The Bank of Italy opened its doors in 1928, serving as the Merced branch of the Bank of Italy. Architect Henry A. Minton designed the building in the Classical Revival style, featuring a flat, clay tile roof with terra cotta mansards and an ornamental cornice and frieze.
Five Corinthian columns are situated on the building's Main Street facade, while seven pilasters face Canal Street. The exterior is mostly faced in Travertine marble, with a base faced in granite. Parts of the first floor were covered with stucco in the 1950s.
Look closely at the dividing band between the first and second floors. You will see a series of panels displaying alternating images of an eagle or an Indian head, mixed with rectangular panels with a diamond design.
Locals call it the Mondo Building. It served as administrative office space for UC Merced from 2004 through 2019, before the Merced County Office of Education purchased the building in 2019. It is currently used as a conference, event, meeting, and office space.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Kyle McLonely
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