Ennis National Bank
Ennis, Ellis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This structure was built in 1883 to house the Ennis National Bank, which was established the same year, with businessman Joseph Baldridge as its first president. Until 1917, when a new facility was built, the bank occupied the first floor, while the second story was leased for offices. Since that time, numerous businesses have occupied the Classical Revival building, which features a corner turret, corbeled brick parapet, and the original cast iron storefront.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Erected in 1883 for the newly founded Ennis National Bank under its first president, businessman Joseph Baldridge, this Classical Revival building anchored the town's commercial life. The bank occupied the first floor and leased offices above until moving out in 1917, after which a parade of businesses filled its rooms beneath the distinctive corner turret, corbeled brick parapet, and original cast-iron storefront.
Why it matters
The bank building illustrates how railroad towns of the Gilded Age built enduring monuments of commerce to signal their permanence and ambition.
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Related people
- · Joseph Baldridge
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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The Houston & Texas Central pushed its tracks past here in 1871, and in 1872 the town of Ennis was platted along the line and named for railroad official Cornelius Ennis. Local boosters won a division point with roundhouse, machine shops, and headquarters—on the promise that Ennis could always supply their water—while magnate Hetty Green's Texas Midland and a Dallas-to-Corsicana interurban later threaded the town. The interurban ran until 1941 and the last Texas Midland lines closed by 1975, leaving Union Pacific on the original route.
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