Demopolis in Marengo County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Robertson Banking Company
⎯⎯⎯
Mayer Brothers

Robertson Banking Company marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2025

1. Robertson Banking Company marker

Inscription.

Robertson Banking Company, also, Mayer Brothers. . Robertson Banking Company Founded 1870 . In 1870, Daniel Fowler Prout established the first bank in Demopolis since the Civil War Maj. John Royal Robertson soon joined the venture. In 1872, a one-story brick headquarters for Prout and Robertson. Bankers was constructed at 106 N. Strawberry Ave., with a second story added in 1899. Money and valuables were initially stored in the safe of next-door merchant Cornish and Sharpe. , Prout died in 1899, followed by Robertson in 1902. Thereafter, the Robertson Banking Company formed, with W.S. Prout, the founder's son, serving as president for the next 25 years. By 1906, the bank's capital stock had grown to $100,000. That same year, the bank relocated to the Webb-Cheshire Building at the northeast corner of Strawberry Ave. and Washington St. When that building burned six years later. the company acquired the Marx Banking business and its building on the southeast corner of Walnut Ave. and Washington St. , "The company remained solvent during the Great Depression, only briefly closing during the 1933 federal banking moratorium. During World War II. the bank acted as a custodian for ration stamps and war bonds and began long-term homebuilding loans. By 1942. deposits reached $1 million. In 1975 the Robertson Banking Company relocated here. site of the former Mayer Brothers Department Store (see other side) , Mayer Brothers. Born in Germany in 1849, Morris Mayer immigrated to America at a young age. He arrived in Demopolis in 1866. Mayer soon entered into business with merchant Henry Enners, a fellow German-born Jewish immigrant. By 1872, their mercantile business occupied a two-story brick building at the southwest corner of Washington and Walnut streets. Enners died in 1874, leaving Mayer to operate the business with the aid of his younger brothers, Ludwig and Simon, newly arrived from Germany. , Mayer Brothers grew into a prosperous department store, eventually becoming the largest in west Alabama. In 1897, the company opened a new, three-story brick building on this site. Designed by architect J. G. Barnwell of Rome, Georgia, and built by contractor C. M. Rubush of Meridian, Mississippi, the facility cost $25,000. , Morris Mayer, the “Merchant Prince” of Marengo County, died in 1910, having outlived both his younger brothers. He was succeeded in the business by his two sons-in-law, L. L. Steinhart and L. S. Metzger. After the two men both died in the spring of 1959, Mayer Brothers Department Store closed after more than ninety years in business. In 1975, the building became the headquarters of the Robertson Banking Company (see other side). The next generation of Mayers included Hollywood film executive Arthur Mayer, son of Simon.

Robertson Banking Company
Founded 1870
In 1870, Daniel Fowler Prout established the first bank in Demopolis since the Civil War Maj. John Royal Robertson soon joined the venture. In 1872, a one-story brick headquarters for Prout and Robertson. Bankers was constructed at 106 N. Strawberry Ave., with a second story added in 1899. Money and valuables were initially stored in the safe of next-door merchant Cornish and Sharpe.

Prout died in 1899, followed by Robertson in 1902. Thereafter, the Robertson Banking Company formed, with W.S. Prout, the founder's son, serving as president for the next 25 years. By 1906, the bank's capital stock had grown to $100,000. That same year, the bank relocated to the Webb-Cheshire Building at the northeast corner of Strawberry Ave. and Washington St. When that building burned six years later. the company acquired the Marx Banking business and its building on the southeast corner of Walnut Ave. and Washington St.

"The company remained solvent during the Great Depression, only briefly closing during the 1933 federal banking moratorium. During World War II. the bank

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acted as a custodian for ration stamps and war bonds and began long-term homebuilding loans. By 1942. deposits reached $1 million. In 1975 the Robertson Banking Company relocated here. site of the former Mayer Brothers Department Store (see other side)

Mayer Brothers
Born in Germany in 1849, Morris Mayer immigrated to America at a young age. He arrived in Demopolis in 1866. Mayer soon entered into business with merchant Henry Enners, a fellow German-born Jewish immigrant. By 1872, their mercantile business occupied a two-story brick building at the southwest corner of Washington and Walnut streets. Enners died in 1874, leaving Mayer to operate the business with the aid of his younger brothers, Ludwig and Simon, newly arrived from Germany.

Mayer Brothers grew into a prosperous department store, eventually becoming the largest in west Alabama. In 1897, the company opened a new, three-story brick building on this site. Designed by architect J. G. Barnwell of Rome, Georgia, and built by contractor C. M. Rubush of Meridian, Mississippi, the facility cost $25,000.

Morris Mayer, the “Merchant Prince” of Marengo County, died

Mayer Brothers side of marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 28, 2025

2. Mayer Brothers side of marker

in 1910, having outlived both his younger brothers. He was succeeded in the business by his two sons-in-law, L. L. Steinhart and L. S. Metzger. After the two men both died in the spring of 1959, Mayer Brothers Department Store closed after more than ninety years in business. In 1975, the building became the headquarters of the Robertson Banking Company (see other side). The next generation of Mayers included Hollywood film executive Arthur Mayer, son of Simon.

Erected 2023 by Alabama Historical Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 32° 31.091′ N, 87° 50.248′ W. Marker is in Demopolis, Alabama, in Marengo County. It is at the intersection of North Walnut Avenue and East Capitol Street, on the right when traveling north on North Walnut Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 N Walnut Ave, Demopolis AL 36732, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and in the Black Belt.

Mayer Brothers Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2025

3. Mayer Brothers Marker

Marker is very close to building & window of building and difficult to get a full marker photo.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

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: The Demopolis Opera House / Lillian Hellman And (within shouting distance of this marker); First Presbyterian Church (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Marengo County Confederate Monument (about 400 feet away); The Demopolis Theater District (about 500 feet away); Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (about 500 feet away); Downtown Demopolis / Demopolis (about 600 feet away); Trinity Episcopal Church (about 700 feet away); Temple B’Nai Jeshurun (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Demopolis.

Robertson Banking Company Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, October 24, 2025

4. Robertson Banking Company Building

Marker is partially hidden in third bay from left.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 24, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 24, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 2. submitted on January 1, 2026, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on October 24, 2025, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Robertson Banking Company⎯⎯⎯Mayer Brothers

Robertson Banking Company
⎯⎯⎯
Mayer Brothers