An 1890 Bank Building
Graham, Young County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Irish quarrymen mined stone for this Victorian structure on Bower's Hill (2 mi. N), near home of bank director, L. J. Bower. With its fine quality masonry and woodwork, the bank building added dignity to the Courthouse Square. An abstract firm and land office occupied the upper floor. After drought in its north Texas and Indian Territory trade areas, the bank failed in 1895. In 1906 W. I. Tidwell and son bought the property for a retail store. It was sold to W. A. Corbett in 1933 and to Mr. and Mrs. Rupert Roach in 1975. The lower front facade was last changed in the 1950s. (1976)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Irish quarrymen cut the stone for this handsome Victorian bank, raised in 1890 near the home of bank director L. J. Bower. Its fine masonry and woodwork lent dignity to the Graham courthouse square, with an abstract firm and land office upstairs. Drought across its North Texas and Indian Territory trade area helped sink the bank in 1895, after which the building served as a retail store for decades.
Why it matters
The building's short banking life and long afterlife trace the boom-and-bust rhythm of frontier finance, where a single drought could topple a young institution.
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Related people
- · L. J. Bower
Themes & tags
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