Morland Explorations
Learn more about Morland by following the links below:
Historic Morland State BankAddress:
NE Corner of 5th and Main
Email Address: mcfound@ruraltel.net About this Exploration: The Morland State Bank was organized in 1904. It was one of two banks in Morland, the other being Citizens State Bank, still in operation today. Morland State Bank originally sat in the present 500 block of Main Street, along with Citizens State Bank, the opera house, a cleaning establishment, telephone exchange, dentist office, real estate office, clothing store, Morland Monitor printing plant, and the home of M.E. Mitchell. All of these buildings had damage from the fire on January 20, 1922. A live electric wire or a lighted cigar stub are thought to be the culprit that was dropped and forgotten during a skating party the previous evening. The entire population was out fighting the fire that night. There was no water service in Morland at the time, so residents did all they could to fight it without water pressure. The fire originated in the opera room floor and the ceiling below. Only one large structure, the Stober building, real estate office, and home were destroyed, but the Stober building housed most of the businesses listed above so it didn't take long for the damages to add up to $31,000. Only $12,600 was covered by insurance.
The Citizens State Bank building was rebuilt shortly after the fire in the same block, but the Morland State Bank relocated to the northwest corner of 5th and Tiger Streets. The interior is made of concrete and steel, with wood on the window wells and door frames only. The Morland Community Foundation is involved in the current restoration of the old building with the help of an Attraction Development Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing. TheMorland State Bank building currently serves as the Foundation museum and display area.
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