Union Block: Crying over spilled buildings

There's no point in crying over spilled buildings, but I still miss this grand structure that once presided over the northwest corner of Chariton's square at the intersection of Main Street and Braden Avenue. It was known originally as the Union Block; in later years as the "Red Bank," even though the bank occupied only two-thirds of the first floor.

Built in 1881, it was constructed and owned by three entities. Chariton's Masonic lodge built and owned the south third with lodge rooms on the high-ceilinged third floor, reached by staircases that ensured Masons of the day kept in shape. The middle section was built and owned by the Chariton Odd Fellows lodge which, again, operated out of third-floor lodge rooms that extended over the north third of the block, the first two floors of which were built and owned by the retail partnership of Larimer & Brown.

This all came to mind the other day when I came across the following paragraph in The Democrat-Leader of March 9, 1882, noting the fact that all of the block now was occupied, other than the space designated for a barber shop under the bank:

The new Union Block is now fully occupied, except the basement under the Bank. On the second floor we find Baker Bros., Attorneys and Real Estate agents, nicely located in the front suite of rooms over the bank, while Dr. Perry is occupying the rooms first to the right of the south stairway with his Dental Establishment. On the second floor of the Odd Fellows building, we find S.B. Tinkham, general agent of the McCormick Reaper, occupying the first rooms and Col. Bartholomew's law office, the rear rooms. The second floor of Larimer & Brown's building is filled up with agricultural implements of all kinds, such as the firm handle. The third floor of the block is occupied by the Odd Fellows and Masons, for Lodge Rooms. On the first floor we find the First National Bank, A.N. Wright, jeweler; T.N. Bray, boots and shoes; and Larimer & Brown.

The Union Block lasted only 90 years, but I had lost track of exactly when it was demolished so did a little research. Both the Masons and the Odd Fellows had built new quarters and moved out many years previously.

The beginning of the end came in 1965, when First National Bank moved a block west into a new building on the former site of the Bates House hotel. First National now is Midwest Heritage.

Administrative offices of the Chariton school district were moved into the former bank area and Judge A.V. Hass retained his offices above the bank, but the structure was purchased by the Central Savings and Loan Association, quartered on the west side of the square.

The Savings and Loan had in mind far grander headquarters, rivaling the new First National building. Demolition of the Union Block commenced during June of 1970 and construction of the current one-story building on the lot began later in the year and was completed in 1971 and  a grand opening held during early 1972

Central Savings & Loan whilst riding high became First Central Bank, then fell victim to the savings and loan crisis and went into Resolution Trust Corporation receivership during January of 1990. Great Western Bank now occupies that prime location on the northwest corner of the square.