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Closeup photos of the old People's Bank Searcy AR, now First Security Bank.

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage

Our newfound blog friend, James Whitlow, who bought the old postcard of People's Bank in Searcy Arkansas from ebay has very thoughtfully sent us scans of the card.  The scans are SO clear.  This bank became First Security Bank and we have had other blogs about it.  Super Sleuth Anita has lots of pictures of her mother, who actually selected the name Security Bank, at this bank.  We have to review. 

People's Bank Searcy AR

Now let's see the close-up scans.

People's Bank Searcy AR

 People's Bank Searcy AR

People's Bank Searcy AR

People's Bank Searcy AR

Were those not great closeups!!  James was in town and took a current picture but Activerain got mad at me and wouldn't let me upload it so for the current view go to this blog.

Thanks, James Whitlow.

 

 

 

 

Comments (10)

Don Thompson
Donthomp Associates - Sunnyvale, CA

Wow! oh Wow! Those blowups are soooo good. I can see the China Berry tree that overhung the sidewalk at the end of the block toward the First Methodist Church. I would climb up in that tree and drop China Berries on passerbys below. That was 1943 when I lived in a house, 303 S. Main, directly across from the church. I would walk up the block, turn by the bank, and go on up to the Rialto Movie Theatre for 10¢ movies and 5¢ popcorn.

The building by the tree would be the ACME Dry Cleaners in my day. The steam pipes would protrude into my front yard. Fun to run through the cleaning fluid smelly steam.

I guess I'm still on good terms with ActiveRain. They let me post the pic. First, I need to post the pic of Corrine in front of the bank.

Corrine Hart

Here's the current view of the bank. The area behind the bank is now a big parking area.

Current View

Jul 15, 2012 02:08 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Don, I'm glad you appreciate the scans that he sent us.  The one with the car is probably the best I've ever seen.  You really can see the tree and the building behind.  But it looks like it started with a T and A so what was the name of it?  I never dreamed there was so much detail in the old cards. 

Jul 15, 2012 10:43 AM
Anonymous
Anita Fuller

John McElwee's Ford Motor Company (behind Security Bank)....later moved next to the bank...where the gasoline pump is in the picture.   It was there for years, before being moved way out on East Race.

I LOVE the blow-ups.  Would never have seen some of the details.  I DO NOT know the dentist!  Does anyone?

Jul 16, 2012 08:30 AM
#3
Anonymous
Harold Gene Sullivan

I don't knowr the dentist either but the dentist I went to was in that office, a Dr. Patterson.  Both my brother and I said he was a horse dentist and wanted to go to Dr. Ford, who was above the Searcy Bank.  We heard that he did't hurt so much.  But I think Patterson was cheaper so that is where we went.

I don't remember the Ford dealer being behind the Security Bank but sure remember him being beside the bank.  In fact, I think that where the blowup shows the dealer is where the opening to the service area was later so I guess he took over all that building.  Also, when they moved to East Race after the new highway was put in to Kenset, their slogan was "Off the square but still on the level".  Some where along the way didn't he change the name to White County Motor Company?

Jul 16, 2012 10:51 AM
#4
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

Anita, weren't those blow-ups absolutely fantastic!  I loved the one with the car best.

Harold Gene, I've never seen any other pictures of the Ford Dealership downtown.  This one blown-up is a treasure.  I also have not heard of a McElwee dealership.  I always heard of W W Ford.  I may have to ask the old dealer hubby of mine.

Jul 16, 2012 10:57 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

I have it straight from the horse's mouth (Hubby) that the Ford dealership was owned by McElwee before it was owned by the Webbs.  He said the dealership went back behind the bank and came out on both the Spring Street side and the Arch Street side. 

Jul 19, 2012 12:43 PM
Mike West
Heritage Oak Properties - El Dorado Hills, CA
El Dorado Hills, CA CDPE, CNE, Licensed Loan Origi

Great photos Barbara.  I love the old photos.  Can you imagine the old speedgraphic in action?

Jul 23, 2012 05:35 AM
Anonymous
George Carder

Whitey Whitescarver was the Ford dealer after the McElwee dealership. That’s when the dealership became “Off the square but still on the level.” Ask Hubby.

Aug 27, 2019 07:15 PM
#8
Anonymous
George Carder

I love the pictures!!

Aug 27, 2019 07:17 PM
#9
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

George, it is amazing that the man who enlarged parts of the picture could do it so clearly.  These enlargements are priceless!

Aug 28, 2019 05:11 AM