First National Bank opens in Mondell building

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
 
Historian Leonard Cash picks up where he left off in last week’s installment of “History on Main” series — with the Mondell building, located on the corner of Warren Avenue and Seneca Street on lot 12 of block 10. Throughout the late 1890s and early 1900s, the building was occupied by Mollring Bros. & Co., and this week, we continue that discussion, as well as starting a new discussion on the First National Bank, which moved in around 1919. 
At the time, George Mollring was the brother who was involved with the Newcastle store, but the Sept. 28, 1906 issue of the local paper announced that he and his wife were moving to Alliance, Nebraska, because Mollring had purchased his brother Fred’s interest in the Alliance business due to Fred’s
failing health. 
“We regret to have these esteemed people leave us and hope to some day see them return to Newcastle to again take up their residence,” the article says. 
According to a Feb. 21, 1908 report, George retired from his position at the Newcastle store, and his brother Clem Mollring retired from his position at the Alliance store to
assume entire control of Newcastle business. 
An article in the Nov. 18, 1908 News Journal (although portions of the information came from the Alliance Times) announced the unfortunate news that George’s wife, Francis Murrin, passed away at the young age of 26. She had been sick for a period of 10 days, but it was not thought serious until she developed heart failure. Francis was born in the Black Hills area and was a teacher in both Newcastle and Sheridan. She had only been married to George a little over two years before her untimely death. 
The funeral was conducted at her home, with Rector Frederick Graves from the Episcopal church. Many of her friends endured the “uncomfortable weather” to attend the funeral that was “symbolic of what she had loved best in life.” The refined and educated Francis was said to have a bright, happy countenance, admired by all. 
“The death of Mrs. Mollring is deeply mourned by her many friends in this city, and the entire community is tinged with sadness in sympathy with the bereft husband,” the obituary says. “It is doubtful if there has been any in Alliance where such immense quantities of splendid flowers were there as the last mute testimonial
of friends.” 
To pick up the store’s history again, we turn to the Dec. 4, 1908, issue of the paper, which reported that new tungsten electric lamps were available at Clem’s to “enable you to buy Christmas articles of delicate shade just as well at night as by daylight.” 
A burst pipe poured water through ceiling lines and plaster all over the merchandise, ruining some of the goods, according to an article from Jan. 14, 1910. Though some of the goods were ruined, others were only “slightly spotted,” so a “hot sale” was running. 
Evidently, Mollring was a businessman with diverse interests. The Nov. 18, 1910 issue said that “the only airship ... in Wyoming (was) owned by C.V. Mollring of Newcastle recently bought in Chicago.” 
Around Aug. 25, 1911, a new steel ceiling was installed at the store in the Mondell building, which greatly added to its appearance.
By March 22, 1917, the News Journal reported that Carl Kugland relocated his insurance and real estate office to three front rooms of the Mondell flat for additional space and better lighting. Additionally, the building was being remodeled to allow rooms for other offices to be installed, including Wyoming Transfer & Machine Co., B.H. Thoeming Co. and Robert Allan Smith, representing the Northern Wyoming
Telephone Co.
The following issue announced that the office for Newcastle Light & Power Co. moved to its new location in Mondell flat, and by Jan. 3, 1918, Wyoming Transfer and Machine Co. officially moved in. Additionally, Dr. O. Horton moved his practice from Nichols block into Mondell’s. 
“I wish to announce that I have moved my office from the Nichols block to the room on the second floor of the Mondell block adjoining the offices of Carl Krugland,” Horton said in the paper. 
Another article from the same paper said that Edwin Mollring, who attended Stanford University, received the principal appointment through a congressman to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. 
According to July 18, 1918 news reports, Clem was diligent in making his store look appealing to passersby.
“The display window of ‘Clem on the Corner’ is very artistically arranged with the various service banners displayed and everyone who passes is attracted by its fine appearance,” the article says. 
The sons of two prominent men (Clem and A.M. Nichols) in town, Ed Mollring and Dwight Nichols, were at an U.S. Army training camp in Lincoln, Nebraska, when they caught the deadly Spanish influenza, according to the Sept. 19, 1918 paper. Fortunately, their
health was improving. 
Around this time, although Cash doesn’t have the exact dates in his records, the First National Bank moved into the Mondell building, but it was going under extensive remodeling, reported an article from June 19, 1919. Because of this remodeling project, Dr. Horton temporarily moved his office to the first floor of the Antler’s. The following issue announced that Horton took a position with the bank. 
The Oct. 16, 1919 paper assured its readers that a full crew of men were busy hastening the bank building to completion. Denver Mantel and Tile Co. was tiling the floor and entrances and installing the counter, railing and marble wainscoting. Ira Young from Cambria Fuel Co. did the electrical work, and a contractor named Statler was hired to direct the finish carpenter work. A bathroom was installed in the basement for employees and representatives, which was “a novel feature of the bank.” 
Evidently, the remodeling project was finished because by the Nov. 6, 1919 paper, Krugland and Horton were “preparing to move back into their old home this week and feel like the prodigal sons after a long absence from the paternal roof.” Additionally, First National Bank moved into its newly remodeled home at Mondell. The bank was established in 1904, with capital stock of $25,000 and deposits of $718,000. J.L. Baird was the president and E.P Coyle was the cashier at that time. Around Sept. 15, 1909, First National Bank purchased the capital stock of Stock Growers & Merchants Bank to move into that building (which is the present location of the H&R Block, Cash said). 
By May 13, 1920, First National Bank reached resources of more than a million dollars, and its new home in the Mondell building “equipped (it) with every modern convenience to expedite banking work.” A gold leaf sign for the front of the
building was installed, according to an article from June 10, 1920. 
After closing up the dry goods shop at Mollring & Mollring, Clem Mollring and his family moved to San Diego, reported the June 8, 1920 paper. 
In next week’s installment of “History on Main,” Cash will continue to discuss the history of First National Bank, which was eventually bought out by First State Bank, one of the many banks located in Newcastle over time.