National Bank of Rolla Building
| Industry | Banking, Hospitality (historically) |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 1931 |
| Successor | Phelps County Bank (current occupant) |
| Headquarters | Rolla , United States |
Area served | Rolla, Missouri and surrounding region |
| Products | Banking services (current), hotel accommodations (historical) |
| Owner | Phelps County Bank |
| Website | www |
The National Bank of Rolla Building commenced operations in March 1931, situated at the intersection of 8th and Pine Streets in Rolla, Missouri, strategically located between St. Louis and Springfield. Esteemed for its architectural value and its connection to the legacy of U.S. Route 66, it earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
History
Occupying the northwest corner of the ground floor from the 1870s until 1933, the National Bank of Rolla shared the premises with the Edwin Long Hotel, which operated from 1931 through the 1970s across the remainder of the building. The basement level contained the College Inn banquet hall, capable of hosting up to 350 attendees. The hotel offered 75 guest rooms alongside the Edwin Long Coffee Shop. Positioned on 8th Street adjacent to U.S. Route 66, it primarily served motorists traveling this vital route.
Guests paid $2.00 for single accommodations and $3.00 for double rooms, each equipped with tub showers and radiant heating systems. The Edwin Long Hotel remained in business until the early 1970s, after which Phelps County Bank acquired the structure to establish its headquarters. The hotel's downturn was influenced by the rerouting of Route 66 in the late 1950s (now I-44), which diverted traffic away from downtown Rolla.
The First National Bank of Rolla ceased operations during the Great Depression in 1933. Subsequently, Rolla State Bank occupied the banking space until 1963, when Phelps County Bank assumed control over the entire building and continues to maintain its presence there today.
In 2001, Phelps County Bank undertook restoration efforts on the building’s exterior and currently utilizes all floors: customer service functions on the first level, loan departments on the second, bookkeeping on the third, and executive offices on the fourth floor. The former banquet hall has been repurposed into a boardroom and meeting area. This facility continues to serve as a key financial institution in the region and remains central to downtown commerce.
Distinguished visitors at the Edwin Long Hotel included President Harry S. Truman, actress Marilyn Monroe, and actor Victor Mature. It was a favored accommodation choice for travelers along Route 66 as well as passengers of the Frisco Railroad until passenger rail operations ceased in the early 1960s. Later motels established along the rerouted Route 66 (I-44) drew business away from downtown establishments.
References
- Bradbury, John F. Rolla. The Old Town. 2002.
- Clair V Mann Collection. University of MO-Rolla Archives.
- Edwin Long, The New Hotel. 1931.
- Rolla Daily News, 20 May 2001.
- "Rolla, Missouri, the Convention City of the Ozarks". Rolla Chamber of Commerce, 1931.
- The Rolla New Era, various issues 1930–1931.
- St. Louis Globe Democrat Magazine, 12 Oct. 1952.
- "The Early Years of Route 66." The Phelps County Historical Society Oct. 1993.
- "Total Customer Service - Phelps County Bank." Inc: the Magazine for Growing Companies, Jan. 1994.
External links
- Buildings and structures on U.S. Route 66
- Commercial buildings completed in 1931
- Rolla, Missouri
- Buildings and structures in Phelps County, Missouri
- Bank buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Missouri
- National Register of Historic Places in Phelps County, Missouri
- 1931 establishments in Missouri