City Savings Bank

The 1925-26 Neoclassical eight-story bank building was designed by Columbus, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia architects Simons, Brittain and English. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an excellent example of bank hall and office tower architecture in the Neoclassical style defined on the exterior by its tripartite design, symmetry and composition of varying materials.

This 8-story building on Freedom Square in downtown Alliance is the tallest in the city. The 1925-26 Neoclassical commercial style building was designed by the national “Bank Builders” architectural firm of Simons, Brittain & English of Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its clearly defined Classical styling consists of a base, middle and top distinguished by differing materials or projecting coursework. The first floor and mezzanine of limestone form the base. Windows from the 2nd through 8th floors are arranged to reinforce the vertical lines of the middle section and stone stringcourses and copper cornice delineate the top. The Main Street entrance is marked by monumental fluted Ionic columns in antis. This granite entrance is outlined with carved braids and projecting disks and is surmounted by a decorative cornice composed of an eagle atop a double cornucopia. The original name of the building, City Savings Bank & Trust Co., is centered over the entrance.

The City Savings Bank & Trust Company building is associated with the industrial growth of the City of Alliance in the 19th and into the early 20th century. Major steel manufacturers such as Morgan Engineering and the Solid Steel Company fueled the growth of the Main Street commercial center where a variety of businesses flourished. Among the locally owned banks there was a high degree of involvement by industry leaders in the ownership and management. The City Savings and Trust Company was founded in 1892 and was housed in buildings located where the 1925 building stands now. Among its early presidents were Thomas R. Morgan, founder of Morgan Engineering, and W. H. Ramsey, vice president of Morgan Engineering. 

The building was purchased by Alpha Homes in the 1990s and was converted from commercial offices into 50 apartments. In 2017 the Newson Tower underwent a nearly $ 900,000 renovation which included renovating the apartments and expanding their size, reducing the total number from 50 to 42. Alpha Homes was able to take advantage of Historic Preservation Tax credits for the renovation because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (both individually and as part of the East Main Street Historic District), the Ohio Historic Inventory and is listed as a Local Landmark with the Alliance Historic Preservation Commission.

City Savings Bank & Trust Company, Alliance, Stark County, Ohio NR# 16000602.

Local Landmark Nomination, Alliance Historic Preservation Commission, 2015

Alliance Area Preservation Society Preservation Award Nomination, 2019