Which Corn Exchange did Willie Sutton break through the skylight of and rob in 1934? I assume it was the 2nd & Chestnut location, but I haven't been able to confirm it 100%. Or was it another location?

3rd & Arch? - Also called Girard Corn Exchange

2nd & Chestnut? - Also called Corn Exchange National Bank

3rd & Walnut (Merchant's Exchange)? - Also called Corn Exchange, but was produce junction by 1922

Can anyone give me the correct location and a link to where you got this information? Thanks.

BUMP

With all the knowledgable historical people in here, there has to be someone in that can answer this.

Snick33, the assignment you gave us is more difficult than I had thought. I haven't had a chance yet to search the Willy Sutton books in the library, but I spent some time on internet research. Unfortunately, the results there are quite contradictory. A least a couple of websites insist that Sutton's Corn Exchange heist took place in New York City!

Most of the internet sites, however, state that Sutton robbed a Philadelphia branch of New York's Corn Exchange Bank & Trust Company. (This company merged with the Chemical Bank in 1954 and now is part of the J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.)

But I am not sure if this information about Sutton is true. None of the sites mention where the Philadelphia branch of this New York bank might have been located. Furthermore, Philadelphia had its major homegrown bank called the Corn Exchange National Bank, with its headquarters in the venerable building still standing at 2nd and Chestnut. In Willy Sutton's day, they also had a Center City branch at 15th and Chestnut, and perhaps eight other branches in the city.

Corn Exchange National Bank merged with the Girard Trust in 1951, and became the Girard Trust Corn Exchange Bank, which later was absorbed by the Mellon bank. So at the time of Willy Sutton's 1930 robbery, none of the Girard banks (i.e., the 3rd & Arch building Snick33 mentioned) were yet called Corn Exchange banks.

So all I can report at this time is that I don't know the answer -- yet. But I would strongly suspect that Sutton robbed one of the main branches of Philadelphia's Corn Exchange National Bank, since it was a household name at the time in Philadelphia, and that the New-York-centric websites pointing to another, N.Y.-based bank are incorrect.

Nanyika

I'm guess the answer to the second question on everyone's mind is "because that's where the corn is."

Thanks for the attempt and response Nanyika. Not sure if it was a typo in your post, but his Philadelphia robbery occurred in 1934 (not 1930).

6/1931 - sentenced to prison

12/11/32 - escaped from prison

2/15/33 - attempted to rob Corn Exchange Bank and Trust Co. in Philadelphia by acting as a mailman, but was foiled

1/13/34 - robbed Corn Exchange Bank and Trust Co. in Philadelphia by going through the skylight

As you said, there are contradictory statements all over the internet, but none name the exact location. He commited several robberies during his time. Next visit to the Eastern State Penn I will ask the someone in the know.

I just spoke to the curator at the Atwater Kent museum and she said that it was the Corn Exhange on 2nd and Chestnut. Still looking for it in print to confirm.

Thank you, snick33. The comment by the Atwater Kent representative would seem to corroborate my hunch that the bank in the Willie Sutton escapade was the Corn Exchange National Bank of Philadelphia (headquartered at 2nd & Chestnut).

I would be interested to know what more you are able to find out. One obvious place to check would be the newspapers at the Free Library for the date of the bank robbery. They have back copies of the Evening Bulletin (probably all on microform by now). And don't the people who own the restaurant now at 2nd & Chestnut know the history of the building?

If it pans out as the Atwater Kent person states, then virtually all the references on the internet, which state that the bank in question was the New York-based Corn Exchange Bank & Trust, are incorrect. At the very least, the Wikopedia entry should be corrected. The official FBI website also gets it wrong.

And sorry for the earlier typo on the date. I meant to say something like "in the 1930s."

Nanyika

You are right! I have been getting a bit lazy as of lately and have forgotten more than I remember.

Absolutely & positivity, the Corn Exchange National Bank was located at the NE corner of Second and Chestnut St. between 1906 - 1947. see:
http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org...CONTRIB-S14898(I believe 60th & Market is a mis-print or a misunderstanding by a writer who does not know Philadelphia..
.
.

__________________
"What is History,' said Napoleon, 'but a fable agreed upon' - Ralph Waldo Emerson - 1848
"A Scottish philosopher once said that history is a set of lies agreed upon." - Enos Abijah Mills - 1920
"Napoleon said history is a set of lies agreed upon" - Modern day authors
"The exact contrary of what is generally believed is often the truth." - Jean de La Bruyère
Napoleon said none of the above. Tell me, what did Napoleon actually say about history?

NHA, why do you assume that the author of the book on Eastern State Penitentiary is incorrect in stating that Willie Sutton robbed a branch bank at 60th and Market? The author, Francis X. Dolan, is the site manager of Eastern State, and presumably lives in Philadelphia and has researched the subject.

Did Corn Exchange National Bank have a branch at 60th & Market? Although I don't think there are any banks there now, I would guess that the area was a much busier shopping district in the 1930s, and could probably have supported a bank branch. A look a a city directory for the period would answer the question.

Also, I think a thoughtful bank robber might look to knock off a relatively out-of-the-way branch rather than the 2nd & Chestnut home office -- where too many prying eyes could be around. Sutton supposedly entered the building through a skylight. Does the 2nd & Chestnut building have a skylight? If so, how would a robber get up on the roof without attracting attention?

Nanyika

Here is a link to Google 3d collections so you can get a better look at the building (2nd and Chestnut). I doesn't look like there is currently a skylight, however there is plenty of spaces of where one could have been. The 2nd street side is currently Plough and the Stars bar/restaurant and also City Paper headquarters. The corner spot is several Citizen Bank ATM machines and bank. The Chestnut street side is Cebu (previously World Fusion and Roccoco), a bar/restaurant.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...a4e8f1b4d8879d