The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-04-20
No Room Now for an Always Unde-
served Rebuke

Ocala now has three as good banks a
the state can show. though there are
banks with more money in their strong
boxes.
The three banks of Ocala now show
deposits of about a million dollars and
the Star predicts that the sum will
considerably exceed the million mark
within the next six months.
Two of the banks have had their
banking houses entirely remodeled and
placed in the latest and most improv-
ed condition. and the third is now
building it's new home to which it will
move from its present temporary
quarters as soon it is completed.
The Munroe & Chambliss Bank and
the Commercial Bank each have page
advertisements in this issue. The Star
points with pride to these ADVERTISE
ments and the truthful and conserva-
tive statements made in them:
The Munroe & Chambliss Bank.
The Pioneer
The Munroe & Chambliss Bank was
not the first bank established in Ocala,
but it was the pioneer bank under the
new order of things, or since Ocala
had a new birth.
Like a majority of the successful
concerns in the United States it began
its career in a modest way.
On January nth, 1897, small shop
was opened in the Baer-Cox building
tnow occupied by Knight & Lang) to
make collections and SELF exchange
The business was confined strictly to
these transactions. but afforded the
only link then existing between the
limited mercantile business of Ocala
and the outside world. This proved
great convenience. for as one farmer
recently said: 1T was the only place
where even a little vegetable check
could be cashed."
After a time business men began to
ask that deposits be taken. and that
| their cash be kept in the big screw
| door safe then in use, but account
! of the disturbed condition of credits
| it thought best to decline.
| In February, 1898, the property of
the failed Merchants National Bank
was offered for sale, and the bank
block, vaults and fixtures were pur-
chased a set of 1edgers ordered. and
the pioneer bank was at work
| There was yet but little money in
Marion county, but the many small
deposits soon began TO make a respec-
| In the general mash-up that had
overtaken our school fund was
| largely involved. and teachers war
wants became very much deprecated,
! and were cashed only a. heavy dis
! counts. 1t was at this time that the
| Munroe & Chambliss Bank did a pa
| triotic act by voluntarily Offering not
only to loan money to the county board
! of public instruction, but to make all
outstanding warrants worth 100 cents
on the dollar, charging only per cent
interest.
In 1902 this bank furnished all the
money for the building of our new
court house, bonds for the purpose
having been defeated by a popular
vote.
In stock raising, trucking and gem
eral farming, this bank has helped
largely to set the pace and it has con-
sistently placed its investments at
home, and has strained every nerve
for the upbuilding OF the county.
But. speaking of the bank proper:
| The Munroe & Chambliss Bank, in
corporated October 18th, 1907, with
paid in capital of $4,000, to which has
been added. from earnings, $4,000.
Its total assets are now consdera bl Y
over halr million dollars.
| At the time of the financial panic of
1897, when most of the banks of the
United States refused cash payments.
the Munroe & Chambliss Bank was one
of the few that rigidly honored the
checks of it's depositors rapidly as
they were presented.
Ready to meet changing demands
and more prosperous conditions, the
.T. ~~r-
December 9Th. 1910, department for
small savings, which has now more
than seven hundred depositors, and to
whom were paid. April 1st, 1911, more
than $1,000 as the first quarterly divis-
ion of profits. This department is
building up a band of savers who will
soon be among our most valuable cit
izens.
The pioneer bank is keeping pace
with the growth of its home town. Il
has recently made some splendid al
terations and additions. 1t absorbed
the store room occupied by Miss At
fieck a millinery establishment
moved the vaults back. re-arrangeC
the desks. opened another money win.
dow. tiled the floor. put in a burglar
alarm and sanitary arrangement.
which add a great deal 10 its comfor
land hea1thfulness.
| The facilities tor doing a bankins
, business are adequate and are excell-
ed by few banking establishments il
the state.
Starting back in hard times, tn,
most depressing in our history, forg
ing ahead against the tides that con
fronted it and dashed against it. hav
ing on its books a large list Of Gus
toners, many OF whom have grown III
with it, this bank has in Marion coun
lty an interest and sentiment pc
culiarly its own. 1t has. indeed. beer
the architect of its own fortune, and
! lit thrives because 1t is conducted 70
the good OF others as well as its own
ers.
r. +. MunrOe
Mr.. T. T. Munroe. the president o
| the Munroe & Chambliss Bank, came K
Ocala from Syracuse. y. Y, in 1887. H
bought a plantation near the city. and
. like many others of that period
made an orange grove. He was ap
pointed deputy collector of Unitet
] States revenue, and for seven year
canvassed the eighteen counties lyinE