Harrison in Boone County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

The People's National Bank

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 23, 2019

1. The People's National Bank Marker

Inscription. It was constructed shortly after 1900. Henry Starr, a well known outlaw & nephew of Belle Starr, attempted to rob the bank here in 1921. He was shot & killed by JW Myers, a former bank president, with a rifle hidden inside the vault. It was recorded as the first reported bank robbery using an automobile in the U.S.! Prior to his death Starr actually portrayed himself in a silent movie, "Debtor to the Law". The building housed the first post office and has been used over the years by various institutions including Arkansas Acceptance Corp, the Security Bank, First Federal S&L and is now the Coffman Center.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.

Location. 36° 13.78′ N, 93° 6.509′ W. Marker is in Harrison, Arkansas, in Boone County. It is at the intersection of West Stephenson Avenue and South Willow Street, on the left when traveling west on West Stephenson Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 128 West Stephenson Avenue, Harrison AR 72601, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Arkansas’ Ozark Plateau

and in Osage Territory.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Ozarks.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Capitol Café & Oklahoma Tire (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lyric (Plaza) Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Dime Store (within shouting distance of this marker); The Montgomery Ward Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boone County War Memorial (about 300 feet away); Boone County Confederate Memorial (about 300 feet away); Boone County Men Served Both Armies / Military Activity in Boone County (about 300 feet away); Boone County Spanish-American War Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away).

Former People's National Bank & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 23, 2019

2. Former People's National Bank & Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrison.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article on Henry Starr. (Submitted on October 25, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Additional keywords. outlaws, bank robberies

Playbill for movie, showing Henry Starr likeness. image. Click for full size.

Public domain

3. Playbill for movie, showing Henry Starr likeness.

Movie poster for the American western film A Debtor to the Law (1919).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 21, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 997 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 25, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.