Sunday, November 17, 2013

The Saving Is Mutual

There's a "Sure Sign of Fine Service" in Leavenworth, Kansas according to this deluxe matchbook.  At least there was  until this Mid-Century Googie-style sign was considered outdated and Leavenworth Mutual Savings & Loan Association changed their logo and sign.

The turquoise "pinched rectangle" topped with a golden starburst reigned at 4 locations, printed on an inside listing- 2 in Leavenworth proper and also nearby Tonganoxie and Oskaloosa.  With 2 branches not located in Leavenworth, the name was eventually changed to Mutual Savings Association, with a new logo and signs.

MSA (as they currently refer to their business) has since added locations in Eudora and Bonner Springs and updated their logo yet again in 2012.  This year the business is celebrating a 125th anniversary.  As posted on Mutual's Facebook page, the festivities included attaching balloons to the clunky-people statues in front of the main branch building and a sheet cake with the newest logo copied in icing.  (This seems to the KC Matchgirl pretty low-key for celebrating 125 years...)

Founded on April 11, 1888 as the Leavenworth Mutual Building, Loaning and Savings Association, it's easy to see why the name gets shorter with each consecutive logo/sign update.

Timeframe: mid-1970's
Address: 100 S. 4th, Leavenworth, KS