First Bank of Vale
| Company type | Bank (historic) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Founder | Milton Hope, Isiah Hope |
| Fate | Building repurposed; bank operations ceased in original building |
| Headquarters | Vale , United States |
Area served | Vale, Oregon |
Key people | Milton Hope, Isiah Hope |
| Products | Financial services (historical) |
| Owner | Private (at time of NRHP listing), later Malheur County Historical Society (agreement 2018) |
The First Bank of Vale stands as a landmark structure in Vale, Oregon, erected in 1901 using native stone sourced from nearby quarries by pioneering siblings Milton and Isiah Hope. This modest two-story edifice is a representative example of vernacular Richardson Romanesque design and was officially recognized on the National Register of Historic Places on March 5, 1992.
History
As the earliest established settlement along the Oregon Trail within Malheur County, Oregon, Vale’s initial permanent buildings—including the First Bank of Vale—were constructed from local sandstone around the early 1900s; brick structures began to appear starting in 1906. The town’s growth gained momentum following the erection of the 1872 stone hotel, presently known as the Old Stone House. After three elections, Vale secured its status as Malheur County’s permanent county seat, culminating in the completion of a courthouse in 1902. The First Bank of Vale was founded in 1901 during the courthouse’s construction and became the first financial institution in the town to operate from a dedicated permanent building.
The Hope brothers, who were both original land claimants and accomplished stonemasons, constructed the bank and played key roles as businessmen supporting the courthouse financing. It is believed that one brother acted as the principal builder or architect. The bank was incorporated on June 17, 1901, with an initial capital of $50,000 and quickly surpassed competitors such as The First National Bank. In 1908, the bank expanded by developing the Drexel Hotel—a three-story structure also listed on the National Register—and subsequently sold the original bank building back to the Hope brothers.
By approximately 1906, the original bank building was adapted for office and retail purposes until its conversion into residential apartments during the 1930s or 1940s. Ownership changed hands multiple times afterward; at one stage, Fred Burgess initiated a museum project there when it was referred to as the Burgess Building. Following its use as a private home, the property eventually became vacant. At the time it was added to the National Register, it remained under private ownership and preserved much of its initial materials and architectural integrity.
Setting
Following the construction of the Old Stone House in 1872, additional frame structures such as a stable and blacksmith shop were established. The Hope Brothers Mercantile (also known as the Hope Brothers Building) was built in 1893. Together with the First Bank of Vale, these buildings comprised Vale’s downtown core, all situated along a single block facing the Oregon Trail. The property occupies the northern 28.75 feet of Lot 3, Block 24 within Vale’s Original Plat, measuring 28.75 by 94 feet. This urban parcel has been home to the First Bank of Vale since its establishment in 1901.
Located at 148 Main Street South (zip code 97918) on the east side of Main Street facing west, this building exemplifies local vernacular architecture influenced by Richardson Romanesque style. It forms part of a group of structures built between 1895 and 1907 that share common materials and architectural influences from Romanesque and Italianate styles. Despite its relatively small size, the bank maintains a notable presence and architectural significance within the area.
Building
This two-level edifice is constructed predominantly from local stone, with the exception of four brick chimneys. Attributed to the Hope Brothers, the superior quality stone masonry was completed in less than three months. The building’s dimensions are 22 feet in width and 40 feet in length. Its primary structure consists of randomly ranged dressed sandstone laid over rubble masonry, with exterior walls measuring 16 inches thick, bonded using lime and sand mortar. The front elevation showcases rock-cut masonry accented by prominent Romanesque trim features. A stepped parapet conceals the flat roof above. Stone sourced from a quarry just south of Vale was used not only here but also transported to various other towns.
Facade
The facade ascends vertically, capped by a coping course and a centrally positioned triangular pediment topped with a ball finial. The design is symmetrical, featuring two large Roman-arched windows on the second floor and a three-part arcade on the ground level. This arcade includes a door at the southern end flanked by two storefront windows, all unified by Romanesque archivolts, textured voussoirs, and rock-faced lobular pendants emerging from imposts. The windows rest on substantial rock-faced lug sills. The door with windows incorporates a transom containing a round-headed light; first-floor windows are fitted with stained glass fanlight transoms; upper-floor double-hung sash windows are crowned by round-headed transoms. A distinctive pinnacle with pedestal and ball adorns the top of the facade, giving it an authoritative appearance characteristic of banks exhibiting strong Romanesque style.
Other elevations
On the building’s south side, a staircase was removed and the upstairs door converted into a window around 1906. This side remains mostly unchanged, featuring a parapet wall constructed of uncoursed rubble fill with granite lintels and dressed stone facings. The north elevation is similarly built but partially obscured on the first floor by an adjoining structure. It contains two steel-framed windows on the upper floor, each with twenty-four panes measuring approximately 4 by 8 feet; these are likely later additions rather than original features.
The rear ground level is hidden behind a 22 by 60-foot cinder block extension added in 1980, into which the original rear ground-floor door now opens. An original freight door with a seven-foot granite lintel—once about five feet tall—has been sealed and covered by this addition, possibly due to repairs on the lintel. On the second story, an original door opening onto the extension’s roof suggests there was once a rear staircase. One second-floor window on this elevation has been permanently closed with cement. The base walls are composed of uncoursed random rubble with dressed facings; both north and south walls extend 2 to 3 feet above the roofline. The initial roof structure is now overlaid with asphalt roll roofing.
Interior
Around 1906, significant interior renovations were undertaken that included adding an internal staircase and likely installing plumbing and electrical systems. Outhouses located beneath the external stairs were removed and replaced by an indoor bathroom built beneath the new stairs, with sewer piping running from the second floor. To illuminate a front room, a six-pane opaque interior window was installed. On the upper floor, a bathroom was constructed, and a wall was relocated; it is probable that at this time the rear opening lintel was also repaired.
Additional alterations during the 1930s or 1940s involved subdividing rooms upstairs, adding windows along the north wall, sealing off one rear second-floor window and a large rear opening, and converting one rear second-floor room into a kitchen equipped with a concrete chimney. In the 1970s, crude renovations were made to reinforce fire-damaged second-floor joists by doubling them up. These modifications concealed some original elements but did not remove them entirely. An effort to convert the building into a museum led to installing wire mesh on windows and constructing the cinder block addition; in 1980, a concrete slab was poured over the original floor for this purpose. Later use as a private residence prompted partial remodeling that removed many previous changes. At the time of its listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the interior was cluttered with debris and in need of roof repairs.
Despite these numerous changes and some deterioration, much of the initial interior design and detailing still survives intact.
Preservation
In 2018, the Malheur County Historical Society reached an agreement to acquire the First National Bank of Vale from Steven Reynolds, the owner at the time it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and who had prepared its nomination. The purchase price was set at . The society intends to rehabilitate the structure to serve as their headquarters. Bob Butler contributed the down payment of , while restoration expenses are projected to total approximately . As of , fundraising efforts were underway to finance an engineering assessment that will assist in directing the renovation work.
See also
External links
- History, City of Vale, Oregon
- Malheur Country Historical Society