Millionaire Railroad man, Speculator, and Everglades City Founder Barron G.
Collier erected this grand bank building in 1923 (finished by 1926). It was the focal point
of Collier's "kingdom," which he dreamed would one day rival Miami in
size. But that was not to be and today, Everglades City is a sleepy,
tropical fishing village.
Back in the early days, rum runners, alligator-hide hunters, fur traders, and
other legendary pioneers came by road and river to take care of business at the
bank and the nearby trading post. There were also folks who moved to his
then untamed edge of Florida to lead undisturbed lives as homesteaders.
They made their living off the land and sea, hunting, oystering, fishing,
shrimping, cutting sugar cane, and harvesting buttonwood for charcoal.
The first bank in Collier County, Bank of Everglades weathered not only its
colorful past but also the battering of five hurricanes. During the
especially devastating 1962 Hurricane Donna, five feet of water filled the
vault, soaking all the money inside. Undaunted, employees rushed to pin
more than a million dollars on a clothesline to dry, keeping watch all night to
prevent any unwanted "withdrawals." Not a single dollar was
lost.
A critical institution in the early development of the sate, the bank
continued as an economic center for South Florida until the mid 1960s.
You'll want to browse around and study some of the original artifacts,
including the 3,000 pound cannonball safe whose combination lock still
works. You might even find a little left-over money in the vault - but
don't count on it!
Enjoy browsing around to find
some of the original banking artifacts; such as this safe (above) that was
used in the 1920's to hold cash that was deposited into the bank.
On Monday, October 24, 2005, Hurricane
Wilma slammed into the Florida Everglades with all the fury of a Category 3
hurricane. Sustained winds of more than 125mph with heavy rain slashed across
our area for the better part of a full day.
At the end of the foray, a
high storm surge of between 5 and 15 feet swelled into our beloved area. Our
Bank was built high enough from the ground that no water entered inside. And
our Bank easily withstood the torrential winds and rain. Many of the
local homes and other buildings were harmed, some of which were totally lost
and devastated. The worst of this storm was seen in Chokoloskee, about 7 miles
south of the Bank on SR-29.
However, at the end of
Hurricane Wilma's worst in a direct hit, our Bank stood proudly erect and
fully intact. Clean-up was accomplished fairly quickly. Power was restored
within a day. We're so very Thankful!!
