Ardmore in Carter County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

The Banker's National Bank Building

1906

— Ardmore Main Street —

The Banker's National Bank Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 4, 2025

1. The Banker's National Bank Building Marker

Inscription.
On November 9, 1905 Mattie Dobbins purchased this lot from the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations for the sum of $252.60. Ms. Dobbins entered into a 10 year lease contract with the Banker's Trust Co. on July 31, 1906 for a $50.00 per month rental on the land. The contract also provided for this building to be built for $18,000.00 and financed by the Banker's Trust Co.

Banker's National Bank occupied this building while Ardmore was in Indian Territory (late 1906), then the name was changed to the American National Bank upon statehood. The American National Bank was active until 1916 when they moved to what is now the Colston Building across the street.

In December of 1917, A.H. Palmer organized the City State Bank at this location. The bank opened its doors on May 18, 1918 and was active until 1928.

The next occupant after the City State Bank closed was the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce whose offices were moved to this building in late 1928 or early 1929. The building was called the Chamber of Commerce building until they vacated the premises in 1954. It has been known as the Dunlap Building since.

In 1937 Errett Dunlap, Sr. purchased

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the building from the Dobbins family. Mr. Dunlap was born on October 18, 1882 in Beebe, Arkansas and moved to Ardmore I.T. with his parents in 1896, his father being appointed superintendent of schools in the Indian Territory. Errett Dunlap was one of Ardmore's pioneer oil men serving as president and vice president of several early oil companies, among them the Bull Head Oil Company and the Fox Producing Company. He would often sit on the rails along A Street S.W. negotiating oil deals to be later consummated in his office on the top floor of the building. Upon his death in 1956 the building passed to his son, Errett Dunlap, Jr. Today it is owned by Thomas F. Dunlap who is the third generation to own the property.

Erected by Ardmore Main Street Authority.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 34° 10.36′ N, 97° 7.762′ W. Marker is in Ardmore, Oklahoma, in Carter County. It is

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 4, 2025

2. The Banker's National Bank Building Marker

The marker is mounted on the left side of the north/front entrance.

at the intersection of West Main Street (State Highway 199) and A Street Southwest, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the subject building, on the left side of the north/front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 West Main Street, Ardmore OK 73401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oklahoma’s Chickasaw Nation.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

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

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Simpson-Little-Colston Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The First National Bank and Trust Company of Ardmore (within shouting distance of this marker); Masonic Temple 1896 (within shouting distance of this marker); Noble Brothers Hardware (about 300

The Banker's National Bank Building<br>(<i>north/front elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 4, 2025

3. The Banker's National Bank Building
(north/front elevation)

feet away, measured in a direct line); Carter County Courthouse (about 400 feet away); Hotel Wisnor / Carter-Booker Building (about 400 feet away); Federal Courthouse (1898) (about 400 feet away); First Carter County Courthouse Sidewalk (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ardmore.

Regarding The Banker's National Bank Building. Contributing property, Ardmore Historic Commercial District, National Register of Historic Places № 83002080.

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Karen Bode Curths, 2/1982:
The Ardmore Historic Commercial District consists of a group of ninety-seven major structures extending six blocks west from the railroad tracks down both sides of Main Street to C Street W. Built between 1895 and 1924, this prosperous district continues to serve as the core of the commercial center for south-central Oklahoma. As a result, the predominantly red brick buildings have been well maintained and most of the structures still display their original design. Some attempts have been made to rejuvenate facades and street level entries, but local property owners have expressed an interest
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 4, 2025

4. The Banker's National Bank Building (northeast elevation)
in preserving the character of this historic area and most renovating is in keeping with the historical integrity of the buildings.
Dunlap Building, 100 W. Main: 1903-1907 three stories, yellow brick, long, narrow, corner building with yellow brick detailing in the small entablature, with the dentil molding between brickwork friezes, in the stringcourses above the second and third floors, and in the semi-circular eyebrow hoods with concrete scroll-like keystones above first floor and Main Street second story windows (double-hung sash windows divided into four panes). Rough cut limestone lintels and stringcourses (which double as sills on each level) plus broken band courses at the base of the eyebrow hoods combine with the long rows of windows on all levels (including the half visible basement), the brick stringcourses, the friezes, and the entablature to accentuate the length of the building and to break-up the vertical appearance of the narrow Main Street facade. The irregular grouping of the arched windows and doors on the side street helps break the visual repetition of windows and layers as do the metal railings around the basement windows. The only major alteration has been the addition of concrete tiles to the Main Street first level facade, but this continues to serve in its original capacity as offices.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 22, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 103 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 24, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.