First National Bank (Roanoke, Virginia) Explained

First National Bank
Designated Other1:Virginia Landmarks Register
Designated Other1 Date:February 16, 1982[1]
Designated Other1 Number:128-0040
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Location:101 S. Jefferson St., Roanoke, Virginia
Coordinates:37.2722°N -79.9411°W
Architect:John Kevan Peebles
Architecture:French Renaissance
Added:June 14, 1982
Refnum:82004591

First National Bank, also known as People's Federal Building and Liberty Trust Co., is a historic bank and office building located at Roanoke, Virginia. It was built in 1910, and is a seven-story, granite and buff-colored brick building in the French Renaissance style. It features a Roman Ionic columned main entrance and Doric columns in the main banking hall derived from the Temple of Apollo at Delos.[2]

The first director of the bank was Tazewell M. Starkey (1829-1901). In 1926 the bank merged with the National Exchange Bank, and took that name. "When the community opened up, there were a lot of members of the Jewish community who have served on various organizations. For instance, Arthur Taubman was on the board of the First National Exchange Bank, on the board of trustees. When that became Dominion Bank, his son, Nicholas F. Taubman, served on that board of trustees, too."[3]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Virginia Landmarks Register. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. 19 March 2013.
  2. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: First National Bank. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff . January 1982. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. and Accompanying photo
  3. Davidson, Sigmund. 2015. "Roanoke Jews: A History". Historical Society of Western Virginia. Journal. Roanoke, Va: Historical Society of Western Virginia. Volume XXII (1). Page 14.