Greenville in Greenville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
South Carolina's First National Bank
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2009
1. South Carolina's First National Bank Marker
Erected by Carolina First Bank.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.
Location. 34° 50.967′ N, 82° 23.967′ W. Marker is in Greenville, South Carolina, in Greenville County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and West McBee Avenue, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. Marker is located on the facade of the Carolina First Bank building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 South Main Street, Greenville SC 29601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 10 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named South Carolina's First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Vardry McBee (within shouting distance of this marker); The Kress Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Downtown Greenville (within shouting distance of this marker); Poinsett's Spring (within shouting distance of this marker); Joel Roberts Poinsett
this page online
Also see . . . First National Bank. The First National Bank building is architecturally significant because it is Greenville’s only major Art Deco commercial structure. (Submitted on February 3, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.)
Additional commentary.
1. First National Bank
The First National Bank Building is located at the corner of Main and McBee Streets. This Art-Deco two-and-a-half-story structure sheathed in sandstone with a polished black granite door frame and base was designed by Atlanta architect S.L. Trowbridge in 1938.
The flat-roofed building has a geometric-patterned cornice and a frieze band. Stylized sunburst aluminum grill works covers the transom and sidelights of the main
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2009
2. National Register of Historic Places Medallion
The 1938 building was enlarged in 1952 by extending the sandstone and polished granite facade around the adjacent 1917 building. The sympathetic and careful extension used the same building materials as the earlier one, duplicating the cornice and friezes with a side door enframed by black granite. A palmetto tree and the date 1952 were carved in the sandstone above the side door's stylized black granite keystone.
The 1938 banking hall had an alternating black and white marble tile floor, a gilded and carved plaster ceiling, shellacked walnut wainscoting, and elaborately carved four-foot wide pilasters on either side of the banking hall. Typically Art Deco stylized stepped wooden keystones were set above windows and tellers' counters. The 1952 interior expansion and renovation included duplicating the keystone motifs, adding an Art Deco-reminiscent clock to the McBee Avenue entrance, and painting the ceiling white in both buildings. aside from signage, no significant changes have been made in the building's
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2009
3. South Carolina's First National
Bank Facade and Marker
Bank Facade and Marker
Significance
The First National Bank building is architecturally significant because it is Greenville's only major Art Deco commercial structure. Constructed in 1938, it was designed by Atlanta architect Silas L. Trowbridge, and built by Morris & McKoy, contractors. It is also important for its association with the old National Bank of Greenville, chartered in 1872, and the first national bank chartered in South Carolina.
Although several Greenville banks closed or had to be reorganized during the depression, the first National Bank maintained its place as Greenville's leading financial institution. In 1937-38, Beattie invested over $100,000 for the construction of a new building, also designed by Trowbridge. This new bank building utilized the existing foundation and walls of a nineteenth-century commercial building adjacent to the 1917 building. The earlier building was rented to a succession of tenants. When the 1938 building was expanded in the 1950s to include the 1917 bank, the Art Deco design of the 1938 building was extended to cover the exterior of the earlier building. (Source: National Register nomination form.)
— Submitted March 12, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2009
4. South Carolina's First National
Bank Entrance Detail
Bank Entrance Detail
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 20, 2010
5. South Carolina's First National Bank
Photographed By Brian Scott, February 2, 2009
6. Art Deco Cornerstone Dated 1938
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 1,228 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 3, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 5. submitted on March 11, 2010, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. 6. submitted on February 3, 2009, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina.
