The Empire National Bank Building is a building located in the downtown of Clarksburg, West Virginia. It was designed by Ernest C. S. Holmboe of Holmboe & Lafferty the area's largest architecture firm. The building is part of the Clarksburg Downtown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. The building resembles the Flatiron building in New York.
Empire National Bank Building | |
 Empire Bank Building, Clarksburg, WV | |
| Location | 406 W. Main St., Clarksburg, WV, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Holmboe & Lafferty |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Clarksburg Downtown Historic District (ID82004794) |
| Designated CP | February 17, 1982 |
Design
editCommissioned in 1907 by Virgil Highland, president of the Empire National Bank, this seven-story structure navigates intersecting streets with a trapezoidal form. Rusticated brownstone anchors the base, while warm brick ascends to an emphatic cornice adorned with oversized brackets. It has two entrances, each graced with white terra-cotta Corinthian frontispieces topped by female busts. A departure from its architects' usual conservative style, this Renaissance Revival design stands as a testament to Highland's vision.[1]
The interior retains significant elements of its early 1900s bank heritage, including an original spiral staircase and intricate lobby details. The building's 25,000 square feet encompass numerous offices, alongside lounges, libraries, and conference rooms.[2]
On August 25, 2023, the building was auctioned for $231,000 to an online investor who asked to remain anonymous.[3]
References
edit- ^ pls4e (2018-08-01). "One Valley Bank (Empire Bank Building)". SAH ARCHIPEDIA. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Want to own a historic 7-story building in downtown Clarksburg? Now's your chance". WBOY.com. 2023-08-24. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ^ Murray, Cameron (2023-08-25). "Historic bank in Clarksburg sells for $231k at auction". www.wdtv.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.