Richardson Building - Union City, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 35° 23.512 W 097° 56.477
14S E 596148 N 3917015
Built in 1910, this building once housed the bank, post office and Dr. Richard's pharmacy.
Waymark Code: WMYJHJ
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 06/20/2018
Views: 1
This is a one-story brick building which has been painted white in the past and is quite weathered. The building stands on the northeast corner of Division St. and Kate Boevers St., across from the school. The entrance at the southwest corner is canted. The double wood doors stand between two brick columns which have pointed stone caps. Above the doors, five rows of brick form an arch, with a painted area reading "BANK". Above this, the columns rise above the roof line, which has a raised pediment with the date "1910". Rows of corbelled brick embellish the upper wall on the south and west sides. On the west, a pole-supported tin shed roof covered a walkway. To the east, a storefront has a deeply recessed entrance which still has its pressed tin ceiling. The entire building stands vacant and boarded up at this time.
The Bank of Union was chartered in 1900, beginning in a wood building in town when it was Oklahoma Territory, seven years before statehood. In 1910, Dr. Richardson built this brick bank building, and the bank operated here for sixty-seven years until a new bank was constructed in 1977.
Dr. Richardson (1869-1957) was a focal person in Union City history, serving as a doctor, then later as a druggist, banker, postmaster, and mayor. He was the Oklahoma State Banking Commissioner for 6 years, and even a possible candidate for Governor. This bank buiding was placed on the National Register in 1983.
