The oldest brick building in West Plains, Missouri: the historic West Plains Bank Building

Historic West Plains Bank Building, Howell County, Missouri.Photo byDoncram, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The historic West Plains Bank Building is at 107 Washington Avenue in West Plains, Missouri (Howell County). The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 7, 2001. It was also included in the Courthouse Square Historic District in West Plains in 2003.

This two-story building was constructed in 1883. It's a narrow commercial building designed with Italianate-style features. There were rear additions built in 1913 and 1923. Next door to this building is the W.J. and Ed Smith Building, also listed on the National Register.

This building has served as a place of commerce and a restaurant. The foundation is stone and the walls are brick. The building was designed and built by G.W. Goodlander, a contractor from Fort Scott, Kansas. According to the Redfin real estate website, the building was last sold on June 26, 2020.

This red brick building was home to the first bank in West Plains for six years. Throughout its long history, it has been used for commercial purposes. It's also the oldest brick building that still exists. It was built in the year the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad line made it to West Plains.

During the Civil War, West Plains was looted, abandoned, and burned to the ground. After the war, with former residents returning and new settlers arriving, West Plains was rebuilt. It was a booming town once the railroad arrived.

On April 10, 1883, some prominent West Plains citizens got together to organize the West Plains Bank. They also knew how important it would be to have the railroad affecting the growth of their town.

Not too long after the bank was constructed, the first brick courthouse was built. From 1883 to 1890, West Plains Bank was the only bank in town. As the area continued to prosper, the bank grew quickly so much so that it outgrew its building. A new larger bank was built at the Courthouse Square in 1916.

Fast forward to 1978, the bank relocated across the street to a more modern building. Today, the West Plains Bank is still serving the community. After the bank left the 107 Washington Avenue location, the building housed a saloon from 1889-1896. After 1910, it housed the Van Meter Restaurant.

By 1924, the building was a retail store. From the 1940s to the mid-1980s, it was an auto parts store. It has also been a thrift shop and ice cream parlor.

When the second floor collapsed in the building in 2000, that floor was being used for storage and the first floor was vacant. The floor collapsed due to excess weight being stored. The windows and door trim were the only original interior features left on the second floor.

When the floor collapsed, the building was slated for demolition. The owner at the time it was nominated for the National Register rehabilitated the building. Had the building been demolished, it might have become a parking lot which is the case with many other buildings that are razed.

Today, the building houses Dixie Soul Western Boutique, a clothing store.

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