Old Houston National Bank
a.k.a. Franklin Bank
202 Main St., Houston, TXThe old Houston National Bank, designed by Hedrick and Gottlieb and constructed in 1928, is an excellent example of the Neo-Classical style and was perhaps the most impressive bank building in Houston then. The lavish structure represents the wealthy banking interest in Houston prior to the Stock Market Crash. The exterior is virtually intact and the elaborately detailed interior has been only slightly altered.
The Houston National Bank was first chartered as a National Bank in 1889, as successor to the FOX Bank, a private Bank organized in 1876. The name was changed to the Houston National Exchange Bank in 1909, and to the Houston National Bank in 1923. At the close of 1926, the bank was purchased by R. S. Sterling and Associates, and a new directorate was chosen. The new ownership came about as a result of a bank merger and the Houston National Bank became one of the largest Houston banks. C. S. E. Holland was chosen as the first president, while Sterling acted as the Chairman of the Houston National Bank Board. Sterling had been one of the founders of Humble Oil and Refining Company, Chairman of the Harris County Navigation Board, and Chairman of the Texas Highway Commission. Under new leadership, the Board decided that their facilities were inadequate and made plans for a new banking house to be located in Houston's financial center. The Directors decided to erect a building. which would serve only as a banking house and office for the Houston National Bank. The firm of Hedrick and Gottlieb was chosen as architects. In September 1928, the Houston National Bank moved into its new facilities and was located at 202 Main until 1964.
Following a merger with Tennessee Bank and Trust Company in 1964, the Houston National Bank moved to the Tenneco Building at 1010 Milam. Only a few months after the building was vacated, a new banking institution, the Downtown Bank, was incorporated. On February 25, 1965, they moved to the old Houston National Bank Building at 202 Main St. In 1970 the bank restored the interior and renamed the Franklin Bank. However, in March 1975, the Franklin Bank went into receivership and the building has been vacant since that time. Local preservationists are concerned about the future of the building and hope that the National Register designation will encourage preservation efforts.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.