Historic brass light symbolic for Iowa banker in Keokuk

Northwestern Financial Review, Nov 1, 2001

For serving as a judge of the county court in Missouri before moving to Keokuk, Iowa, William Logan was endearingly referred to as Judge Logan. He celebrated his 45th year in banking in 1927, when he erected a new building for the State Central Bank. The original plan for Judge Logan's bank included a brass light marking the entrance. Logan conceived the light as a symbolic beacon within the community of Keokuk, Iowa, that would lead people to financial solutions and services.

The Judge's beacon dilapidated over time and was taken down 20 years ago. Until recently, the light was stored in the bank's basement. The bank's current chairman, Bill Logan, Judge Logan's great grandson, came across the light and decided to restore it. Three months later, the brass fixture was once again illuminating the bank entrance.

MMC Enterprises, Keokuk, was in charge of the project. New brass castings and several missing chain links were made from melted brass shell casings. Two firms in Illinois also were involved in the project.

Design features of the light and those of the building itself share deliberate commonality. For the third generation Logan, the light evokes ethereally comparisons. "Keokuk is a river town steeped in the traditions of the Midwest," said Bill Logan. "The light at the entrance of our bank serves as a reminder of the pride we have in our community guided by the Iowa motto `Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.'"