Beckley in Raleigh County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

The Attar Center

Dedicated to Economic Development of

— Beckley and Southern West Virginia —

The Attar Center Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Byron Hooks, September 28, 2012

1. The Attar Center Marker

Inscription. General Alfred Beckley, founder of the city of Beckley, shows this corner location as land lot 29 on his 1838 map. Reverend Matthew Ellison, founder of the First Baptist Church of Beckley, built his home here in 1850, and his heirs held title to the land until 1902. The lot was then divided. The lower section below the alley and fronting on South Fayette formed the site of Beckley's first theater, the (Boyd E.) Carter Opera House built in 1906. The upper lot opening on Main Street was successively owned after 1902 by the Raleigh County Bank, Beckley Hardware and Supplies, Gus Farris and Nicholas Rahall, and Beckley National Bank.

Beckley National Bank constructed this neo-classical style building and opened it on April 19, 1924. The bank president was Joseph Luther Smith, father of the future governor of this state, Hulett C. Smith. In 1928, Joseph Smith was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. This bank building was sold to Beckley Federal Savings and Loan Association (later Beckley Federal Savings Bank) in 1962. That institution operated here until it merged into the Bank of Raleigh (now City National Bank) in 1997. Following the merger the building was occupied.

Marz Attar, local businessman and philanthropist, purchased the building in 2000 and donated it to Forward Southern West Virginia for use as an economic

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development center. This historic structure of white glazed terra-cotta as a stained-glass dome rising 75 feet above the interior floor. The lobby floor and wainscot are of imported marble. The restoration required in elevator and balcony that modified the architectural view inside the building. The renovations were completed January, 2003, with a grant secured by United States Senator Robert C. Byrd.

Erected 2003.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 37° 46.652′ N, 81° 11.361′ W. Marker is in Beckley, West Virginia, in Raleigh County. It is at the intersection of Main Street and S Fayette Street on Main Street. The plaque is mounted on the NE corner of The Attar Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Main Street, Beckley WV 25801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Civil War Site (here, next to this marker); Salvation Wall (here, next to this marker); Gen. Alfred Beckley (a few steps from this marker); Raleigh County (within shouting distance of this marker); Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion (within shouting distance of this marker); Raleigh County World War II Memorial

Photographed by Byron Hooks, September 28, 2012

2. The Attar Center Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Eccles Mine Explosions (within shouting distance of this marker); Beckley (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beckley.

Also see . . . . More information on The Attar Center can be found on the emporis web: (Submitted on October 12, 2012, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)

The Attar Center main entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Byron Hooks, September 28, 2012

3. The Attar Center main entrance

The Attar Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Byron Hooks, September 28, 2012

4. The Attar Center

formerly the Beckley National Bank

Photographed by Byron Hooks, September 28, 2012

5. The Attar Center

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2012, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 1,421 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 12, 2012, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.