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THE CROWLEY POST SIGNAL Acadia Savings & Loan Birthday Edition
The ribbon cutting ceremonies which began the dedication ceremonies of the new Acadia Savings and Loan Association building on July 15, 1969 are described here. Shown are then executive vice president, Al Stoessell, now deceased, with Judge Edmund M. Reggie, chairman of the board, Mrs. Reggie, Mrs. Frank and her husband, Dr. Jack R. Frank, president. Mrs. Stoessell joined her husband in the ceremonies but was behind the white column when this picture was taken.
Homes of the old south made world famous the spiral staircase that linked with beauty and elegance the two floors of many plantation homes, and that feature was dramatically incorporated in the Acadia Savings and Loan Association.
Rising from the front lobby area to the left of the massive entrance doors, the Acadia Savings and Loan's spiral staircase connects the building's foyer with the mezzanine and can be seen in full view from outside the building through one of the arched picture windows that embrace the front doorway.
Acadia Savings' spiral staircase is made of steel, anchored in concrete and winds upward between twin handrails of American black walnut polished in a natural finish. It is completely covered with the same carpet that covers the lobby and the mezzanine.
A set of back stairs also give access to the upper level of the edifice, making it easy for persons in the lower level work area of the building to use the upstairs. These back stairs am well lighted by a 31 foot arched window that rises from a planting area on the bottom floor to the ceiling of the top story.
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curity. During business hours the gates are opened to produce an interesting and beautiful effect against the red giant size brick that forms the building's exterior.
The special gates close off
The front porch, lobby and mezzanine of the Acadia Savings and Loan Association's eight-year-old building has incorporated within it a concept of groined barrel vaulted ceilings that is not often seen' anymore.
In fact, the contractor and the plasterer were required to do limited experimentation with the vaulted ceilings in the Acadia Savings and Loan Building before a technique could be perfected that would pass the close y of Don J. O'Rourke, the architect who designed the massive and unusually beautiful ceilings.
A look at the history of such. groined barrelvaulted OeilthEl is interesting`in that it takes us back to:,; earliest:- forms 4 architecture .-kativati.'0:.
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Founding of the Acadia Savings and Loan Association was recalled this week by some of those who played key roles in getting it organized, chartered and operating.
"I remember many days driving out to Estherwood with Judge Reggie for a late afternoon swim in Johnny Unverzagt's pool at the mill," said Dr. Jack R. Frank, Association organizer and President, "and almost without fail the conversation would turn to the need for a new savings and loan association to be started."
"The three of us, Judge Reggie, Johnny and myself, talked about every possible angle of getting the business off to a great start with emphasis on service," Dr. Frank added, "and then we had that fateful meeting at Judge's and Mitchell John's camp where Forest Park is now situated and we all decided the time had come and we should proceed without delay. And we haven't stopped a single day since trying to make the Acadia Savings and Loan
from public use during non-business hours those areas, that form side approaches to the main lobby of the new Savings and Loan building. Their interesting lines and beauty lend much to the interior appearance of the new building.
The Roman Empire built vast architectural masterpieces many of which employed the use of ardi and'vault forms. It was not until late in the history of the Roman Empire, however, that the development of the groined barrel vault came about. Romanesque Architecture,. as this period is called, built large churches, the plans of which form a "T" or. cross shape. When constructing the barrel vault roof system for a church. of this plan, the vault of the nave must intersect the vault of the transept in such a manner that one vault must penetrate the other.
the leading Association in Louisiana."
Mitchell P. John, Director of the Acadia Savings, recalled that there wasn't a single voice against going ahead with the plan when it was all unveiled to the first Board of Directors at his camp.
"There was very little said or done that didn't weigh the need and potential of the proposed
association," John recalled, fl
"and when Mr. Ellis Keller ci made the motion for us to go
ahead with the project, we all a
pined in the motion and kept g right on until today — there hasn't been a minute's let up in 29 years by any of us interested in keeping the Acadia Savings
about the name, I recall,"
Number One in Acadia Parish." "There was a little discussion k
ti
stated Jake Brandt, "also an
organizing Director, and Judge A
Reggie suggested as first choice d the name Acadia to signify our
service to the entire parish. a
There was some concern that d there might be a little residual worry about a financial institution being named Acadia
after the Bank of Acadia had y
failed during the great hi depression, but we didn't have
to think about it long because or
everyone present supported the dr
name of the parish for the Ix
association." ril "We were all a great deal
younger — I seem to recall that bi
we were really much younger hr
than 20 years younger 20 years wl
The joining of two barrel vaults as just described fanned the groined vault. The me* extensive and refused usage of this new tirehheettinti chaps
has been in the era of history called the Gothic Age of Architecture, between the 12th and 16th century in Western Europe. These early Christian builders continually added more refinement, detail and decoration to each succeeding example. The pointed ribbed groined vault seemed to be the most often used and moat
developed form of the vault in
this period.
The groined vault
Antebellum Touch In Acadia Savings And Loon
AS&L Ceilings Building Reflect Interestil
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