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VOLUME XLIY?NUMBER 74 Williamston, Martin County, North Carolina, Tuesday. September 16, 1941. ESTABLISHED 1899
Branch Banking And Trust Company In Its Modern Home
Banking House On Main Street
Here Is Regarded As Valuable
Asset To Town And Community
First Business Is
Transacted in New
Building Monday
Cordial Invitation Extended
General Publir To Visit
Branch Bank
?
The Branch Banking and Trust
Company opened for business yester
day morning at 9 o'clock in its new
home on Main Street between the
Watts Theatre and the Woolard
Hardware Company store. Strictly
modern in its every detail, the con
struction of the building reflects the
progressive policy of the institution
and its determination to keep abreast
of the times both as to its equip
ment and housing and to the service
of its patrons.
Recognized as a marked asset to
the town and community, the insti
tution's new banking house offers
the very latest in architectural de
sign. Its appearance reflects a
strength symbolic of the institution
itself, and the arrangements offer
complete harmony for convenience
and for the rapid dispatch of bank
ing duties. The modern front of
brick and stone with its curving
lines blends well into the row of
buildings dotting the main street.
Even though defense priority rights
made it impossible for the contract
or to get steel window frames, the
structure has a pleasing and staid
appearance from the outside.
Designed for the convenience of
its patrons as well as for the conven
ience of its employees, the bank
provides just inside the front door
a roomy office for those customers
Builders Overcome Obstacles
In Construction Of New Rank
Accepting the contract before
shortages presented a serious prob
lem, D. J. Rose and Son, Rocky
Mount contractors, overcame many
obstables in constructing the new
building for the Branch Banking and
Trust Company within the allotted
time and to turn over to the insti
tution one of the most attractive and
substantially-built structures in this
section. It is true that many changes
were necessray, but substitutions
were effected and the construction
project progressed "according to
schedule." Wooden window frames
were used when steel ones could not
be had. The builders will replace
who have payrolls to make up and
other banking business to handle On
the other side of the entrance is the
cashier's private office with a semi
private stall between him and the
regular banking room. Modern fix
tures, expertly placed to fit into a
perfect banking room picture, pro
vide ample windows for its tellers to
transact an increasing business with
its customers. There are three tell
ers' windows, a desk for the book
keepers and an office for the treas
urer of the Martin County Building
and Loan Association. Two counters
are located for the convenience of
patrons. With its white walls and
modern lighting fixtures, a rubber
composition floor, and with a mez
zanine floor overlooking it, th^^iob
by offers a very pleasing ijppear
ance.
At the rear of the banking room is
the strong vault, a passageway lead
them just as soon as the steel can be
had.
Facing labor shortages and delay
in the delivery of materials. Super
intendent S. W. Swanson would shift
from one part of the building to an
other to keep the work going, and
detailed construction was complet
ed almost as soon as the walls and
roof were built. A few odds and ends
are yet to be handling such as the
laying of tile for draining the water
away from the building and paving
the small alley between the bank and
the Woolard Hardware Company,
but they are to be completed short
ly
BOXKS
The utmost in safety has been
provided by the Bran^ Bank
ing and Trust Company for its
safety deposit box holders. Hous
ed in a super re-enforced vault,
the more than 200 boxes can be
reached only through an 18.000
pound steel door. Individual
keys, and only one of a kind, are
held by the box renters.
To insure privacy for the* box -
holders when he wishes to ex
amine the box contents, the bank
has arranged a private room
known as the coupon room.
ing to the side giving access to a
large directors' room, a coupon
(Continued on page 4. this section)
Building And Loan
Association Is in
Its New Quarters
Shared Special Desk in New
Branch Banking A Trust
Company Building
Moving from pillar to post, but do
ing very well during the meantime,
the Martin County Buildiqg and
Loan Association is now housed in
special quarters in the Branch Bank
ing and Trust Company building,
the association moving its hooks and
equipment from the old Peoples
Bank building to its new home over
the week-end.
Organized back in 11)14, the asso
ciation maintained its headquarters
in the office of Attorney Wheeler
Martin. For two years Mr. Martin
handled the books as secretary-treas
urer of the organization there Ef
fecting an arrangement with the old
Farmers and Merchants Bank, the
Building and Loan established its
bookkeeping department in the
bank and the employees of the bank
handled the books. The office was
later moved to the old Martin Coun
ty Savings and Trust Company
building on the corner of Main and
Smithwick Streets. When that insti
tution closed, the late Asa Tom
Crawford took over the bookkeep
ing department for the association
and maintained headquarters in the
old Dennis Simmons Lumber Com
pany office now owned by Attor
ney Hugh G. Morton. When the Far
mcrs and Merchants Bank rented the
Peoples Bank building and moved
there, the Building and Loan named
Mrs. Vella A. Wynne treasurer and
headquarters were located in tlu
big building eleven years ago.
Erecting its modern new building
on Main Street, the Branch Banking
and Trust Company provided spec
nil quarters for the Building and
Loan Association which now occu
pies for the first time a semi permit
nent home of its own.
The office of the association, oc
copying a prominent position in tlu
(Continued on page 4. this section.)
Branch Banking And
Trust Company Has
An Interesting History
Business Founded
Sixty-Nine Years
\<I<> By A. Braneh
r j
?i?
Institution Has Servinl This
Immediate S(Tlion
Since 1930
Few institutionshave a more col- ,
orful and interesting history than |
that of the Branch Banking and i
Trust Company to which another in I
tcresting chapte i is hcing added as j
the institution carries on its opera I
tion in its modern new building on I
Williamston's main street.
As a member of the mercantile t
firm of Branch and Hartley, Mr I
Branch" back in 1872 started accept-1
ing deposits and handling other
transactions more or less common j
to the modern banking world. In j
that trying period when banking
lacilities were limited as a result of t
the War Between the States, the bas I
ic business pirnciples* that have j
guided the policy of the institution |
down through the years were laid
The interests of the customer who
entrusted his savings to the founder
of the business were given first rec
ognition, in all succeeding trunsac
tions, and working on that basic
principle the founder and his sue
cesosrs have ^ontinued to expand the
services of Hie organization.
In 1887 Mr. Branch, lus banking
business requiring much of his time,
withdrew from the mercantile firm
of Branch and Ilndicy and set him
self up under the firm name of
Branch and Company, Bankers. Two
years later, Mr Branch and several
leading citizens applied to the State
V
iumomiim;
Purchasing the building for
tncrlv occupied by the Branch
Banking and Trust Company, the
Guaranty llank and Trust Com
pany is making ready to launch
an extensive remodeling and
renovating program, according
to Cashier I). V. Clayton.
Just when the building will be
made ready for occupancy can
not be determined at tins time,
but the new owners plan to
move possibly by the middle of
next pionth. Several thousand
dollars will he spent in renovat
ing and modernizing the three
story building. >1r. Clayton said.
Legislature foi a charter. and the
institution was o|u'rated under tin;
name of Wilson Hanking and Trust
Company. Kxpanded operations and
chaiiginp. conditions caused the in
stitution to enlarge its oWn services
and in IJttM the corporation was
known as tin State Hank of Wilson.
In IHlKt the name was (.hanged to the
Hranch Hanking Company Mr
Hranch died that year, hut r?cogn>^
illg tile value of the good will cell
tering around the founder's name,
his .successors carried on the bu i
ness without further change until
UM.'f When without dropping the
connection With its founder the in
stitution accepted the nana of
Hranch Hanking and Trust Com
pan> While the original .name sug
g es ted multiple fiankiug operation*.
It-was not until 1T25 that the msti
III t II ill started its expansion pro
grain to include hanks in other
towns and cities
j (Continued on page I. the seetipti)
Officers Of Branch
Bank Well Known
In This Community
Local Iii-lilillion Headed By
( jollier Ihmcn and Vide
Board of 1 Brer lorn
Headed b> 11 D Butoman, presi
dent. .itid S S Lawrence, vice pres
ident. tin Branch Banking and Trust
Company has played an important
a lid prominent role in eastern North
Cuioluia 111ian< ? s foi a long number
'.?t i ai I in institution, weathering
Iteiiific liit.iiHial tinms. that swept
the cut u. ii.iturn in years past, owes
i! i-n\ rahle i? cord in the banking
I l ield to it able leaders
1 pi * nit nt ot the institution.
...111 i 'r. \.i 11?11 ? l? experience during
II p.i' v?.ii: i a hanker, has ad
lu.iil i 11> to luiidamental bank
ing principles, rccogni/tng as a first
I'hli ;atioii the tfU.vt held for the lli
! titiuioi. h> it. depositors. As vice
president, S S "Lawrence has been
unu ually active in the hank s ojH-ra
tton and activities The two men,
.tided by an able board of directors
' w liivli includes some ol the most
I>ii'Hinu-111 eiti/ens in the State, have
hta/ed an effective trail in the bunk
(mg and financial fields, rendering
an efficient service to an ever-ex
p.aiding chentel.
The local institution is headed by
C.i Incr Herman A Bowen, who has
hi'< n w ith the hank a long number of
years, and a popular and well known
board of directors, including Libert
S. I'eel, K I Barnes, J La son Lilley,
ti. L. Mardie. ji:, and W, tr Bowellr
Accommodating employees, in
cluilmg \\ C 1 ? it If lit. assistant cash
iei . Hiism 11 Ko. buck. iL'ileiy and Mrs.
Kt he I Wynne and Kate Manning,
bookkeepers, serve the local bank's
large tuimbci of patrons Each of
these invites the public to visit the
hank in its modern new home
Vitamins
To fort it \ the health ot the Brit
ish people, the H S Department of
\ i' i u ii I flu i is purchasing large sup
I plu s o! vitamin concentrate: at the
I .1. . nt time.
Announcing Occupancy of Our
NEW BUILDING
The Public Is Cordially Invited To Inspect New Building
We take pride in announcing the opening of our new hank building. Located between the
Watts Theatre and the Woolard Hardware Company, this institution is adequately equip
ped and its modern construetion enables us to give each customer every convenience pos
sible. Although you may not he a customer of our hank, we extend to you a most cordial
welcome to visit our new home. We trust you will accept this invitation for it will gi\e us
A
genuine pleasure to show this modern equipped and constructed building.
200 Safety
Deposit
Boxes
will.be available to
ITS PATRONS WITH A
Coupon
Room
a
Conveniently Located For
The Transaction Of
Private Business
Might
tory
We 111-I ;i 11 ? -i I V
NK.III WJ'OSITOIO for
I In- (ioiiM-iiii-iirr of Our
( ii-|oiiicr- :in<l llir
(ii'lir ml I'lllilic.
For Safely, For
( tmveuienee, We
llojte Yoii Use It!
New Accounts Solicited, Welcomed
Whether They he Large or Small
Branch Banking & Trust Co.
WILLIAMSTON, NORTH CAROLINA.