Glenford Bank

Glenford Bank

Company type	Private
Industry	Banking
Founded	1916
Founder	George Deffenbaugh Orr
Defunct	1932
Headquarters	Glenford , United States
Products	Banking services

The Glenford Bank stands as a notable historic financial institution building located in the village of Glenford, Ohio. Erected in 1919, it has long served as a prominent landmark within the community and is distinguished by its unique Neoclassical design.

History

Initially established in the early 1800s, Glenford remained a modest crossroads community until the arrival of the railroad stimulated development. By the 1910s, the growing local economy justified the creation of a banking institution, which was officially incorporated in 1916 under the leadership of president George Deffenbaugh Orr. The bank’s structure was finalized in 1919 at the intersection of Main and Broad Streets, situated at the heart of the village. Unfortunately, the bank ceased operations in 1932 amid the economic turmoil of the Great Depression.

Afterward, the building was repurposed for multiple community uses, including functioning as a fire station and later transforming into a community center adorned with murals illustrating regional history. Restoration efforts commenced in 1987 under Whitney Tussing, a professor specializing in historic preservation at Central Ohio Technical College. Tussing adapted the building into a private residence, a transformation that received attention on HGTV and is considered one of his notable restoration projects.

Architecture

The bank is constructed primarily from brick set upon a brick foundation, complemented by a slate roof and stone detailing. This single-story rectangular edifice features stretcher-bond brickwork arranged into two bays on certain facades and three on others. The principal entrance is recessed at a corner, reached by concrete steps beneath a rounded archway with an intricately paneled ceiling. A secondary doorway on the southern elevation includes a wooden cornice embellished with Neoclassical urn motifs separating the transom from the fanlight above. The interior continues this Neoclassical theme, showcasing expertly crafted oak woodwork.

Historic designation

In 1990, three years following the beginning of its restoration by Whitney Tussing, Glenford Bank earned placement on the National Register of Historic Places due to its exemplary early twentieth-century Neoclassical architecture. It ranks among thirteen Perry County sites listed on the National Register and is one of two such recognized locations within Glenford itself, alongside Glenford Fort, an important Hopewellian ceremonial site nearby.