Second National Bank, Wilkes Barre, PA (Charter 104)

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postcard of a 10-story bank building
The Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ca1910s. The bank was located on the northwest corner of Market and Franklin Streets. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

Second National Bank, Wilkes Barre, PA (Chartered 1863 - Open past 1935)

Town History

Photo of the old Second National Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ca2021.
Photo of the old Second National Bank Building, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ca2021. Courtesy of Google Maps

Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Luzerne County. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley, it had a population of 44,328 in 2020 Census. It is the second-largest city (after Scranton) of the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census and is the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding Wyoming Valley are framed by the Pocono Mountains to the east, the Endless Mountains to the north and west, and the Lehigh Valley to the south. The Susquehanna River flows through the center of the valley and defines the northwestern border of the city.

Wilkes-Barre was founded in 1769 and formally incorporated in 1869. The city grew rapidly in the 19th century after the discovery of nearby coal reserves and the arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who provided a labor force for the local mines. The coal mining fueled industrialization in the city, which reached the height of its prosperity in the first half of the 20th century. Its population peaked at more than 86,000 in 1930.

In 1926, Planters Peanuts Company was founded in Wilkes-Barre by two Italian immigrants. The company maintained its headquarters in the city until 1961.

Following World War II, the city's economy declined due to the collapse of industry. The Knox Mine disaster accelerated this trend after large portions of the area's coal mines were flooded and could not be reopened. Today, the city has around half of its peak population of the 1930s, making it the largest city in Luzerne County and the 13th-largest city in Pennsylvania.

Wilkes-Barre had seven National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era. Three banks used Wilkes Barre (no hyphen) as the town name: First National Bank (Ch2736), Second National Bank (Ch104), and Wyoming National Bank (Ch732). Four banks used Wilkes-Barre (with hyphen) as the town name: First National Bank (Ch30), Luzerne County National Bank (Ch9235), Miners National Bank (Ch13852), and Hanover National Bank (Ch14344). Six of these banks issued National Bank Notes; only the Hanover National Bank did not issue notes. Only the First National Bank (Ch30) issued notes using both versions of the town name, with only small National Bank Notes showing Wilkes-Barre.

Bank History

On September 19, 1863, a little more than two months after the battle of Gettysburg, a group of men met in the office of Hoyt and Loveland, lawyers of Wilkes-Barre, and signed the articles of association of the Second National Bank of Wilkes-Barre. The signers and subscribers were Thomas F. Atherton, Abram Nesbitt, Charles Parris, Samuel Hoyt, Lazarus D. Shoemaker, Benjamin F. Pfouts, M.L. Everitt, George Coray, William C. Reynolds, John Sharps, Jr., Abram R. Reynolds, Isaac Everitt, and William S. Ross. Messrs. Thomas F. Atherton and M.L. Everitt were elected president and cashier, respectively. The bank had capital of $100,000 and its first statement showed deposits of $11,780.64. The bank began business in the Chahoon Building, later the Beers building on West Market Street. In the spring of 1864 more satisfactory quarters were secured in a building on West Market Street which stood on the site of the Anthracite building and these were occupied by the bank until May 1870. At that time the bank moved to the northwest corner of Franklin and Market Streets and remained there until completion of the modern banking building.[1]

On January 12, 1864, the directors were Thos. M. Atherton, Samuel Hoyt, Abram Nesbitt, A.H. Reynolds, L.D. Shoemaker, Richard F. Walsh, Geo. Coray, John Sharpe, Jr., and M.L. Everitt. The directors re-elected T.F. Atherton, president and M.L. Everitt, cashier.[2]

In January 1869, the officers elected were as follows: T.F. Atherton, president, W.G. Sterling, vice president; M.L. Everitt, cashier; Directors, T.F. Atherton, W.G. Sterling, M.L. Everitt, L.C. Paine, H.B. Wright, Robert T. Black, Samuel Hoyt, Abram Nesbitt, R.F. Walsh, L.D. Shoemaker, Isaac Rice, Benjamin F. Pfouts, Stewert Pearce, L.C. Paine, Secretary of the Board.[3]

In January 1872, the directors were L.D. Shoemaker, L.C. Paine, Richard F. Walsh, J.B. Stark, John W. Hollenback, R.T. Black, Isaac Rice, Samuel Hoyt, Aben Nesbitt, Edward Welly, W.G. Stuting, James P. Atherton, Isaac Everitt. E.A. Spalding was selected as cashier in place of Mr. M.L. Everitt and a committee was appointed to report upon other officers.

In November 1906, the Second National Bank building was under construction and the exterior work was rapidly nearing completion. The building was 11-stories high of steel, brick and stone. The walls of the first three floors were of cut stone and were complete as were the massive columns that flanked either side of the main entrance. The building would cost about $300,000.[4]

Advertisement from September 1957 announcing the consolidation of The First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre and The Second National Bank into The First-Second National Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre.  The new institution had five offices with the main office located on 11 West Market Street, Wilkes-Barre.  There were three offices in Wilkes-Barre, one in Kingston and one in Plains.  The main office on 11 West Market Street is depicted on the right and the Public Square Office at 59 Public Square is on the left.  Also pictured are Maurice G. Shennan, Chairman of the Board and Thomas N. Kiley, President and their signatures are shown.  The banner states "Your Partner in Progress."
Advertisement from September 1957 announcing The First-Second National Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre.

In September 1924, the officers and directors were: A.G. Nesbitt, president; H.B. Schooley, vice president; W.T. Payne, vice president; W.E. Lewis, vice president and cashier; E.B. Mulligan, vice president; Sheldon Evans, assistant cashier; James Mulligan, trust officer; Anthony C. Campbell, John Flanigan, Allan P. Kirby, frederick C. Kirkendall, W.E. Lewis, James L. Morris, E.B. Mulligan, Abram G. Nesbitt, Samuel T. Nicholson, P.F. O'Neill, William T. Payne, Harry B. Schooley, A.D. Shonk, John B. Baughn, George M. Wall, and F.J. Weckesser.[5]

In January 1951, the officers re-elected by the board of directors were Wallace M. Wakefield, president; James Mulligan, executive vice president and trust officer; Sheldon Evans, vice president, cashier and secretary; George A Blewitt, R. Stewart Ferguson, Newell Rossman, assistant cashiers; W.L. Goeckel, and E.W. Mulligan, assistant trust officers; and E.H. Kent, vice president. The Second National Bank acquired the assets of the First National Bank of Kingston (Charter 12921) and planned to operate the West Side institution as a branch bank. The acquisition became effective on March 31, 1951 after approvals by stockholders and the comptroller of the currency. Robert E. Jones, executive vice president and cashier of the First National became a vice president of The Second National in charge of the Kingston Branch. Assets of the Kingston bank totaled more than $4 million and after consolidation the Second National's total resources were in excess of $33 million.[6]

In August 1957, letters were sent to all Second National shareholders signed by James Mulligan, former Second National president, reasserting the merger with the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre should be on the basis of seven shares of the joint bank for each Second National share, instead of five for one as proposed by the Second National directors. Shareholders of both banks were scheduled to vote on the merger on September 5th and they approved the consolidation and the merger was set for the close of business September 13 with operations to begin on September 16. In 1863, the First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre was chartered on June 1 and the Second National Bank on September 19. The newly-formed bank was named The First-Second National Bank and Trust Company of Wilkes-Barre with Maurice G. Shennan, Chairman of the Board and Thomas N. Kiley, President; it had capital of $2 million, surplus of $2,650,000 and demand and time deposits of over $49 million. The new institution had five offices with the main office located on 11 West Market Street, Wilkes-Barre. There were three offices in Wilkes-Barre, one in Kingston and one in Plains.[7][8][9]

In January 1971, application was made to the comptroller of the currency for approval to change The First National Bank of Wilkes-Barre to First National Bank of Eastern Pennsylvania. The change became effective on April 1, 1971.[10][11]

Succession of titles for Charter 30:

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The Second National Bank of Wilkes Barre, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

Series of 1875 $10 bank note with pen signatures of E.A. Spalding, Cashier and Adam Nesbitt, President.
Series of 1875 $10 bank note with pen signatures of E.A. Spalding, Cashier and Adam Nesbitt, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auction, www.ha.com
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of E.W. Mulligan, Cashier and Adam Nesbitt, President.
1882 Brown Back $5 bank note with printed signatures of E.W. Mulligan, Cashier and Adam Nesbitt, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight, www.lynknight.com
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of Walter E. Lewis, Cashier and H. B. Schooley, President.
1902 Plain Back $5 bank note with pen signatures of Walter E. Lewis, Cashier and H. B. Schooley, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auction, www.ha.com
1929 Type 2 bank note with printed signatures of E.B. Mulligan, Casher and Walter E. Lewis, President.
1929 Type 2 bank note with printed signatures of E.B. Mulligan, Casher and Walter E. Lewis, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $19,736,080 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1863 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 2,633,908 notes (2,140,116 large size and 493,792 small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
Original Series 4x5 1 - 10061
Original Series 4x10 1 - 11450
Original Series 2x20-50-100 1 - 1422
Series 1875 4x5 1 - 6500
Series 1875 4x10 1 - 10805
Series 1875 2x20-50-100 1 - 100
1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 46054
1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 24225
1882 Brown Back 50-100 1 - 364
1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 28500
1902 Red Seal 4x10 1 - 5875
1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 18400
1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 53750
1902 Date Back 4x10 1 - 43750
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 1300
1902 Plain Back 4x5 53751 - 211500
1902 Plain Back 4x10 43751 - 157055
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1301 - 2900
1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 39096
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 20386
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 2376
1929 Type 2 5 1 - 74560
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 35929
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 12155

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1863 - 1936):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

  • There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources

  • Wilkes Barre, PA, on Wikipedia
  • Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
  • Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
  • Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
  1. ↑ The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Fri., Sep. 19, 1924.
  2. ↑ Pittston Gazette, Pittston, PA, Fri., Jan. 29, 1864.
  3. ↑ Carbondale Advance, Carbondale, PA, Sat., Jan. 16, 1869.
  4. ↑ The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Thu., Nov. 22, 1906.
  5. ↑ The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Fri., Sep. 19, 1924.
  6. ↑ Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Wed., Jan. 31, 1951.
  7. ↑ Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Wed., Aug. 28, 1957.
  8. ↑ Jim Thorpe Times News, Jim Thorpe, PA, Sat., Sep. 7, 1957.
  9. ↑ Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mon., Sep. 16, 1957.
  10. ↑ Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mon., Jan. 18, 1971.
  11. ↑ Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Fri., Mar. 26, 1971.
  12. ↑ The Morning Press, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Sat., Nov. 16, 1974.
  13. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Tue., October 22, 1985.
  14. ↑ Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Mon., Sep. 26, 1994.
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