The Commercial Bank and Banker's House is an unusual combination building, housing both a bank premises and the principal banker's residence, at 206 Main Street and 107 Canal Street in Natchez, Mississippi. Built-in 1833, it is a remarkably high-quality and well-preserved example of Greek Revival architecture. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.[2][3] The bank portion of the building, used for a time by a Christian Science congregation, is presently vacant, while the house portion is a private residence. Both the buildings have carved limestone used extensively, columns lintels, window sills, and the entire facia are all carved limestone with the walls being 20" thick brick construction with scored plaster to have the appearance of large limestone blocks.
Commercial Bank and Banker's House | |
 Front of the Commercial Bank | |
   | |
| Location | 206 Main Street and 107 South Canal Street, Natchez, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°33′38.98″N 91°24′18″W / 31.5608278°N 91.40500°W |
| Built | 1838 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002252 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1974[1] |
| Designated NHL | May 30, 1974[2] |
Description and history
editThe Commercial Bank and Banker's House are a single structure that occupies what are now two separate properties. The two parcels form an L shape surrounding an unrelated commercial building at the southern junction of South Canal and Main Streets in downtown Natchez. The bank portion of the building presents its façade to Main Street, while the house presents a facade to South Canal Street, with an intervening front yard. The bank portion is a tall single story in height, with a facade of dressed marble. Its side walls, and those of the house, are finished in stuccoed brick. The bank facade has a Greek Temple projection, with four Ionic columns supporting a full entablature and gabled pediment. The columns are set on a low plinth, with side-facing stairs providing access to the main entrance.[3]
The house facade is five bays wide, with a center entrance sheltered by a simpler portico. This one has two Doric columns supporting a detailed entablature, with a wrought iron balcony railing above. The house interior has some of the most impressive hand carved door surrounds and window surrounds in the US. It has 28" high baseboards and impressive large doors throughout. The rooms are large size for this time period. The Commercial Bank was chartered in 1833, and this unique building was constructed soon afterward.[3] For security reasons, it was designed to contain both the bank and the banker's residence. Levin R. Marshall, who lived at the suburban Natchez Richmond estate, helped found the bank and was president for a number of years.[4] it is said that he created this very impressive residence for himself and his family as a town house. Another interesting fact is it has italian marble mantles throughout the home both upstairs and down, unusual because the usual is to use wood mantles in the less public spaces.
The bank portion of the building has seen a variety of uses over its period of existence, including as a Christian Science center in the 1970s.[3] It presently stands empty. The house portion is a private residence. which has in the past been a girls school and a boarding house for many years, by verbal tradition was enjoyed by Jesse James. It has had a complete renovation in 2021/2022.
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Historic plaque on front of bank, 206 Main Street -
Banker's House, 107 Canal Street, front, HABS photo 1972
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
- ^ a b "Commercial Bank and Banker's House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on June 16, 2004. Retrieved October 18, 2007.
- ^ a b c d Paul Goeldner (January 7, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Banker's House Commercial Bank and Banker's House" (pdf). National Park Service.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) and Accompanying 7 photos, exterior and interior, from 1972 and undated. (1.53 MB) - ^ Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing. 1999. p. Part 1, p. 397. ISBN 9781455601196.
External links
edit
- Historic American Buildings Survey photos, etc., of Commercial Bank and Banker's House are available by searching HABS/HAER here for (1) Commercial Bank, 206 Main Street, Natchez, MS and (2) Banker's House, Commercial Bank, 107 South Canal Street, Natchez, MS