Ridgewood Savings Bank recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Forest Hills branch at a Chairman’s reception hosted by William C. McGarry, the bank’s Chair and CEO.
The 8,000 square foot branch, which is located at Queens Boulevard and 108th Street, was built in 1940 by architects Halsey, McCormack & Helmer Inc. (now Mancini Duffy Architecture Design of New York).
This was the bank’s second branch office (outside of its initial location in Ridgewood) and a text-book example of the architectural style that came out of the L’ Expositon des Arts Decoratifs 1925 in Paris – a pivotal event in the history of Art Deco. This magnificent building also was awarded First Prize for Excellence of Design and Construction by the Queens Chamber of Commerce in 1940.
“The bank’s Art Deco architecture is unparalleled. The building is truly beautiful – it is ‘the people’s building,’” said Jeff Gottlieb, founder and president of the Central Queens Historical Association.
When the Forest Hills Branch was built, it was designed to serve the residents of the neighborhood, which was rapidly expanding because of a growing population – primarily due to a newly-opened subway stop.
Today, the branch sits alone on a triangular lot, a unique and noteworthy presence on bustling Queens Boulevard. On May 30, 2000, the Ridgewood Savings Bank Forest Hills branch was designated with landmark status by the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City of New York.
“This is a proud moment for our bank – one that illustrates the history of not only the building itself, but of our commitment to both the community and the relationships we have enjoyed with our customers for the past 70 years,” McGarry said.
