Home State Bank – Longton

Most of those who have traveled to the town of Longton, whether that be to visit the Longton Tiny Jail that is on our Abandoned Atlas Travel Map or for other reasons end up spotting this shell brick building. This was the Home State Bank – Longton branch, but it wasn’t always this.

Home National Bank – Longton 1918-1934

October of 1917 the plans for this building were finally coming to fruition when the Home National Bank purchased the lot on Gates Corner at 5th and Main Street. A contract was let to Harry Duckworth for the erection of a one-story 22 x 54-foot brick bank building. Materials were shipped and work was expected to progress rapidly.

Arguably the most important piece of the bank, the safe, was delivered in February of 1918. A “burglar-proof” Mosler Safe Co. safe. Soon after the furniture for the building arrived, the building was finally coming together to prepare for the grand opening a few weeks out. The public was invited to celebrate the institution at the grand opening on Saturday, March 2nd, 1918. The party lasted all night with music, souvenirs and games.

Other improvements continued to be made throughout the year. Oddly another new safe was delivered and installed on a Wednesday in June. Whether this was an additional safe or to replace the “burglar-proof” Mosler safe is unknown at this time. An awning was added in August.

This new building was a testimony of the prosperity that the Home National Bank organization had experienced in the city. The officers at the time included: President Geo. E. Cox, Cashier W.A. Cox, and Assistant Cashier O.H. Worley.

While the turnover rate for staff at the bank was very very low it did happen occasionally. Claude Cox left here for a higher banking position at a Seneca, MO bank. Mr. F.E. McCurdy was hired in 1924 as the bank teller. He came in with 8-10 years of experience in the banking business already. Lee H. Rowley came in as the assistant cashier in 1926.

But perhaps the biggest change in the organization was when Geo. E. Cox and his son W.A. Cox sold a majority of their stock in the organization to O.T. Hayward and his two sons in 1925. The Coxs were to follow Claude Cox to Seneca, MO, and join him at the banking institution there. This marked the end of an era as Geo. Cox had been President of the institution with his sons by his side for years.

Home State Bank – Longton 1934-1992

About a decade after the Cox family left and around the time of the Great Depression when most banks were failing, the Home National Bank – Longton was establishing a new life for itself as the Home State Bank – Longton. It was capitalized at $25,000 under the state charter.

Bank Robberies

The first bank robbery I could find that happened in this building was back in 1921 when it was still under the Home National Bank- Longton name. It was March when some robbers visited the bank and thankfully for the institution were only able to make it out with a few pennies. They continued on to the Davis & Chandler store where they were more successful making out with about $400 worth of goods.

Another outbreak of robberies in January 1959 had the Home State Bank – Longton as a victim. Four counties had been hit, safecrackers used a cutting torch taken in a previous burglary to break into the vault of the bank. They were able to make out with $1,099 in silver but were unable to open the vault’s inner safe. Twelve safety deposit boxes were rifled through and $150 was stolen from them.

The most notable burglary of the Home State Bank – Longton was on July 2, 1962. Not because a huge amount was taken, in fact, the guilty party made out with not a single dime. But because it was a highly publicized case. After a thorough investigation, 37-year-old Wichita attorney Robert Lomax was arrested and charged with 3 federal counts of bank burglary.

During the trial, his mother, aunt and uncle testified that he was at a funeral in Topeka on the day the three burglaries occurred. They entered into evidence a log from the funeral with his alleged signature. A federal handwriting expert determined and testified that the handwriting did not match Lomax’s therefore it couldn’t be his. Lomax was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison but while he was out waiting on his appeal he and his family died in a private plane crash.

Bank Closure 1992

The Kansas Banking Department ordered the Home State Bank – Longton to close on June 4, 1992. They said the bank was insolvent because losses had exceeded the bank’s capital. The FDIC Board of Directors issues a payoff to insured depositors at the bank because no acceptable bids were received for the failed bank. At the time of closing the bank had 1,011 deposits totalling about $3.9 million. The Home State Bank was the first failed bank in Kansas that year. The FDIC said it was the 56th in the nation to close.

While the exact date of abandonment isn’t known the building greatly deteriorated after 2014. It seemed the roof must have been in pretty bad shape as it caved in much quicker than I am used to.

Restoration 2022

City of Longton Mayor Cathy Mitchell purchased the building around 2021 with the intention of restoring the building to its former glory. Her first act of business was to clear out the building to create a perfect shell. The roof having caved in had to be completely cleared out. The second was acquiring a PSIQ from the State Historic Preservation Office. Upon their study, they “put a pin in determining eligibility” for the State and Nation Registers due to the fact that the roof had caved in. In order to determine eligibility the roof would have to return to the state it was in prior to the collapse.

Gallery Below of Home State Bank – Longton

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