Harlan in Shelby County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Farmers & Merchants Bank Building
Erected 1912
— 1012 6th Street —
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021
1. Farmers & Merchants Bank Building Marker
Neoclassical façade was
replaced with the present
modern façade in 1960 when
it housed the Shelby County
State Bank.
Listed in the National Register
of Historic Places
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 41° 39.493′ N, 95° 19.056′ W. Marker is in Harlan, Iowa, in Shelby County. Marker is on 6th Street north of Court Street, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the left/north corner of the front façade. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1012 6th Street, Harlan IA 51537, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Book Building (here, next to this marker); Shelby County Bank Building (here, next to this marker); Hertert Building (a few steps from this marker); Donnan Building (a few steps from this marker); Overholt Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Baughn Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Koolbeck Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Weber Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harlan.
Regarding Farmers & Merchants Bank Building.
this page online
From the NRHP nomination: Architect and builders, Cockerell and Smithson. (The building was reportedly modeled after examples in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, Michigan.) The present building is an expansion and complete remodeling of the Neoclassical bank building constructed in 1911-12. The building replaced the earlier brick Book Building, which housed the first Farmers and Merchants Bank in the early 1900s. That building was moved to the lot adjacent to the north when the Farmers and Merchants bank building was constructed. At that time, the building, which had a marble veneer over brick load-bearing walls had an alleyway adjacent to the south. Later remodelings (1950s) expanded the building into the alley and completely destroyed the original Neoclassical façade. The Farmers and Merchants Bank merged with the Shelby County Bank in the late 1920s-30s and by the 1940s the Shelby County Bank was housed in this building. The bank moved to new quarters in 1975. Intact interior details of note include walnut wainscot and the bank vault.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Harlan Courthouse Square Commercial District
Also see . . . Harlan Courthouse Square Commercial District
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021
2. Farmers & Merchants Bank Building Storefront
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 30, 2021
3. Farmers & Merchants Bank Building
Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 96 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 11, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
