Commercial Bank and Banker's House

The Commercial Bank and Banker's House is an unusual combination building, housing both a bank premises and the principal banker's residence, at 206 Main Street and 107 Canal Street in Natchez, Mississippi. Built-in 1833, it is a remarkably high-quality and well-preserved example of Greek Revival architecture. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.[2][3] The bank portion of the building, used for a time by a Christian Science congregation, is presently vacant, while the house portion is a private residence.

Commercial Bank and Banker's House
Front of the Commercial Bank
Location206 Main Street and 107 Canal Street, Natchez, Mississippi
Coordinates31°33′38.98″N 91°24′18″W
Built1833 (1833)
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.74002252
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 30, 1974[1]
Designated NHLMay 30, 1974[2]

Description and history

The Commercial Bank and Banker's House are a single structure that occupies what are now two separate properties. The two parcels form an L shape surrounding an unrelated commercial building at the southern junction of South Canal and Main Streets in downtown Natchez. The bank portion of the building presents its facade to Main Street, while the house presents a facade to South Canal Street, with an intervening front yard. The bank portion is a tall single story in height, with a facade of dressed marble. Its side walls, and those of the house, are finished in stuccoed brick. The bank facade has a Greek Temple projection, with four Ionic columns supporting a full entablature and gabled pediment. The columns are set on a low plinth, with side-facing stairs providing access to the main entrance.[3]

The house facade is five bays wide, with a center entrance sheltered by a simpler portico. This one has two Doric columns supporting an detailed entablature, with a wrought iron balcony railing above. The house interior is decorated with almost overscale heavy Greek Revival trim.[3]

The Commercial Bank was chartered in 1833, and this unique building was constructed soon afterward.[3] For security reasons, it was designed to contain both the bank and the banker's residence. Levin R. Marshall, who lived at the suburban Natchez Richmond estate, helped found the bank and was president for a number of years.[4]

The bank portion of the building has seen a variety of uses over its period of existence, including as a Christian Science center in the 1970s.[3] It presently stands empty. The house portion is a private residence.

  • Historic plaque on front of bank, 206 Main Street
  • Banker's House, 107 Canal Street, front, HABS photo 1972

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Commercial Bank and Banker's House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  3. Paul Goeldner (January 7, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Banker's House Commercial Bank and Banker's House" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 7 photos, exterior and interior, from 1972 and undated. (1.53 MB)
  4. Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi. Gretna, Louisiana: Pelican Publishing. 1999. p. Part 1, p. 397.
  • Historic American Buildings Survey photos, etc., of Commercial Bank and Banker's House are available by searching HABS/HAER here for (1) Commercial Bank, 206 Main Street, Natchez, MS and (2) Banker's House, Commercial Bank, 107 South Canal Street, Natchez, MS
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