Old Merchants and Farmers Bank Building
Also known as: Old Public Library
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Why it's listed
Built in 1902 on South Main Street in downtown Emporia, this small brick building began as a bank. It has one story, a concave mansard roof, a yellow brick front with red brick inserts, and a galvanized sheet-metal cornice with paired brackets and a pediment dated 1902. The cornice may have come from H. T. Klugel, a local sheet metal firm known for decorative cornices. The bank outgrew the space by 1914 and moved, and the building became law offices for Etheldred Peyton Turner. In 1948 the town bought it for the public library, founded by the Woman's Club in 1931. After a new library opened in 1977, the building was deeded to the Greensville County Historical Society for a headquarters, museum and archives. The nomination values it as a compact example of early twentieth-century commercial design whose exterior remains largely as built, even though the interior was altered for later uses.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building exemplifies how even very small early twentieth-century commercial buildings carried architectural elaboration, acting as a miniature of larger turn-of-the-century stores and office blocks. Its exterior is essentially unchanged since 1902, and its galvanized sheet-metal cornice is typical of the work of local sheet metal maker H. T. Klugel. The contrast of red and yellow brick within a classical vocabulary adds to its urban character.
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 79003278, listed May 7, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S. Main St., Emporia (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Emporia |
| Listed | May 7, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003278 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Interior was in neglect and disrepair at the time of nomination; the Greensville County Historical Society, which received the building in 1977, was considering restoration for use as headquarters, museum and archives. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.68487, -77.54277 (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 79003278.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15263825
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.