Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s branches have the reputation of reflecting classic style and design – incorporating both the rich character of the past meshed with the traditional style of the present. With 23 branch locations situated within the State of New Jersey, each structure is unique to its own setting - and the Bridgewater branch of Peapack-Gladstone Branch is no exception. Prior to its opening in 2006, Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Bob Rogers, had a vision. While visiting a quaint market in Blairstown, NJ he came across a small mural painted by a local artist, Eric Johnson. Painting in sepia tones using a monochromatic technique first introduced in photography during the mid-1800’s, Johnson’s paintings evoked a nostalgic, vintage theme to his work.
The Bank approached Eric Johnson (a graphic artist who painted murals as a hobby) who they subsequently commissioned to paint a scene, in similar style, on the exterior of its Bridgewater branch. It was thought that a large mural would be the perfect opportunity to dress up the blank cinderblock wall facing the roadway, bringing attention and visual interest to the branch location.
After municipal approval in 2006, the project was in full swing along with creative ideas to bring the rich history of the bank from its inception in 1921 into the present time. In addition to a depiction of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, which doubled as a sign for the branch, it was decided to include a market scene in the mural complete with a horse and buggy from days gone by. It is not coincidental that the horse theme tied into Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s logo, whereby the Market was labeled “Hills Market” in tribute to one of the founding families and former Chairmen of the Bank, Garner F. Hill and T. Leonard Hill. For many years, Garner Hill operated a general store along with several businesses in Gladstone, while their descendant, Pam Hill (daughter of T. Leonard Hill and granddaughter of Garner F. Hill), is presently a member of the Peapack-Gladstone Bank Board of Directors.
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It took six months for Eric Johnson to complete Bridgewater’s mural which measures 17 feet high by 53 feet in length. The sepia approach of painting tone on tone in shades of brown adds visual interest and character to this once blank wall, while the depiction of a period of simpler times has brought an old-fashioned quality to this one-of-a-kind branch.
So stop by today and visit Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s Bridgewater office located at 619 East Main Street to view this wonderful mural and see how in these modern times, banking can be an art!
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About Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Established in 1921, Peapack-Gladstone Bank is a $1.51 billion asset, wholly owned community bank that offers a full range of quality banking products and services to businesses and residents of Essex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Morris and Union counties in New Jersey, through 23 full-service branches, an online branch and a trust division, PGB Trust & Investments. Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2011, the bank continues to offer its personal and business banking product line as well as consumer and commercial lending products and services like auto and home equity loans and lines of credit, residential mortgages, commercial mortgages, term loans, lines of credit and construction loans. For additional information about Peapack-Gladstone Bank or to open an account online, visit www.pgbank.com or call 908-234-0700. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
