away. I was pleasantly surprised at the findings of my research!

A Short History of the Third National Bank Building.

The Third National Bank began business February 1, 1864. In January 1871 Lucius Gleason became President of the Third National Bank, using money gained from the sale of Syracuse salt during the Civil War to build the bank into a thriving institution.^{1, 6}

The Third National Bank was the first commercial bank in Syracuse to erect its own building. It was in 1885 that the bank moved from the White Memorial building to its new home at North Salina and James streets. In 1912, the building was remodeled and the banking rooms fitted up in attractive, modern fashion.¹

The Third National Bank building was closed in the early 1930’s after having consolidated with First Trust & Deposit Co.⁶ The building was sold several times and has been occupied by a number of tenants for varying periods of time.⁷ From 1956 to 1973 it housed the Community Chest, which later became The United Way of Central New York.^{4, 6} John F. Marsellus, Sr. of Marsellus Casket Co. owned the building before being sold to the Third National Associates.⁵

The former Roy Furniture store structures and the Third National Bank building were transformed into a single building by Third National Associates and is now called One Hundred Clinton.^{3, 4, 7} As of 1986, the newly transformed building was turned into a bank once again by the Syracuse Savings Bank, now Federal Fleet Bank N.A.⁷

On April 12, 2006 I investigated the Amos Building and Clinton Square areas, and realized I had taken a photo of the Third National Bank Building from afar. I need to visit this building someday soon. If anyone has anything to add about the Third National Bank building, please feel free to comment! And while you’re at it, check out OHA’s new online Image Database! If you want to find out more about this building, or any other building in Onondaga County, please be sure to visit OHA’s Research Center.

SOURCES:

1 Syracuse and Its Environs, by Franklin H. Chase, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL, 1924, pp. 795-796

2 New York Bank History – National Bank History – Bob Kerstein, Founder, website http://www.scripophily.com/nybankhistoryt.htm, accessed 23 December 2006

3 Hueber-Breuer Construction Co. website, http://www.hueber-breuer.com/commercial.htm, accessed 23 December 2006

4 United Way warned of tough times ahead, Syracuse Herald-Journal, Wednesday, January 22, 1986, pg. B2

5 Downtown Landmark on the Block, by Dale Kusler, Syracuse Herald-Journal, Wednesday April 25, 1984, Metro, pg. B1

6 Penthouse Stripped of All But Its Reputation, by Bob Peel, Syracuse Post-Standard, September 19, 1973, pg. 13-EZ

7 Landmark, 55 years later, back to banking, by Joseph A. Porcello, Syracuse Herald-Journal, Friday, April 25, 1986, Business & Real Estate, pg. B8

8 New York Bank History – National Bank History – Bob Kerstein, Founder, website http://www.scripophily.com/nybankhistorys.htm, accessed 23 December 2006

Photo sources: Onondaga Historical Association and Pamela Priest