Glenford Bank
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Glenford Bank | |
 Southern side of the bank | |
   | |
| Location | Main and Broad Sts., Glenford, Ohio |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°53′19″N 82°19′5″W / 39.88861°N 82.31806°W |
| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1919 |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000389[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 9, 1990 |
The Glenford Bank is a historic bank in the small village of Glenford, Ohio, United States. Built in the early twentieth century, the building has served as a core component of village life for much of its history, and it has been named a historic site because of its distinctive architecture.
Glenford was founded early in the nineteenth century, but for much of its early history it was a small crossroads,[2] consisting of an unplatted small mill town at a spot where Jonathans Creek could be forded. It was not until the railroads ran through it that it began to grow.[3] By the 1910s, the village had grown to the point that some thought a bank could take its place in the community; the bank was incorporated in 1916,[2] under the presidency of George Deffenbaugh Orr,[4] and it soon began the construction of the present building. Built in 1919, the bank was situated at the intersection of Main and Broad at the heart of the village.[2] It only operated for little more than a decade before failing in 1932.[5] In later years, it served as a fire station for a time;[1] by the 1960s, it was being used as a community center, and the walls of the main meeting room had been painted to depict scenes from the community's history.[6] In 1987, the owners began to restore the building;[5] performed under the leadership of Central Ohio Technical College professor Whitney Tussing, who operated a historic preservation-oriented architecture practice in Glenford, the project saw the building turned into a residence. In later years, Tussing's work at the bank building attracted coverage with a program airing on HGTV, and Tussing himself has spoken of the bank-to-house project as one of his leading projects.[7]
Architecture
Built of brick on a brick foundation, the bank is covered by a slate roof and features various elements of stone;[8] a single-story rectangular building, its stretcher-bond walls are divided into two bays on some sides and three bays on the others. The main entrance is located in a recessed entryway at one of the corners; concrete steps provide access to the entrance, which features a rounded archway above to its panelled ceiling. A subsidiary entrance is located nearby on the southern side; it features a wooden cornice with Neoclassical ornamental urns, which together separate the transom from the fanlight. The building's exceptional Neoclassical styling is reinforced by the interior, which includes carefully worked oak wood.[2]
