It’s official. Tucker County has a new building on the National Register of Historic Places. Davis’ large, former home of the National Bank of Davis building on William Avenue is now an official historic structure.
This registration is the culmination of a multi-year effort by the Tucker County Historic Landmarks Commission and is the tenth building in Tucker County to have received this coveted designation from the National Park Service.
An impressive native-sandstone structure, this was the first bank established in Tucker County. The building was constructed in 1892 with a rear section and third front section added in 1915. The town jail was originally located in the basement and early street-level tenants included the bank, HMP Clarke Drug Company and the Post Office.
Upstairs was the Davis Gas Light Company, Tucker County’s first telephone exchange, doctors, insurance and lawyers’ offices along with the public library. A large upstairs room was constructed by, and for the Masons and was ultimately used by the Rebeccas, American Legion, Knights of Pythias and the Davis Women’s Club.
Built during an era when fire was a major concern, the building was built of stone, and set apart from neighboring wooden structures. The National Bank of Davis, subsequently purchased by Grant Count Bank, was a continuous tenant until 2000 when they built and moved into a new building a few blocks away.
Currently the building is home to the Post Office and five apartments, along with Wild Ginger and Spice, Emerald Tree Boutique and Nurture Chiropractic. Apartments eventually replaced the upstairs businesses with the former Masonic Lodge now home to Verglas Media, a multi-media production company.
The building is now owned by Bill and Karen Peterson of Canaan Heights. Bill commented: “Karen and I were most fortunate to purchase this landmark building in 2000. We are committed to maintaining its use as apartments, offices, retail spaces and home to the Post Office. I wish to acknowledge the multi-year effort by the TCHLC that culminated in this historic listing.”
