416 State Street
Western Security Bank Building on September 4, 2006
This corner was originally the site of an unofficial city hall in the early 1890s. The four-story Salem Bank & Trust Company Building was built here 1910-1912. It was later known as the Guardian Building, and was a prominent location for professional offices. It was destroyed by a fire on November 3, 1947. An Anita clothing store was later built here. In the 1970s, the Western Security Bank next door bought the clothing store building, remodeled it with a facade of white brick arches to match their own building, and expanded the bank to fill the corner in 1980. Today the bank is a branch of Key Bank.
Additional Links:
Guardian Building Fire at Salem Online Community Guide
Historical Photos:
Guardian Building, 1912 (Salem Public Library)
Guardian Building on fire, Nov. 3, 1947 (Salem Public Library)
Guardian Building on fire, Nov. 3, 1947 (Salem Public Library)
Anita clothing store, 1968-1970 (Salem Public Library)
Anita clothing store, 1968-1970 (Salem Public Library)
Anita clothing store, 1968-1970 (Salem Public Library)
Western Security Bank, 1975-1980 (Salem Public Library)
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I do remember the Anita clothing store. My mother shopped there when I was a child.
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