Endangered:

Home State Bank – Longton

October of 1917, the plans for this building were finally coming to fruition when the Home National Bank purchased the lot on Gates Corner at 5th and Main Street. A contract was let to Harry Duckworth for the erection of a one-story 22 x 54-foot brick bank building. Materials were shipped and work was expected to progress rapidly. Arguably, the most important piece of the bank, the safe, was delivered in February of 1918. A “burglar-proof” Mosler Safe Co. safe. Soon after the furniture for the building arrived, the building was finally coming together to prepare for the grand opening a few weeks out. The public was invited to celebrate the institution at the grand opening on Saturday, March 2nd, 1918. The party lasted all night with music, souvenirs and games.

This new building was a testimony of the prosperity that the Home National Bank organization had experienced in the city. The officers at the time included: President Geo. E. Cox, Cashier W.A. Cox, and Assistant Cashier O.H. Worley.

City of Longton Mayor Cathy Mitchell purchased the building around 2021 with the intention of restoring the building to its former glory. Her first act of business was to clear out the building to create a perfect shell. The roof having caved in had to be completely cleared out. The second was acquiring a PSIQ from the State Historic Preservation Office. Upon their study, they “put a pin in determining eligibility” for the State and National Registers due to the fact that the roof had caved in. In order to determine eligibility the roof would have to return to the state it was in prior to the collapse.