November 30, 2017
Today’s story is titled “Central
National Bank’s Unique Way of Deterring Robbers.”
The word was out to all bank robbers
who might have been planning a visit to Junction City after November 24, 1932:
“Arm yourselves with Kleenex, handkerchiefs or towels in addition to your usual
assortment of machine guns, revolvers and pistols.” It was on that date the Central National Bank
installed an alarm system of tear gas bombs as a further preventative against
robberies. According to the planners,
the tear gas would fill the lobby and vaults with a smarting eye irritant that
would send bank Presidents, cashiers, bandits, bookkeepers and customers alike
stampeding outside for fresh air. The
tear gas was contained in shells or tear gas guns positioned in different parts
of the Central National Bank. The same
system of push buttons that controlled the burglar alarms controlled the gas
guns and the whole system could be set off simultaneously by any bank employee.
Release
buttons were located at every cage window, at the different desks and at other
strategic points throughout the entire bank building. The directors hoped the new tear gas guns
would be an added safeguard for the bank depositors and apparently – it
worked. Junction City was fortunate that
during the Depression period, bandits by-passed our town.
That’s
today’s story. We want to remind you
that if you want a unique gift for that special person on your list, we have books,
decorative items, games and other items of interest in our Gift Shop. Stop by Tuesday through Saturday between the
hours of 1 and 4. Our Museum is located
at the corner of Sixth and Adams Streets.
If you have a person on your list who is interested in something related
to Geary County history, we most likely have that special gift.
And… thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County
Historical Society.
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