West Side Trust Company

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: trust company
Start Date: February 13, 1907
Location: Newark, New Jersey (40.736, -74.172)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 6584191c

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

A small, brief run occurred when a depositor mistakenly thought the bank was closed for the Lincoln holiday and spread the rumor. No suspension or closure is mentioned; bank officers calmed depositors.

Events (1)

1. February 13, 1907 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: A depositor, unaware Feb 12 was a bank holiday, found the bank closed, rushed home and spread the (false) report that the bank was closed, drawing a crowd and causing withdrawals/concern.
Random Run: Yes
Random Run Snippet: Depositor thought bank closed for holiday; spread false report causing crowd
Measures: Bank officers located depositor/customers and relieved their anxiety; no suspension.
Newspaper Excerpt: There was a small run on the West Side Trust Company, in Newark, yesterday morning.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (1)

1. February 14, 1907 New-York Tribune New York, NY

Article from New-York Tribune, February 14, 1907

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Article Text

HOLIDAY CAUSES BANK RUN. There was a small run on the West Side Trust Company, in Newark, yesterday morning. It was very slight, and resulted from an Italian-American woman, who probably never heard of Abraham Lincoln, and didn't know that February 12 was observed as a legal holiday by the financial institutions of New Jersey. She was frighened when she appeared at the bank to draw some money she had on deposit to her credit there and discovered that it was closed. She rushed home and spread the news among her friends, and there was soon a crowd present. Some stayed all day. while others found officers of the bank and were relieved of thiir anxiety. What they could not understand was that all the places of business except the banks were open as usual.