Memories from the Homestead: Vintage view, the Bank of Branson
Today I bring you another rare image by George Hall. This is an awesome photo of the Bank of Branson, at the corner of Main and Commercial. Hall would have taken this photo sometime around 1907-08.
This impressive brick building was constructed in 1906; it turned 120 years old earlier this year! Vernon C. Todd, a Branson businessman who had operated a lumber yard and owned a real estate business, organized the bank with several other Branson men.
The first officers and shareholders of the Bank of Branson as of February 1906 were Vernon Todd, president; J.G. Root, vice-president; J.A. Tolerton, cashier. The other shareholders were C. Groom, J.W. Hughes, A. Brazeal, C.M. Thompson, J.W. Oliver, J. Perry, T. Stockstill, W.R. Cox and W.H. Crowder.
The structure showed true professionalism, and was also one of the early buildings constructed on Commercial Street. The upper floor was Vernon Todd's real estate company, a rather large space, and the other space was rented to other local businesses.
Vernon Todd would remain involved with the bank for over a decade. He was an Ohio native and died in Springfield in December of 1946 at the age of 82.
This remarkable building has definitely seen much in its 120 years. It was the only building on Commercial Street to survive the fire in August 1912.
Today, Dick's 5 &10 touches the west side of the building, and today the property is the home of Patricia's Victorian House.
A special thanks to our friends at the Branson Centennial Museum for use of this photo, their collection of Hall photo postcards is outstanding!
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