Borderline Banker

Tuscola State Bank, Tuscola, Texas.

Former bank building in Ballinger, Texas.

Years ago I saw a photo of this building from the late 19th century showing it as the First National Bank. It is located in Uvalde, Texas across the street from City Hall, and has been sitting empty for decades.

In the old photo were four double-handled urns on top of the building, which are now damaged or missing. I like the classic corner entry door. A lot of bank buildings from the turn of the 20th century had that feature, and I always look for it when I go through a small town.

One last New England bank picture: Five Cents Savings Bank in Salem, Massachusetts.

Here is another old bank photo from New England. This building for the Industrial Trust Company in Warren, RI was empty and for lease last fall. It must have been quite a showcase in its time. They don’t make them like that any more.

I took this in Providence RI last fall. This night depository door was cast with the name and symbol of the Industrial Trust Company and the designation as the “Hope Street Branch”. This classic piece of banking equipment reflects the pride of the institution and the presumption of permanence before the days of rampant mergers and consolidations. Alas, the Hope Street Branch now belongs to one of the big national megabanks.

The Santa Anna National Bank was founded in 1933 in the height of the Great Depression.

The front door of the old bank building in Richland Springs, Texas.

The bank in Richland Springs, Texas was closed as a result of the great Texas drought of the 1950’s. The building has nevertheless been maintained by the local community.