Apalachicola State Bank to rebuild historic structure

            As Apalachicola State Bank (ASB) officials assess the damage and begin planning to rebuild the Apalachicola branch office severely damaged in a fiery vehicle crash last week, bank officials say they'd like the reconstruction effort to end up resembling the original historic bank building that once stood on the site.

            "We want to make sure we rebuild one of the state's oldest financial institutions with the respect befitting this bank's history and tradition in the community," says Coastal Community Bank President Terry DuBose. "We're talking with architects and poring over old pictures of the bank building that stood on this spot as far back as the 1800s. We're going to try and incorporate as many of the historic features of the original bank building as we can and still be a modern efficient facility."

            ASB is owned by Coastal Community Bank, based in Panama City with 11 branch offices throughout Franklin, Gulf and Bay counties.

            The crash injured the driver, destroyed the truck and demolished much of the bank's office and conference area. The bank vaults and safety deposit boxes were not damaged. No customer files or valuables were damaged or compromised.

            According to Donnie Gay, ASB senior vice president, customers are currently being contacted to come empty out their safety deposit boxes. A free replacement safety deposit box is available to current customers at the Eastpoint branch location.

            Loan operations for the Apalachicola office have been moved to a temporary office in Apalachicola at 183 Avenue E (former Apalachicola Mortgage location). Teller operations will resume in Apalachicola next week when a mobile office is set up in the Apalachicola branch parking lot.  In the meantime, teller operations are being handled at the other branch offices throughout the county.

            Historic renovation is nothing new to Coastal Community Bank. The Port St. Joe branch is housed in the historic "Chateau" building in downtown Port St. Joe. The building, purchased by Coastal Community Bank in 2003, was originally built in 1939 as the local residence of Jessie Ball duPont, the widow of Alfred I. duPont and sister of Ed Ball. Over the years, the Chateau also provided lodging for St. Joe Paper Company executives. In 1998 it was sold for a bed and breakfast inn and was later converted to the Coastal Community Bank. Bank officials have maintained much of the original character of the building.

            Coastal Community Bank is also a historic preservation advocate in Bay County. The 1907 Bank of St. Andrews building in Bay County's downtown St. Andrews Historic District was purchased, renovated and reopened as a CCB branch office in 2007.

            The Apalachicola historic reconstruction effort is being lauded by local historic enthusiasts and community leaders alike.

            "Apalachicola State Bank has always been a community leader with a special interest in preserving history in this community," says Apalachicola Historic Society President Bill Spohrer. "We're obviously saddened and shocked by the building's damage and loss but thrilled with the prospects of the bank's historic restoration efforts."

            Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson is pleased at what the reconstruction effort could mean to the City.   "The effort on the bank's part to restore one of the city's oldest landmarks to its 1900 appeal, not only demonstrates their profound understanding of history but it also shows a deep commitment toward preserving the character of the Apalachicola community," says Johnson.

            Reconstruction plans are still weeks away, says DuBose. "A lot will depend on how much we are able to salvage of the building if any at all," he says. "But we are committed to rebuilding the structure in a historically respectful manner because we're committed to the tradition and history of  the community."