By Ed Shannon, staff writer

Taking a short tour of what was once a bank lobby in the building now being renovated at the corner of South Broadway Avenue and East William Street revived memories for two former bank employees and a vision for future usage for another local resident.

For Don Cashin and Gen Montei, this tour was an opportunity to once again be in the place where they were employed. And for Jan Overgaard, this visit was another opportunity to check on the progress being made to revive and restore an important portion of the building.

Cashin came to Albert Lea in April 1953 to work for what was then the Freeborn County National Bank. Within a few years the name was changed to Freeborn National Bank, and even later to First Bank. (This financial institution is now U.S. Bank.)

He was part of the staff when this bank left the south Broadway and East William location for a new building two blocks to the south at the site of the former Hotel Albert at the corner of Broadway and East College Street in 1975.

Cashin, who advanced from assistant cashier to vice president of the local bank, left the city in 1981 to become president of the First Bank in Luverne and later also the bank in Pipestone.

Cashin retired last year and he and his wife, Betty, moved back to the city in November.

&8220;All seven of our children went to school here and our daughter, Nancy Hoium, still lives here in Albert Lea,&8221; he said.

His reaction to seeing the lobby area of the bank&8217;s former location was, &8220;Right at first I was flabbergasted. I haven&8217;t seen this place since I left. Yet, I can see the (future) potential for the place.&8221;

As he and Montei looked around the bank&8217;s former lobby they reminisced about the past. On one side where several piles of lumber sat on the floor, the two tried to determine where their desks were once located. They said some of the distinctive

woodwork was still visible as were several wall decorations and an archway near the front entry. They also pointed out where the office of Ole Bondhus, the bank&8217;s president years ago, was located.

Montei started working at this bank in August 1953 and was a secretary for Cashin. She also did stenography and had receptionist duties. She left this bank in 1988 and worked for Security State Bank before retiring in 1998.

&8220;I couldn&8217;t believe it. It was shocking to see how the place had deteriorated. Don and I remember how beautiful this place once was,&8221; was Montei&8217;s reaction after seeing the bank&8217;s lobby again after so many years.

During the years this portion of the large building was a bank, there were two distinctive features in the lobby. One was a huge vault at the east end. This vault with its now permanently open huge door is still there. On the south wall were two large murals created in 1963 by Lloyd Herfindahl. Those murals are no longer visible.

It took Herfindahl eight months, working mostly at night, to paint the two 14-by-17-foot murals.

&8220;We watched Lloyd&8217;s murals develop,&8221; Montei said.

The two murals had a variety of scenes based on the history of the county and city. After the bank moved out of the building in 1975, the murals were donated to the Freeborn County Historical Society. However, before a determination could be made regarding a way to remove the murals, they were vandalized. What remained of the murals was painted over.

Now Overgaard and several other city residents are hoping what remains of the murals can somehow be uncovered and once again be made available for public viewing.

&8220;It would be nice to have the bank area dedicated to the memory of Lloyd Herfindahl&8217;s murals. It could also be a nice reception area for many events.&8221; Overgaard said.

&8220;Those murals are really missed,&8221; she added.