From: Library of Congress. Historic American Buildings Survey W. N. Manning, Photographer. Project #16-405.
Built: 1835 - 1836.
Architect: George Steele.
Purchase price of property: $9, 687.85
Cost of building: $64, 812.85
Cost of furniture: $1, 292.82
Total cost: $75, 793.52
First Directors elected January 9, 1835: Bartley M. Lowe, president, Thomas Brandon, James Bradley, Hugh Caperton, Richard Campbell, Daniel Coleman, James J. Donegan, Stephen S. Ewing, Alva Finley, Thomas Fearn, Arthur F. Hopkins, Francis T. Mastin, Benjamin Patterson, Edward W. Parker, John Read, Henry Stokes, and Preston Yeatman.
The first National Bank of Huntsville, originally the Branch Bank of the State of Alabama, is one of the few bank buildings in existance today still used for the same purpose as intended approximately one hundred (and seventy) years ago. The banking screens are today used the same as they were originally, as is also the masonry bank vault, which latter, however, has been steel lined since.
Photo: Feb. 7, 1934. INTERIOR. SHOWING BANK SCREEN.
A striking peculiarity of this bank structure is the inclusion of a specific requirement of living quarters for the cashier in the bank building proper. This fact, at the same time, makes the building no doubt one of the first apartment buildings in the United States or the South. The other peculiarity is the existance still of the slave living quarters in a connected building at the rear. This slave building also has quarters in a lower basement story for the detention of slave property in case of mortage default.
Photo: April 25, 1934. SLAVE KEEP - S.E. ELEVATION.
Photo: April 25, 1934. COURTYARD OF SLAVE QUARTERS - N.W. ELEVATION.
An additional peculiarty of the structure is that it is built on a cliff directly over the famous Huntsville Spring which was the original cause of the settlement of Huntsville, and to which a canal was built from the Tennessee River, (portions of) which canal are still in existance today.
Photo: April 25, 1934. VIEW ACROSS PARK TOWARD CLIFF AND BANK BUILDING.
The foundation walls were built of stone slabs quarried near by. The building walls, approximately two feet thick, were built of brick over which stucco was applied. It is said that the column bases, column shafts and capitals were hauled from Baltimore to the headwater of the Tennessee River by ox-cart, then floated down the river to Triana, and from there barged to the site by means of a canal which had been finished prior to the erection of the building. The ceilings are approximately sixteen feet high and the windows and doors were throughout supplied with brass hardware, some of which is still in existance today. Shutters fold back into a compartment on either side of the windows, which shutters give the appearance of jamb panaling when in housed position. These shutters at night were secured by a bar, sockets for which still are in place.
Photo: April 25, 1934. DETAIL (WINDOW SHUTTER AND WINDOW).
During the Civil War the assets of the bank were placed in a burlap bag and hid inside the chimney behind the tellers cage. The building was used as a commissary by the Federal troops occupying Huntsville. Traditions says that the Yankee soldiers spent many an hour hunting the suspected treasure, but never did find it.
Photo: April 25, 1934. DETAIL OF FIREPLACE IN DIRECTOR'S ROOM.
Foot scrapers, and other objects of interest, are in existance today. The peculiar location of the building and the existance of the slave quarters in the rear, very well proportioned and designed, today attract visitors from far and wide.
Source of material:
Compiled from articles by Mr. Pat Jones of the Huntsville Times, issues of August 6, 13, 20, 27, 1933.
E. Walter Burkhardt, District Administrator, HABS, Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Auburn, Alabama. 1936.
