Dollar Bank: Kings of Fourth Avenue
The two Dollar Bank Fourth Avenue lions are indeed kings. In 1871, Dollar Bank’s majestic Fourth Avenue office was built in the heart of Pittsburgh’s financial district. Occupying a prominent place at the entrance were two massive lions, each carved by sculptor Max Kohler from a single 8-ton block of quarry-vetted, Portland, Connecticut brownstone. Historian William Troyer wrote that the lions symbolized “guardianship of the people’s money.” Dollar Bank’s 100th anniversary book stated, “These two colossal brownstone lions, one of them couchant, the other recumbent, fit emblems in their calm repose of dignity, strength, watchfulness, and security.” In 2008 the couchant lion made his debut in a big way in Cleveland, at the newly designed and relocated Galleria branch. A 20′ wide by 26′ high glass tile mosaic of Dollar Bank’s iconic Fourth Avenue lion dominates the 2-story interior and is visible 24/7 from the street. The mosaic was created by artist Cecelia Sylva and was installed in June 2008. This new lion symbolizes guardianship of the people’s money, just as the original brownstone lions have done for 138 years. Images of our lions have been used by the bank historically, both in our external advertising and promotion and internally as an icon representing the strength and historical significance of the bank. Advertising use has included matchbook covers, billboards, magazine and newspaper advertising, and mobile advertising. Each day at the Galleria branch our digital regional showcase displays a video of regional images entitled, “Through the Eye of the Lion.” Internal communications have included the lion imagery over the years, such as this newsletter from 1965, “Of Mutual Interest,” and “The Lion’s Roar” from 1981. Of course, the lion has also appeared many times on the cover of our passbook. 2010 represents a time of change for the Fourth Avenue lions. After 138 years of watching thousands of people pass by them each week, and serving generations of customers whose memories of the lions are rich and varied, they have been removed for restoration. The lions’ brownstone structure has been showing extreme signs of deterioration in recent years. The Fourth Avenue branch is a historic landmark, so restoration of the lions requires some very special skills. After a lengthy selection process, McKay-Lodge Conservation Laboratory in Overland, Ohio was selected to restore the lions. The project will have two phases: restoring the original lions, and carving two new lions. On September 12, 2009, the lions were removed carefully from their pedestals. Due to their condition great care was taken in the preparation of lions for their removal, lifting and transportation to Overland. Each lion weighed approximately 9,300 pounds and was undergirded by nearly 1,000 pounds of steel during the removal and transportation process. McKay-Lodge Conservation Laboratory in Overland, Ohio wil restore and return the original lions to Pittsburgh by mid-year 2010. The lions will be placed inside in a yet-to-be-determined location. Since the original lions are works of art they will be displayed in a place where they will no longer be damaged by weather. In addition to restoration of the original lions, two new lions – exact replicas of the original lions – will be hand-carved and installed on the pedestals of the Fourth Avenue building in 2010. Nicholas Fairplay of Fairplay Stonecarvers – also of Overland, Ohio – is a European-trained artist and master carver who will use digital imaging and computer modeling to produce two new lions, each of matching uniform color. The stone itself will come from a quarry in China, since it was determined through a worldwide search that stone from that quarry most closely matches the original brownstone color. The removal of the lions from their original site at Fourth Avenue had one unforseen consequence: it marks the first time in 138 years that the lions were not serenely gazing at one another. For now, we must await the return of the kings of Fourth Avenue. Until then, they will enjoy a well-deserved rest.
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