First National Bank of Lacona
Why it's listed
Standing on Harwood Drive in the commercial center of Lacona, this one-story bank was built in 1922-23 for the town's only bank, founded in 1912. Its Flemish bond red brick walls carry Indiana limestone trim, and a pedimented entry is supported by four Corinthian columns. Inside, the original marble partitions, gray marble flooring, wood moldings and vestibule ceiling survive, along with the original vault. A 1962 addition on the west side matches the original in style, scale and materials. The bank is regarded as a good small-town example of Neoclassical Revival design, meant to convey solidity and trust. It was locally owned until Merchants National Bank bought it in 1964. Charles M. Salisbury, a founder and later president, was shot and killed in a 1936 robbery attempt, after which a bandit barrier system was installed; it was removed in 1964. The building continues to operate as a bank and is a prominent part of the Lacona commercial district.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be an intact, representative example of a small-scale early twentieth-century Neoclassical Revival bank in Sandy Creek. It housed the town's only bank, a locally owned institution until 1964. It is also tied to the 1936 fatal robbery of bank officer Charles M. Salisbury, the most notorious event in the town's history.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 88002219, listed November 15, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Harwood Dr. and Salina St., Lacona |
|---|---|
| County | Oswego County |
| Listed | November 15, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002219 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a bank; condition described as good, with a 1962 west-side addition and 1964 interior remodelling. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 43.64340, -76.06913 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 88002219.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5453406
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.