Merchants National Bank Building (Clarksburg, West Virginia)
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Historic bank building in Clarksburg, West Virginia
This article is about the historic building in Clarksburg, West Virginia. For the building in Oklahoma, see Merchants National Bank Building.
Merchants National Bank Building
Merchants National Bank Building in downtown Clarksburg (2018)
General information
Architectural style
Richardsonian Romanesque
Location
West Main Street and South Third Street, Clarksburg, West Virginia, 300 W. Main Street / 140 S. 3rd Street, Clarksburg, West Virginia
Year built
1894–1895
Technical details
Material
Sandstone, brick
Floor count
3
Design and construction
Architect
Charles L. Hickman
Merchants National Bank Building is a historic commercial building located at the corner of West Main Street and South Third Street in downtown Clarksburg, West Virginia. Designed by architect Charles L. Hickman and constructed in 1894, the three-story stone structure is a prominent example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in north-central West Virginia. The building was constructed to house Merchants National Bank, a major regional financial institution during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The structure is undergoing rehabilitation for adaptive reuse.
The present building was constructed in 1894 at the northwest corner of Main and Third streets to serve as a purpose-built banking facility. The structure was designed by local architect Charles L. Hickman.[2]
Local historical accounts identify early leadership associated with the bank, including cashier Luther Haymond, who reportedly transported bank assets to Grafton, West Virginia, for safekeeping during the American Civil War.[3]
According to compiled local history sources, in 1961 the bank’s assets were purchased by Union Bank and the building was sold to Community Savings and Loan. [3]
The building functioned as a banking facility for much of the twentieth century before later becoming partially vacant as financial operations relocated.
Architecture
The Merchants National Bank Building is a rugged Richardsonian Romanesque design that makes use of heavy masonry construction, rounded arches, and deeply recessed window openings. The building employs quarry-faced sandstone and dark red hard-pressed brick, with a corbeled cornice and parapet.[2]
The structure occupies a prominent corner site and features a rounded entrance bay, a characteristic element of urban Romanesque commercial buildings of the late nineteenth century.[2]
In 2025, the building was purchased at auction by local entrepreneur Richard Swiger.[4] Plans announced in 2026 call for rehabilitation of the structure for adaptive reuse, with a focus on ground-floor retail occupancy while preserving historic architectural features. [5]
Current use
The building is being renovated to house Cornerstone Candy, a specialty candy shop and soda fountain scheduled to open in 2026.[5]
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