Dime Savings and Trust Company
Also known as: First Valley Bank
Why it's listed
Built in 1925 at Seventh and Hamilton Streets on Center Square in Allentown, the T-shaped building rises from a limestone base with arcaded openings to a four-story office tower of deep red brick. Its designer was Tilghman H. Moyer and Company, a regional firm known for bank commissions. The tower's continuous brick piers, recessed spandrels and broken-quoined attic reflect New York art deco conventions, while the base draws on Lombard Romanesque detailing. The main banking room, which occupies the full width of the front wing and is spanned by a two-story rear balcony, is described as one of the best preserved monumental banking rooms of its day in the region, with a pair of Art Deco bronze chandeliers. The Dime Savings and Trust Company was founded in 1921 and failed by 1932. The building is regarded as the finest Art Deco design in the city from the 1920s, and as an important early example of the style in Allentown.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is the best preserved and most original Art Deco structure in Allentown, with an intact monumental banking room. It was designed by the regional firm Tilghman H. Moyer and Company, and is noted as one of the city's principal modern buildings of the 1920s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85000036, listed January 3, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 12 N. 7th St., Allentown |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | January 3, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85000036 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1925 |
| Architect / builder | Tilghman H. Moyer and Company (architect) |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior and banking room described as intact; upper levels remodelled in the 1960s; the bank failed by 1932 and the building is now the First Valley Bank. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.60234, -75.47240 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85000036.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5277213
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.