Smyrna times., 1947-01-30

the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
Thereafter the banking business of
all of this section was transacted
through The Bank of Smyrna re-
quiring on the part of the officers,
not only knowledge of banking.
but also a thorough knowledge of
this large piece of territory. A
few years after the Bank Act was
passed, the name was changed to
The National Bank of SMYRNA.
Since it began operation, it has
consistently been in the service of
the town and surrounding COM
munity, weathering every depres-
sion period for over a century and
quarter. The mere mention of a
date so far removed from the pres
ent day as 1912 has surprisingly
little significance to those who are
accustomed to terms of "yesteray,
today and tomorrow" Even when
one performs the simple mathe-
matical problem of 1912 from 1947
to discover that The National Bank
OF Smyrna has actually been in ex-
istence one hundred and thirty-five
years, it is still hard to realize the
true significance of such period
OF time. However, the first train
drawn by steam locomotive made
the trip in 1881, nineteen years af-
ter the bank. was organized. At
the time the Bank was founded
there were only seventeen states
IN the Union and since its origin.
the United States has passed
through six major wars.
The bank opened for business in
the same site now occupied by the
new National Bank Building with
Hon. Isaac Davis as President, and
Samuel H. Hodson as Cashier. The
bank building was remodeled in
1886 under the Presidency of Mr..
Ayres Stockley. In 1878 it was
converted into National Bank
and received it's charter as such
April 4, 1878 which was extended
for another period of twenty years
in January 1898. The bank has al
ways been successfully managed
and has proved of great benefit in
developing and improving the sur
rounding country.
In survey made by the Nation
al Bank of Smyrna, it is interest
ing to note that there are only
thirty-nine Banks in the United
States older and that eighty per
cent of these range from a few
months to eleven years older The
Oldest one is the First National
Bank of Boston, established in
1884. The oldest Bank in Della
ware is the Farmers Bank of the
State of Delaware, established in
1907. The National Bank of Smyr-
ma follows closely being first estab-
lished as state bank in 1912.
In 1925 the old bank building
was torn down and a commodious,
new building erected in it's place.
Architecturally, this building is a
fine example of classic design in
bank construction. In equipment
it is abreast of progress. The large
vault which was installed when the
building was erected is one of the
finest south of Wilmington. 1t has
every safeguard to make it fire.
proof and burglar-proof. The door
is specially designed to resist nitro
i glycerine and is further protected
with type of steel which will turn
the point of the finest drill Once
the time lock is set, the door can
not be opened until the appointed
time. The door itself weighs
twelve tons.
Several years ago Trust De-
partment was added. This depart
ment offers suggestions in the prep
aration of wills, gives information
on investments and has all the ia
cilities of the larger banks in the
cities. It acts as Executor, Ad
ministrator, Trustee, Guardian, etc.
and has full trust powers. 1t has
been noted for its liberal credit ac-
commodations. 1t was the first
Bank in this section of the State
to extend credit under the Federal
Housing plan and personal loans
have been made for a number of
years. The officers and employees
are: Clark M. Knots, president; j.
H. David, vice-president; Charles
M. Gee, cashier; Kate j. Smithers,
note clerk; Hilda Deakyne and
Janet Pyle, stenographers; Ruth
Collins, teller and William Raugh-