Crook County Bank Building
| Company type | Bank (historical) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | 1910 |
| Defunct | 1930s (during the Great Depression) |
| Fate | Bank failed during the Great Depression; building repurposed |
| Headquarters | Prineville , United States |
| Products | Banking services (historical) |
The Crook County Bank is a notable historic banking edifice situated in Prineville, Oregon, United States. Erected in 1910 utilizing stone blocks sourced locally, the building originally operated as a bank and later accommodated a title and insurance office until 1971. Subsequently, ownership passed to Crook County, which repurposed the structure as a museum dedicated to local history. Presently, it functions as the home of the A. R. Bowman Memorial Museum. Due to its historical relevance to Prineville, the building is officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
History
The Crook County Bank Building was constructed in 1910 and opened its doors in 1911, initially serving as the premises for three different banks over time: starting with Crook County Bank, then the Bank of Prineville, and finally the Prineville National Bank. The last institution failed during the economic hardships of the Great Depression. Afterward, A. R. Bowman purchased the property to operate his title and insurance enterprises there from 1935 until his passing in 1970.
In 1971, the Bowman family gifted the building to Crook County for its conversion into a museum space. The A. R. Bowman Memorial Museum is managed by the Crook County Historical Society under an agreement with the county government. Initially maintained by volunteers with utilities funded by the county, subsequent voter-approved tax levies in 1976, 1988, and 1998 provided financial resources for staffing, utility costs, insurance, upkeep, and capital improvements. These funds facilitated a significant renovation project completed in 1992. Additionally, in 2000, the museum obtained a grant from Oregon’s State Historic Preservation Office to replace the roof.
Reflecting Prineville’s growth during the early 1900s, this bank building’s architectural distinction and historical value earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places on June 19, 1991.
Structure
Situated at Third and Main Street in Prineville, Oregon, the Crook County Bank is a two-story structure designed in the Romanesque architectural style and built in 1910 from stone quarried locally—the same material used for constructing the nearby Crook County Courthouse. Following acquisition by the Crook County Historical Society, an additional staircase was installed; however, much of the interior preserves its original banking room characteristics: bronze teller cages, marble counters, etched art-glass panels, chandeliers made of gilt and alabaster, along with mahogany wood paneling—all indicative of its distinguished early twentieth-century banking environment.
Bowman Museum
Currently occupying the former bank building is the A. R. Bowman Memorial Museum, operated by the Crook County Historical Society. This museum maintains the authentic interior design while presenting exhibits focused on Crook County’s heritage such as the City of Prineville Railroad, regional timber industries, and military history. Its collections include pioneer-era artifacts, historical photographs, period furniture, and clothing. The research room houses approximately 700 reference volumes pertaining to Oregon’s history to aid scholarly study of local industrial development and pioneer ancestry. Additionally, a gift shop offers publications related to local history along with commemorative items.
External links
- Commercial buildings completed in 1910
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon
- Romanesque Revival architecture in Oregon
- Prineville, Oregon
- Buildings and structures in Crook County, Oregon
- National Register of Historic Places in Crook County, Oregon
- 1910 establishments in Oregon