Banks
Updated - 06/04/2023
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Auburn has had only a few banks during its existence, but they are mentioned separately due to the important role they play in a community. Banks are perceived to be a safe, solid and secure place for people to keep their money and other assets, but on at least one occasion a bank in Auburn became nothing more than a very bad memory for those residents whose deposits were accepted by the bank management even though the manager allegedly knew the bank was scheduled to close permanently due to the Stock Market crash preceding the Great Depression. Many residents lost their hard- earned life's savings due to this immoral act.
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AUBURN'S THREE BANKS IN ALPHABETICAL (AND CHRONOLOGICAL) ORDER:
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AUBURN
PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL BANK
UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AUBURN
PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL BANK
UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
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FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AUBURN
The First National Bank of Auburn was the first official bank facility within the town of Auburn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The bank occupied a previously existing structure located at 133 Market Street. The exact date of the building's construction can be found on a masonry stone placed prominently on the facade of the structure with a date of 1885. Based on the accompanying symbols, it is possible that the building was constructed as a meeting hall for one of the early social organizations in town. It is known that prior to the bank's occupancy, an unidentified restaurant inhabited the building (see pictures below).
The bank is believed to have opened for business no later than the Fall of 1908 with a business capital of $25,000. Auburn businessman William G. Faust was one of the bank's organizers. Another Auburn businessman, William Henry Diefenderfer, also was one of the bank's organizers and subsequently became the original president of the bank from 1908 until his death in January of 1914. Auburn business man Harry R. Carl was one of the bank's organizers and became the original Vice-President of the bank in 1908, serving in that position until January of 1914 when he succeeded Willaim Henry Diefenderfer as President upon Diefenderfer's death. A listing of employees of the bank in 1908 included a "F. J. Voss" as Cashier. A telegram sent on October 24, 1913 indicates that a "F. J. Vess (Voss)" was employed as a cashier at the bank at that time (apparently the same individual with a misspelled surname on one of the two occasions. The bank served the community well for over two decades until the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent depression struck.
After the bank closed its doors permanently, the building was later occupied by Leroy "Scrappy" Staller and his wife Suri Keeney Staller. They operated an ice cream parlor/restaurant out of the building. The Auburn Band used the top floor of the building for band practices. The conductor of the band was Leroy "Scrappy" Staller. The structure was later repurposed as a private residence. The safe for the bank is believed to still rest in the basement of the building. Unfortunately, the building has fallen into a state of disrepair and will most likely require demolition when the current occupants vacate the premises.
The bank is believed to have opened for business no later than the Fall of 1908 with a business capital of $25,000. Auburn businessman William G. Faust was one of the bank's organizers. Another Auburn businessman, William Henry Diefenderfer, also was one of the bank's organizers and subsequently became the original president of the bank from 1908 until his death in January of 1914. Auburn business man Harry R. Carl was one of the bank's organizers and became the original Vice-President of the bank in 1908, serving in that position until January of 1914 when he succeeded Willaim Henry Diefenderfer as President upon Diefenderfer's death. A listing of employees of the bank in 1908 included a "F. J. Voss" as Cashier. A telegram sent on October 24, 1913 indicates that a "F. J. Vess (Voss)" was employed as a cashier at the bank at that time (apparently the same individual with a misspelled surname on one of the two occasions. The bank served the community well for over two decades until the stock market crash of 1929 and subsequent depression struck.
After the bank closed its doors permanently, the building was later occupied by Leroy "Scrappy" Staller and his wife Suri Keeney Staller. They operated an ice cream parlor/restaurant out of the building. The Auburn Band used the top floor of the building for band practices. The conductor of the band was Leroy "Scrappy" Staller. The structure was later repurposed as a private residence. The safe for the bank is believed to still rest in the basement of the building. Unfortunately, the building has fallen into a state of disrepair and will most likely require demolition when the current occupants vacate the premises.
First National Bank - Advertised as "Your Home Bank" and promoted "3 to 4 Per Cent Paid on Time Deposits" plus "Safe Deposit Boxes for Rent - $2.00 per year"; claiming it was "Insured" and using a slogan of "You Boost Auburn when you use this bank" circa 1924 advertisement.
First National Bank of Auburn's list of known employees:
Adams, J. H. (Director in 1914)
Carl, Harry Robert (Organizer - initial Vice-President from 1908-1914; President from 1914 - ?)
Diefenderfer, William Henry (Organizer and original President from 1908-1914)
Fahl, John Howard (Director from 1911 until at least 1916)
Faust, F. A. (possibly Francis Albert Faust b. 1862 - d. 1930) (Director in 1914)
Faust, William G. (Organizer - 1908)
Fidler, George J. (Associate board member)
Frederici, Joseph (Director in 1914)
Ketner, W. B. (Director in 1914)
Koerper, H. H. (possibly Harry Harmon Koerper b. 1875 - d. 1950) (Cashier in 1914)
Robinhold, (Dr.) Lewis Charles (Vice-President in 1914)
Sallade, (Dr.) James W. (Vice-President)
Vess (Voss), F. J. (Cashier from 1908 until at least 1913)
Adams, J. H. (Director in 1914)
Carl, Harry Robert (Organizer - initial Vice-President from 1908-1914; President from 1914 - ?)
Diefenderfer, William Henry (Organizer and original President from 1908-1914)
Fahl, John Howard (Director from 1911 until at least 1916)
Faust, F. A. (possibly Francis Albert Faust b. 1862 - d. 1930) (Director in 1914)
Faust, William G. (Organizer - 1908)
Fidler, George J. (Associate board member)
Frederici, Joseph (Director in 1914)
Ketner, W. B. (Director in 1914)
Koerper, H. H. (possibly Harry Harmon Koerper b. 1875 - d. 1950) (Cashier in 1914)
Robinhold, (Dr.) Lewis Charles (Vice-President in 1914)
Sallade, (Dr.) James W. (Vice-President)
Vess (Voss), F. J. (Cashier from 1908 until at least 1913)
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PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL BANK
The Pennsylvania National Bank branch office building, located at 101 S. Front Street, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA, was constructed on the site of a previous store building which was operated by John Ramer and his wife Beulah A. Heffner Fehr Ramer . The structures on the property were torn down and the prime location lot was then used for the erection of the bank building. The building was constructed circa 1956.
Harry Webber, prior President of the Auburn Lions Club, conducted the flag raising ceremony at the grand opening celebration, while Fritz Schwenk, current Presdient of the Auburn Lions Club, cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Perhaps the most notable event in the bank branch office occurred when an armed robber attempted to steal approximately $5,000 in cash from the bank but was foiled by a quick-thinking clerk who placed an explosive dye-packet into the funds. The packet exploded outside of the bank. The robber abandoned the tainted money and fled the scene. The Pennsylvania National Bank branch office in Auburn eventually closed and became the Union Bank and Trust branch office site.
Harry Webber, prior President of the Auburn Lions Club, conducted the flag raising ceremony at the grand opening celebration, while Fritz Schwenk, current Presdient of the Auburn Lions Club, cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Perhaps the most notable event in the bank branch office occurred when an armed robber attempted to steal approximately $5,000 in cash from the bank but was foiled by a quick-thinking clerk who placed an explosive dye-packet into the funds. The packet exploded outside of the bank. The robber abandoned the tainted money and fled the scene. The Pennsylvania National Bank branch office in Auburn eventually closed and became the Union Bank and Trust branch office site.
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UNION BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
The Union Bank and Trust Company branch office was the most recent, and perhaps will be the last, bank facility to operate within the Auburn area. The Union Bank and Trust company occupied the previously tenanted Pennsylvania National Bank branch office building. Due to a decrease of both businesses and industry within the Auburn area, the branch office permanently closed for business.