Restoring First National Bank

The First National Bank of Stephenville site is a two-story limestone building at the corner of Belknap and College Streets in downtown Stephenville, across from the Erath County Courthouse. It is one of the oldest remaining structures in Stephenville's downtown and housed the town's first bank. The building was designed by architect James Riely Gordon of Gordon and Laub Architects of San Antonio, and is thought to have been completed in 1889, the same year the bank was founded. The building was designed in a Romanesque Revival style. This date is featured on the round metal turret at the second floor although this turret was a later change to the building in 1902 after reconstruction of the front of the building following a 1897 fire.

The building will be restored and given new life as a commercial structure beginning in 2011. This site will follow that progress.

Exterior view of First National Bank building in 1920s or 1930s

Exterior view of First National Bank building during reconstruction following fire in 1902

Photo of Interior view of First National Bank - year unknown — Interior view of First National Bank - year unknown

Exterior view of portion of First National Bank building and adjacent ‘Racket’ Store - early 1900s

Photograph of James Riely Gordon; assumed to date from the 1890s

Agreement written by First National Bank on October 1, 1894

First National Bank building, Stephenville, Texas

First National Bank and Courthouse building

Reconstruction of the First National Bank building

Photo of First National Bank during restoring construction

Photo of Blue beadboard ceiling in First National Bank during restoring construction

Photo of orange plaster relief design in First National Bank during restoring construction

Photo revealing blue wall in First National Bank during restoring construction

Enlarged view of corner entrance with historic storefront window at right - current

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - Conical tower — Enlarged view of conical tower with metal shingles at roof

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - Former banking space — Former banking space with metal ceiling and furr-down to accommodate mechanical ducts

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - Stained glass — Stained glass window detail

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - Metal ceiling — Detail of metal ceiling

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - Original plaster frieze — Detail of original plaster frieze at top of interior wall in first floor office area (room 103) and original bead board ceiling

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - 2nd-story corner office — 2nd-story corner office (room 201) with curved windows, showing plaster finish at exterior walls

Exterior photo of First National Bank building - current — Exterior of First National Bank building - current

First National Bank - Stephenville, Texas - Drawings — Drawings