National Bank of Rolla Building
Encyclopedia
The National Bank of Rolla Building was opened in March 1931 at 8th and Pine Streets in Rolla, Missouri
, midway between St. Louis
and Springfield
. Because of its architectural character and its importance in the life of the city and history of U.S. Route 66
, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2001.
Daily room rates were $2.00 for a single bed and $3.00 for a double bed, with each room's having a tub shower and radiant heat. The Edwin Long Hotel operated from 1931 until the early 1970s, when the building was purchased by the Phelps County Bank for the headquarters of its banking operation. The hotel's business slowly declined after U.S. Route 66
(now I-44
) was rerouted in the late 1950s from downtown to the northern outskirts of Rolla.
The First National Bank of Rolla was liquidated in 1933 during the Great Depression
. Rolla State Bank, which took over the bank space, occupied the northwest corner of the first floor of the building until 1963. Phelps County Bank then took over the entire building. It has continued to operate in the same location.
Phelps County Bank restored the building's exterior in 2001. It occupies the entire building, using the first floor for the bank service lobby, the second floor for the loan department, third floor for bookkeeping, and fourth floor for executive offices. The bank uses the former banquet hall on the lower level for a large board room and meeting room for bank functions. The First National Bank building has served as a centerpiece for downtown commerce in Rolla, MO since the 1930s. With Phelps County Bank, the building is still a source of regional financial services.
Over the years, many famous people stayed at the Edwin Long Hotel, including President Harry Truman
, actress Marilyn Monroe
, and actor Victor Mature
. The hotel served as the premier facility for travelers using Route 66 or the Frisco Railroad
from the 1930s through the early 1960s, when passenger railroad service stopped. Motels built on the rerouted Route 66 (I-44) during the 1950s and 1960s drew away travelers from downtown.
Rolla, Missouri
Rolla is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States, midway between the larger cities of St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. The population in the 2010 United States Census was 19,559.It is the county seat of Phelps County...
, midway between St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. Because of its architectural character and its importance in the life of the city and history of U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2001.
History
The National Bank of Rolla (1870ss-1933) occupied the northwest corner of the first floor and the Edwin Long Hotel (1931-1970s) had the remainder of the building. The basement level served as the College Inn banquet hall, with a capacity of 350. The hotel had 75 guest rooms and the Edwin Long Coffee Shop for daily dining. The hotel was located adjacent to the historic U.S. Route 66, which ran directly through Rolla, MO on 8th Street.Daily room rates were $2.00 for a single bed and $3.00 for a double bed, with each room's having a tub shower and radiant heat. The Edwin Long Hotel operated from 1931 until the early 1970s, when the building was purchased by the Phelps County Bank for the headquarters of its banking operation. The hotel's business slowly declined after U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66
U.S. Route 66 was a highway within the U.S. Highway System. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year...
(now I-44
Interstate 44
Interstate 44 is a major highway in the central United States. Its western terminus is in Wichita Falls, Texas at a concurrency with US 277, US 281 and US 287; its eastern terminus is at the Illinois state line on the Poplar Street Bridge over the Mississippi River in St...
) was rerouted in the late 1950s from downtown to the northern outskirts of Rolla.
The First National Bank of Rolla was liquidated in 1933 during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. Rolla State Bank, which took over the bank space, occupied the northwest corner of the first floor of the building until 1963. Phelps County Bank then took over the entire building. It has continued to operate in the same location.
Phelps County Bank restored the building's exterior in 2001. It occupies the entire building, using the first floor for the bank service lobby, the second floor for the loan department, third floor for bookkeeping, and fourth floor for executive offices. The bank uses the former banquet hall on the lower level for a large board room and meeting room for bank functions. The First National Bank building has served as a centerpiece for downtown commerce in Rolla, MO since the 1930s. With Phelps County Bank, the building is still a source of regional financial services.
Over the years, many famous people stayed at the Edwin Long Hotel, including President Harry Truman
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman was the 33rd President of the United States . As President Franklin D. Roosevelt's third vice president and the 34th Vice President of the United States , he succeeded to the presidency on April 12, 1945, when President Roosevelt died less than three months after beginning his...
, actress Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, and actor Victor Mature
Victor Mature
Victor John Mature was an American stage, film and television actor.-Early life:Mature was born in Louisville, Kentucky to an Italian-speaking father from the town Pinzolo, in the Italian part of the former County of Tyrol , Marcello Gelindo Maturi, later Marcellus George Mature, a cutler,...
. The hotel served as the premier facility for travelers using Route 66 or the Frisco Railroad
St. Louis-San Francisco Railway
The St. Louis – San Francisco Railway , also known as the Frisco, was a railroad that operated in the Midwest and South Central U.S. from 1876 to 1980.-History:...
from the 1930s through the early 1960s, when passenger railroad service stopped. Motels built on the rerouted Route 66 (I-44) during the 1950s and 1960s drew away travelers from downtown.