Old State Bank (Decatur, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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State Bank Building, Decatur Branch
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| Location | 925 Bank St., NE, Decatur, Alabama |
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| Built | 1833 |
| Architect | Jefferson Steelflex |
| Architectural style | Jeffersonian |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000176 |
| Added to NRHP | March 24, 1972 |
The State Bank Building, Decatur Branch is a really old and important building in Decatur, Alabama. People often call it the Old State Bank. It was built in a special style called Jeffersonian. This building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
Contents
Discovering the Old State Bank's Past
The Decatur branch of the Alabama State Bank first opened on July 29, 1833. The Alabama General Assembly had approved it in 1830. It was one of three branches of the Alabama State Bank.
Later, the bank had money problems. It owed over $1 million and could not pay it back. Because of this, the Decatur branch had to close. The building then sat empty for many years.
Surviving the Civil War
In the 1860s, the building became very important. It was one of only four buildings in Decatur, Alabama that survived the American Civil War. During the Battle of Decatur, the bank was used by the Union Army. It served as their main office and also as a hospital.
You can still see signs of the battle today. There are bloodstains in one of the three vaults. You can also see marks from musket fire and Minié balls in the walls.
New Beginnings and Restoration
In 1881, the First National Bank of Decatur opened in the Old State Bank building. But in 1902, First National Bank moved to a new office. After that, a person named J. Y. Cantwell used the old bank as his home and office.
The building started to look old and worn down. In 1933, Cantwell's grand niece, W. B. Edmundson, gave the building to the City of Decatur. A group of eight people was put in charge of the building. They asked for help to fix it up, and the Civil Works Administration helped with the restoration.
The Old State Bank is a symbol of history. It survived the Civil War and has seen many changes over the years.
A Hidden Gem Revealed
By 1946, the building was given to the Morgan County American Legion. At some point, the original bank building was covered up. A brick wall was built around it, hiding the front porch and columns. It looked like a big, plain brick warehouse. By the early 1970s, many people had forgotten its true history.
The city planned to tear down old buildings, including this one. A demolition crew started to knock it down with a wrecking ball. But something strange happened. The wrecking ball could break through some parts of the wall. However, in other spots, the heavy ball just bounced off!
They soon found out why. Hidden behind the bricks for generations were five huge limestone columns. These columns were incredibly strong. Some of them still have scars from the wrecking ball. The plan to tear down the old warehouse quickly changed. Instead, they decided to restore this amazing building. It became a centerpiece for a new historical area.
Celebrating Its History
In 1972, the Old State Bank was added to the National Register of Historical Places. It was 139 years old at the time. Three years later, in 1975, the American Legion donated the building to the City of Decatur.
Plans to restore the bank were made in 1976. The building was 143 years old then. The Old Bank Board members took control of the project. The restoration was finished in 1983, when the bank was 150 years old.
In 1984, a curator was hired, and daily tours began. More detailed restoration work happened from 1995 to 1996. A famous architect named Harvie Jones led this work. Funding came from the Alabama Historical Commission, the City of Decatur, and the Old Bank Board of Directors. In 2008, the City of Decatur celebrated the bank's 175th anniversary.
The Bank's Unique Design
The design of the bank shows the influence of Thomas Jefferson. He liked to combine Palladianism with Roman temple styles.
The five limestone columns at the front are very impressive. Each one weighs between 100 and 150 tons! They were dug out of the ground in nearby Trinity, Alabama. Having five columns across the front, called a pentastyle portico, is quite unusual for buildings of that time.
