Middletown National Bank, Part Two

Middletown National Bank, the fifth of its kind established in the United States, was the topic of my column last evening. It was located in 1801 on Main Street in the home of Nehemiah Hubbard (the bank's second president) until the bank built its new place in 1813 on the site today occupied by Bank of America.

The bank was for everyday people, but the real business was in commercial notes, bills of trade and supplying mortgages for real estate.  It provided the money to build the Middletown Woolen Manufacturing Co. factory building in 1810.

In 1855-56 the bank replaced its earlier building with a newer structure made of brownstone on the same site, between Nehemiah's stately, columned home and the large courthouse. It cost $15,400 to build. The Middletown Bank went national (adding it to its name) in 1865.

Even though Middletown National bank was enlarged in 1893, the structure was just not big enough for the growing bank. In 1917 the old bank was demolished and a new, modern facility built. This is the stone structure now standing at 267 Main St.

Of course, the business over the years grew to include checking accounts, trust services, safe-deposit boxes, car loans, and the other aspects of modern banking. But the best addition was the drive-up window added to the back of the building, on what was then County Lane, shown here. How modern! If you go the walkway that connects Court and College streets, you can still see the outline of the drive-up.

In 1957, only six years after celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Middletown National Bank was sold to the Connecticut Bank and Trust Co., which occupied the building for more than 30 years. Fleet Bank bought the building in 1992 and still technically owns the bank. Can I assume Bank of America gobbled up Fleet Bank?

The Middletown National Bank was located in the block between Court and Main from 1801 until 1957, and the current building has graced that block for more than 90 years. It is a local treasure.