An
OKGenWeb Project
Contributed by: Otis Lamont Frost, Jr.
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The Southern National Bank of Wynnewood
The picture is probably of the second bank to be organized in Wynnewood
and was called
"The Southern National Bank" of Wynnewood. It was granted a Charter in March,
1901 with a capital of $50,000.00.
Among the first stockholders was H. D. Knight (possible older brother of T. L.
Knight) In May
1902 H. D. KNIGHT was elected Vice-President of the bank. January 1903 the bank
purchased Lot No. 7, Block No. 207, on the corner of Main and Commercial and that year
constructed a bank building (probably the building in the picture). In 1906 T.
L. KNIGHT
was elected Assistant Cashier and in 1910 elected Cashier.
On June 1, 1914 T. L. Knight resigned (that may be when he moved to another town in OK and
opened a drug store.
The very stout man in the Teller window is my grandfather T. L. Knight (note he has no left arm and also appears young). The framed pictures I can read using a 10 power glass state: 1.Over Teller window: Protected Against Burglary and Robbery Bankers Mutual Casualty Co. then four lines I cannot read 2. Sign to our right of the Teller window: Endorse CHECKS Before Presenting 3. Sign to our left under the cougar: Ask for Accomodation Where You Keep Your Deposits
The back of the picture is made up as a Post Card with the usual designated places for a stamp, address, and correspondence. I have no idea who the other gentlemen in the picture are. I think the above street names have been changed and are now called; Robert S. Kerr Blvd. (a former U. S. Senator from Oklahoma who died of a heart attack while in office in the early 1960's), Dean A. McGee Ave. (who I presume is the other person in the oil refinery at Wynnewood owned by the Kerr McGee Oil Co.)
In earlier days the main corporation was the Southland Cotton Oil Company which went broke in the great depression that started in the late 1920ties. It has been completely demolished but was located, I think, at the southwest corner of McGee Ave and South St.
The last time I was in Wynnewood was in 1988, as I recall, and the lapse before that was about 60 years, so there could be changes.