Metal Detecting Surprise Gives Stillwater a Little Reminder of a Lot of History
Citizens Bank Circa 1900
PHOTOS CREDITS : A Pictorial History Stillwater : One Hundred Years of Memories D . Earl Newsom , 1989
When Donna Loborec waved her metal detector over a grassy patch in downtown Stillwater , the loud , high-pitched squeal in her earphones alerted her that this was a promising place to dig ... After turning over some dry August dirt , she held a 3 inch by 3 inch plate of cast iron – and a little reminder of a lot of history .
“
This looks like the building down the street ,” Donna thought .
The artifact was indeed molded in the unique design of the Citizens Bank building of Stillwater , which stood two blocks to her north , at 109 E . Ninth Avenue , as the oldest commercial building in the city .
Another clue about the artifact were the words sculpted on its front : “ State Bank .”
The age of the item , about 125 years , was easy to estimate . Citizens Bank was only in the building from 1894 until 1900 . Then the institution moved to a larger structure at Main Street and Eighth Avenue , with a national charter and a new name , the National Bank of Commerce .
The original purpose of the artifact is less certain . Was it a premium for new Citizens Bank patrons ? Pos-
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