Joel Guild purchased the site of the McKay Tower for $25 in 1833. The Guild Family built a first frame house on the site, which was 16 by 26 and moved into it on August 31, 1833. The first township election was held at this house on April 4, 1834. The first white marriage in the Grand Rapids area also occurred at this house when Harriet Guild, the oldest daughter of Joel, married Barney Burton on April 13, 1834.

The Grand Rapids National City Bank built the first four stories of the bank building in 1914. The president of the bank was Dudley E. Waters. The next twelve stories were added from 1925-1926. It cost approximately $1,250,000 to build the 16-story structure. The building rests on solid rock. It has 144,152 square feet of floor space. The architects of the building were William Williamson and Henry E. Crowe.