Page 46 - The History of Watertown Savings Bank_Neat
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Employee Kay Gondek shows off the new night drop feature.
WSB staff on opening day in 1960.
When the new WSB building opened on June city. By 1958, traffic lights were installed to help
27, 1960, the bank had recorded $32 million in control traffic in busy downtown Public Square.
total assets and had 30 employees. The move out Later in the decade, a larger road construction
of downtown had ushered in a new era for further project funded by the federal government got
growth at the Watertown Savings Bank. underway – Interstate 81. This large interstate
The opening of the new bank building on highway stretches as far north as Wellesley Island
Administrative Staff in building lobby. Clinton Street came when significant economic and as far south as Tennessee.
development was continuing both inside and The development of Route 81 was a major
outside the city limits. contributor to the booming tourist and vacation
In 1952, the Mohawk Airlines serving businesses that opened near the newly created
Watertown started daily flights to New York City. highway exits. The segment of Route 81 from
A third hangar for the Watertown Municipal Adams to Route 342 was completed in 1959,
Airport was constructed in 1954 to help and south to Syracuse in 1961, and finally to the
accommodate the increase in air traffic. Thousand Islands Bridge in 1965.
In the early 1950s, large “street widening” Several large private and public building
projects were completed on Arsenal, Bradley and projects were also taking place. These included
First Depositor - Mrs. Mildred I. Steinhoffer. West Main Streets, three state routes entering the the new shopping plaza on Outer Washington
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