The American National Bank still has a presence in Terrell, just not here. A Texas Historical Marker was once attached to a column near the front entrance, but it has gone missing. Interestingly, there is no reference to it in the 1984 Nomination Form for the National Register of Historic Places, nor is the marker visible in any of the photos. The marker read:
The City of Terrell was founded in 1873. C.M. Bivens, John H. Corley, and F.A. Waters opened a private bank here in 1875. In 1878, Asa Holt replaced Waters as one of the owners. Later the enterprise became the Bivens and Corley Bank and moved to this site. A second financial institution, the Childress Brothers' Bank, was founded in 1876. Col. Jim Harris, who bought an interest in 1882, acquired the Childress bank in 1885 and the Bivens and Corley Bank in 1887, merging them as the Harris Bank. Also in that year, the town acquired a federally chartered bank, the First National. Oscar B. Colquitt (1861-1940), later to be governor of Texas, was one of its founders. At the death of Col. Harris in 1895, A.J. Childress, John H. Corley, and seven other citizens bought the Harris estate and formed Harris National Bank. One of the directors was the railroad magnate Edward H.R. Green, son of the noted financier Hetty Green. In 1903 the Harris National was renamed American National Bank. When the depression of the 1930s strained the town's resources, the two national banks were merged. As of 1976, the American National Bank is the oldest and largest financial institution in Kaufman County.
The National Register's Nomination Form noted that Ramsey & Ramsey Attorneys at Law were here on the upper floor, while the basement housed a gun shop. There is no evidence today that the gun shop was here, but there are still some signs for the law office. The building is currently vacant and in need of some TLC.
The story behind these photos you ask? Why am I sharing this history? I worked at a Paranormal place In Terrell TX back in 2018 and we were doing a Ghost Tour and this building was one of those buildings that we stopped at because it was right across the street and the history of the building is simply amazing its like a time capsule inside as if time has stopped in there; the building closed down between 1986-1986 has been closed down ever since no one can get a hold of any of the former owners to get a key; this particular night we were walking and telling stories about the small town and the bank and the light flickered on the little lamp in the window as shown in the photo. It had stayed on the entire evening throughout most of the day the next day. some say the owner of the building hung himself in one of the safe’s and his spirit is still there, it’s an incredible little building and one of my many favorites to visit. There were over 20 people who witnessed this light flickering on; believe what you will. Gotta say I do love the history of Terrell TX.
