The Active Historian

Hey, Friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, we’re going to downtown Edmond, Oklahoma. This building caught my eye and I wanted to to know more. It is not on the National Register of Historic Places, but I thought it looked neat. Let’s get started!

History

J.W. Walters was the president of the Peoples’ Bank and John L. Smith was the cashier. Both men had come to Oklahoma by way of the Land Run.

The historic Peoples’ Bank building was built in 1893. The stones were quarried from R.C. Thompson’s stone quarry.

“As the work on this building progresses its architectural beauty is resplendent, and it is admired by all. The directors have displayed the best of judgement in selecting the material for the building, and there will be nothing shoddy about it.” (“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun, August 3, 1893)

The stone work was completed mid-September which allowed the carpenters, Moore and Wilson, to work on the interior of the building. The plasterer also worked on the interior.

The safe for the People’s Bank arrived on site at the end of October. It weighed 7900 pounds and had an improved time lock.

The finishing touches were put onto the building at the end of October 1893 and it opened to the public on November 20, 1893. It was known as “Edmond’s Pride.”

$6,000 was deposited in the bank on opening day according to The Edmond Sun-Democrat. The capital stock of the institution was $30,000 and $15,000 was paid in.

Historic Marker Transcription

Peoples Bank of Edmond

First National Bank of Edmond

101 South Broadway

1889 – Peoples Bank in a wood building at 113 South Broadway

1893 – Peoples Bank moved to 101 South Broadway

1898 – Peoples Bank and Bank of Edmond consolidated

1902-1956 – First National Bank of Edmond

This building was referred to as “Edmond’s Pride.” The native sandstone was from R.C. Thompson’s Quarry located at Santa Fe and 15th Street.

Visit

101 South Broadway

Edmond, Oklahoma

Sources

Secondary Sources

Websites

“Landmarks.” Edmond Historic Preservation Trust.

Primary Sources

Newspapers

“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun (Edmond, Oklahoma), June 15, 1893.

“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun (Edmond, Oklahoma), July 6, 1893.

“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun (Edmond, Oklahoma), August 3, 1893.

“Local Dashes.” The Edmond Democrat (Edmond, Oklahoma), September 1, 1893.

“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun (Edmond, Oklahoma), September 21, 1893.

“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun (Edmond, Oklahoma), October 20, 1893.

“Sunlets.” The Edmond Sun-Democrat (Edmond, Oklahoma), October 27, 1893.

“Peoples’ Bank.” The Edmond Sun-Democrat (Edmond, Oklahoma), November 3, 1893.

“Peoples’ Bank.” The Edmond Sun-Democrat (Edmond, Oklahoma), November 24, 1893.

“Peoples’ Bank.” The Edmond Sun-Democrat (Edmond, Oklahoma), December 29, 1893.