The "If Only The Bank Was Still In Operation!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Attempting to gain entrance into what at one time was the Farmer's Trust Company Of Lancaster which was located at the corner of King and Duke Streets in downtown Lancaster, Pennsyvania.  

Farmer's Bank in Lancaster, Peennylvnia

At one time I had a savings account with the Farmer's Bank.  My dad took me to the bank to open an account when I was 10 years old so I could begin to place money into my own account.  The building was beautiful and had a neat painting on the interior East wall of the bank.  I still remember standing in front of the wall, looking at all the different parts of the painting.  At the very bottom was the title of the painting; "The Vision Of Youth And The Full Strength Of Manhood".  I can still remember standing in front of the huge painting and tying to figure out whom everyone was in the painting and where the painting was made.  

The painting that was on the inside wall of the bank

Dad would take me to the bank with him when he made deposits in his account.  While he stood in line I always stood in front of this neat painting, trying to see something different on every trip to the bank.  I hand't seen the painting for over 60 years so when I tried to enter the bank a few days ago I found that the bank is no longer at that location.  I asked someone who was also looking in the windows of the building if they knew anything about the painting.  They said they didn't remember seeing a painting, but they never looked for one.  The painting was said to have come to Lancaster on July 27, 1825.  The artist, Mr. J. Monroe Hewlett, took as his central theme an historic incident associated with the present location of the bank.  The artist brought into one space the various aspects of the life and history of the community.  

The painting was said to have three levels.  Level one featured William Penn negotiating with the Indians, James Buchanan visiting the bank, General Edward Hand, a surgeon and Revolutionary hero, and Robert Futon, inventor of the steamboat.  Level two featured the Conestoga wagon with a pioneer family.  Level three featured the old State House which stood in Penn Square when Lancaster was the Capitol of the United States for a day.  The Greater Lancaster of the Future is suggested by a magnificent city rising in the distance.  I only wonder if the painting still remains on the wall where the bank used to be located.  I hope to try and find someone that can allow me to enter the old bank to see where the mural once was located.  I shall give it a few tries in hopes of taking another photo to share with you.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.