Home over the years to everything from the Fitzgerald Police Department, a dentist’s office, cafe, barber shop, and tattoo parlor, the First National Bank Building in recent years was known as the office of General Insurance Company. Connie Kruger adds: This building was also, for a time,, the offices of the Hebrew Commercial Alliance, which was begun to lend financial aid to Jewish merchants, when other sources were not readily available to them.
I recently got a tour of the building from local builder and preservationist Louie Harper, who will soon renovate it.
This is the ground floor, which was originally home to the First National Bank. It’s remembered in recent years as the office of Joe Hair’s General Insurance Company.
These rooms on the second floor were the offices of early Fitzgerald dentist and businessman Dr. C. A. Holtzendorf.
The basement was once the National Barber Shop, as well as the Fitzgerald Police Department headquarters, and lastly, a tattoo parlor.
Fitzgerald Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
I’ve been researching the First National Bank of Fitzgerald, because my great-grandfather, Thomas Wright Garbutt, was one of the initial investors, along with his brother Moses Wadley Garbutt. Over the years they served on the board in various capacities from President, Vice President, or cashier. I saw the original safe not too long ago. I’ve also been researching all the businesses that were in the Garbutt -Donovan Building (the only five story building) that my ancestors originally financed and eventually owned. I love information like this! Holtzendorf was their contemporary and ran in the same social and professional circles.
When the Police Department was located in the basement there was a telephone mounted in a box on the light pole on the corner and the first parking space on Pine Street in front of the bank was reserved for the Police car.
Skeeter
This building was also, for a time,, the offices of the Hebrew Commercial Alliance, which was begun to lend financial aid to Jewish merchants, when other sources were not readily available to them.
Thanks, Connie! I knew of the HCA, but had no idea where its offices were located… Hope you are doing well!