Granite Trust Company

Granite Trust Company

Industry	Banking
Predecessor	Quincy Stone Bank
Founded	1836
Fate	Became South Shore Bank
Headquarters	Quincy, Massachusetts , United States
Products	Banking services

The Granite Trust Company building, located at 1400 Hancock Street in Quincy, Massachusetts, is a significant historic commercial structure. Completed in 1929 and designed by the architectural firm J. Williams Beal, Sons, this ten-story edifice exemplifies the Art Deco style and originally functioned as the main office for Granite Trust Company, which later became South Shore Bank. Its predecessor institution, Quincy Stone Bank, holds the distinction of being the first commercial bank in the area and was a trailblazer in capital generation through public stock issuance. In 1989, the building earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

Description and history

Situated at the intersection of Hancock and Chestnut Streets in downtown Quincy, the Granite Trust Company building boasts a façade crafted from limestone and granite. The structure’s design includes a three-story base topped by a tiered central tower. The street-level retail spaces are faced with granite, while limestone clads the upper levels. The building’s vertical emphasis is highlighted by pilasters and flattened pyramidal crowns, reinforcing its distinctive Art Deco character.

Quincy Stone Bank was established in 1836 and was pioneering as the first commercial bank in the United States to raise funds through public stock offerings. It received a national charter in 1865 and underwent reorganization as Granite Trust Company in 1912. To symbolize its expansion and influence in the financial sector, the bank commissioned this headquarters. The architects, J. Williams Beal, Sons, were well-known Boston-based designers responsible for several important structures within Quincy.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Quincy, Massachusetts