Union National Bank, Huntingdon, PA (Charter 4965)

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Postcard of the First National Bank and Union National Bank of Huntingdon
Postcard of the First National Bank and Union National Bank of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, ca1900s. The Union National Bank is on the corner of Fifth and Penn Streets. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

Union National Bank/Union NB & TC, Huntingdon, PA (Chartered 1894 - Closed (Merger) 1995)

Town History

Photo of the old Union National Bank
Photo of the old Union National Bank on Fifth and Penn Streets, ca2021. Courtesy of Google Maps

Huntingdon is the county seat of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It is located along the Juniata River, approximately 32 miles east of Altoona and 92 miles west of Harrisburg. In 1768, Rev. Dr. William Smith began selling lots on the Standing Stone Tract along the Juniata, land he had recently acquired. The tract's two prior owners had not attempted to lay out a town, so Dr. Smith is considered the founder. Huntingdon sits at the site where Standing Stone Creek flows into the Juniata River. It was once a port on the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Canal.

With a population of 7,093 at the 2010 census, Huntingdon is the largest population center near Raystown Lake, a winding, 28-mile-long recreational and flood-control reservoir managed by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. The borough is located on the main line of the Norfolk Southern (formerly Pennsylvania) Railroad, in an agricultural and outdoor recreational region with extensive forests and scattered deposits of ganister rock, coal, fire clay, and limestone. Historically, the region surrounding Huntingdon was dotted with iron furnaces and forges, consuming limestone, iron ore and wood (for charcoal production) throughout the 19th century. Dairy farms dominate the local agriculture. Huntingdon is home to Juniata College, a private liberal arts college originally known as Brethren's Normal School as it was founded by members of the Church of the Brethren in 1876.

Huntingdon had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

In June 1894, the Comptroller of the Currency authorized the Union National Bank of Huntingdon to begin business with capital of $50,000. The Union Bank of Huntingdon thereafter was known as the Union National Bank. The following were the officers: H.J. McAteer, president; H.B. Brumbaugh, vice president; K. Allen Lovell, J.C. Hazlett, and Calvin Greene, directors. Mr. R.J. Mattern, cashier of the Union Bank continued in the same position with the new national bank.[1][2]

On Tuesday, January 14, 1919, stockholders elected the following directors: John White, John Langdon, Elwood A. Miller, Thomas E. Africa, R.J. Mattern, and J.B. Kunz, the latter being elected in place of J.C. Hazlett who declined re-election. John White was elected president; R.J. Mattern, cashier; and A.V. Schaffner, assistant cashier.[3]

On December 26, 1922, stockholders of The Standing Stone National Bank and The Union National Bank ratified the action of a joint committee recommending a merger of the two banks under the name of the latter. The consolidation was effective January 1, 1923. The capital stock was $175,000 and the new bank was expected to pay shareholders a 10% dividend from the start.[4][5] The Union National Bank had 50 shareholders and capital of $125,000 and resources of over a million dollars. The Standing Stone National had 58 shareholders and capital of $50,000 and over a half million in resources.[6]

In January 1930, at a meeting of the directors of the Union National Bank, the name was changed to the Union National Bank and Trust Company. Three new directors were added due to the change: Harold M. Rose, William R. Banks, and John A. Kunz. The former directors, John White, Elwood Miller, Chester J. Langdon, I. Harvey Brumbaugh, J.H. Brumbaugh, A.W. Reed, R.M. Watson, and John B. Kunz, were re-elected. The officers for the coming year elected were John White, president; John B. Kunz, vice president; R.M. Watson, cashier; A.P. Silverthorn and A.V. Shaffner, assistant cashiers.[7]

On Tuesday, January 8, 1946, stockholders met and elected their directors to serve again for another year. They were John B. Kunz, president; Chester J. Langdon, vice president; John A. Kunz, William R. Banks, Dr. Norman J. Brumbaugh, J. Charles White, John K. Barben, Charles S. Detwiler, Dean D. Strickler, and James C. Morgan. The directors also elected R.M. Watson, cashier; Foster I. King, Clarence Schock, and Howard Shilling, assistant cashiers; Mr. Schilling and Mrs. Hazel Garber trust officer and assistant trust officer, respectively.[8] Mr. White was also promoted to a vice presidency with supervision over the Pennsylvania Railroad's New York zone. He was a son of the late John and Jennie White of Huntingdon. He was born in Huntingdon and two sisters, Elsie and Sara, reside at the White homestead at 616 Washington Street. A brother, Frank, was also associated with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Altoona.[9]

In January 1956, all 12 directors of the Union National Bank and Trust Company were re-elected at the annual stockholders meeting. They were John H. Denton, Charles S. Detwiler, R. Merle Heffner, Jay Hazlett, Robert H. Henderson John A. Kunz, Chester J. Langdon, James C. Morgan, Dean D. Strickler, J. Charles White, W. Lewis Grimison, and F. Harold Fink. The directors met and elected the following officers: Mr. Kunz, president; Mr. Detwiler, vice president; John W. Plant, executive vice president; Harry H. Nye, Jr., cashier; C. Ralph Wilson Jr., assistant cashier; Hallie R. Graham, assistant cashier; and Hazel A. Garber, trust officer.[10]

A special meeting of shareholders of the First National Bank of Mount Union was held at its banking house at 14 North Jefferson Street, Mount Union, on Tuesday, April 12, 1960, to consider and vote on an agreement to consolidate the bank with the Union National Bank and Trust Company of Huntingdon.[11] On April 12th, stockholders of the Union National Bank and Trust Company and the First National Bank of Mount Union approved the consolidation of the two banks. John A. Kunz, president of the Union National stated that 97% of the bank's stock was represented at the shareholders meeting with 16,920 shares of the 16,970 shares represented voting in favor of the consolidation. Charles Neusbaum, president of the First National reported that almost 94% of stock was represented with 549 shared of the 559 shares represented voting in favor of the consolidation. Final approval by the Comptroller of the Currency was expected within the next two weeks. Capital stock of the consolidated institution would be $246,000 with surplus of $480,000 and undivided profits and capital reserves in excess of $85,000. Consolidation was under the charter and title of "Union National Bank and Trust Company."[12] The consolidation became effective at the close of business on Saturday, April 23rd. The new institution would begin operations on Monday, April 25th, with the Huntingdon office and drive-in office in Huntingdon and the First Mount Union office at 14 North Jefferson Street in Mount Union. The Union National Bank and Trust Company of Huntingdon had been serving the Huntingdon area since 1866 while the First National Bank of Mount Union was organized in 1902 and had been serving Mount Union and surrounding areas continuously since that time. The directors of the consolidated bank were Chester J. Langdon, John A. Kunz, J. Charles White, Charles S. Detwiler, Dean D. Strickler, James C. Morgan, John H. Denton, J.W. Hazlett, R. Merle Heffner, W. Lewis Grimison, Morley J. Mays, Robert F. Fink, William C. Huston, Arthur R. Neary, Fred B. Appleby, Henry C. Hartman, and Joseph C. Shapiro. The officers were John A. Kunz, president; Charles S. Detwiler and Fred B. Appleby, vice presidents; Harry H. Nye, executive vice president; Samuel K. Bohn, assistant vice president and cashier; Charles R. Cox, assistant vice president; Hazel A. Garber, trust officer; Hallie R. Graham, C. Ralph Wilson, Jr., Jack H. Port, and Marion L. Baker, assistant cashiers. The staff members at Mount Union were Mrs. Hazel Faust, Miss Mildred V. Booher, Mrs. Helen Feagley, and Mrs. Sue Senn. The staff members at the Huntingdon office of the Union National Bank included Mrs. Louis Hawn, Mrs. Edna Brenneman, Mrs. Alice Leonard, Miss Delores White, Miss Faye Fouse, Mrs. Arlene Hall, and Richard Smyers.[13]

On Tuesday, January 14, 1964, 15 directors of the Union National Bank and Trust Company were re-elected when the stockholders met for their annua meeting. They were Fred B. Appleby, John H. Denton, Charles S. Detwiler, Robert F. Fink, W. Lewis Grimison, Jay W. Hazlett, R. Merle Heffner, William C. Huston, John A. Kunz, Chester J. Langdon, Dr. Morley J. Mays, Arthur R. Neary, Joseph C. Shapiro, Dean D. Strickler, and J. Charles White. One director, James C. Morgan, died last December 29th. The board met and re-elected Mr. Kunz, president, Mr. Detwiler and Mr. Appleby, vice presidents; Harry H. Nye, Jr., executive vice president and secretary; Joseph E. Dell, vice president and cashier; C. Ralph Wilson, Jr., and Jack H. Port, assistant vice presidents; Hallie R. Graham and Marion L. Baker, assistant cashiers; Hazel A. Garber, trust officer; and Attorney R. Merle Heffner, solicitor. Rodney M. Shultz was promoted to the position of manager of the Mount Union Office and would also be an assistant cashier of Union National. He succeeded Charles R. Cox as manager. Cox resigned to become cashier of the Fulton County Trust Company at McConnellsburg. H. Blair Grove was named as assistant manager of the Mount Union office. The Mount Union Advisory Board also was reappointed. It included Charles N. Neusbaum, George W. Chilcoat, Richard D. Heck, George E. Miller, and L. Reese Valimont.[14]

UNB logo from 1976
Union National Bank and Trust Company of Huntingdon logo from 1976.[15]

In January 1972, the 18 directors elected for the ensuing year were as follows: Fred B. Appleby, Paul A. Corcelius, Donald G. Everhart, Robert F. Fink, Jay W. Hazlett, R. Merle Heffner, Veryl E. Horton, William C. Huston, John A. Kunz, Richard M. Langdon, Maurice S. Lansberry, C. Blair Miller, Arthur R. Neary, Wesley A. Porter, Ira R. Shafer, Joseph C. Shapiro, Dean D. Strickler, and Clair C. Wible. Kunz was renamed board chairman and J. Charles White was reappointed director emeritus. Officers reappointed were as follows: Maurice S. Lansberry, president; Carl G. Spangenberg, vice president and cashier; Fred B. Appleby, vice president; E. Clair Pheasant, vice president and manager, Installment Loan Dept.; R. Robert McCoy, vice president; Louis H. Hawn, secretary; Marion B. Jones, assistant cashier; Fred Magnello, assistant trust officer, W. Thomas McMahon, operations officer; Charles E. James, auditor; C. Ralph Wilson, Jr., assistant vice president; Robert C. Williams, assistant vice president, installment loan dept.; K. Lee Hopkins, branch manager, Pine Grove Mills; Leonard W. Lambert, assistant cashier and manager, Petersburg; Robert Painter, branch manager, Mount Union; Dale G. Peterson, branch manger, Three Springs; Paul J. Peoples, assistant branch manager.[16]

John Charles White, 90, 1111 Mifflin St., Huntingdon, died Thursday morning, October 5, 1978, at J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital. He had resided in Huntingdon since August 1, 1974. Born June 9, 1888 in Huntingdon, he was the son of John and Sarah (Jane Strait) White. He married Marion M. Grove in September 1917 in Altoona. Mr. White was survived by one sister, Miss Elsie Jane White, Huntingdon. Two brothers and a sister also preceded him in death. He was a member and past worshipful master (1918) of the F. & A.M. Mount Moriah Lodge No. 300, a member of the Standing Stone Royal Arch Chapter No. 201, and a member of Huntingdon Commandery Knights Templar No. 65, all of Huntingdon. He was also a member of the Union League of Philadelphia. A lifetime employee of the Pennsylvania Railroad, he retired on July 1, 1956, as vice president of the PRR Co., which position he held since June 1, 1948. He was responsible for company purchases, stores and insurance.[17]

In February 1979, Lawrence R. Bock was promoted to assistant cashier at the main office of the Union National Bank & Trust Co., Huntingdon. The promotion was announced by company president Joseph W. Goodwin. Bock had been with the installment loan division of UNB since April 1973 and was a lending officer.[18] At the reorganization meeting, the board of directors reappointed Arthur R. Neary, Sr., chairman of the board and William C. Huston, vice chairman along with the following officers for the year 1979: Joseph W. Goodwin, president; Robert C. Williams, senior vice president, loans; W. Thomas McMahon, vice president and commercial loan officer; R. Robert McCoy, cashier; Fred Magnello, trust officer; Dorothy J. Jamison, corporate secretary; K. Les Hopkins, assistant vice president and manager, Pine Grove Mills office; Charles S. Moore, assistant vice president and branch administrator; Paul J. Peoples, assistant vice president; Charles L States, assistant vice president, operations and security officer; Marion B. Jones, assistant cashier and personnel administrator; Leonard W. Lambert, assistant cashier and manager, Petersburg office; Lawrence R. Bock assistant cashier; Charles E. James, auditor; and C. Ralph Wilson, loan officer. Branch managers renamed were F. Stanley Westbrook, manager, Mount Union office; Gene T. Bennett, administrative assistant, Plaza office; James J. Kirchoff, manager, Saxton office; Dale G. Peterson, manager Three Springs office.[19]

Unitas National Bank building, Chambersburg, PA
Unitas National Bank building, Memorial Square, Chambersburg. Formerly United National Bank and Trust Company of Huntingdon, the name was changed to Unitas on October 1, 1983. The Chambersburg office opened in the bank building that was rebuilt after the burning of Chambersburg during the Civil War. Unitas bank officials signed a 25-year lease with Chambersburg Development Co., which purchased the building from Valleybank in early 1983.[20]

Unitas National Bank opened on January 3, 1983 on the southwest quadrant of Memorial Square, Chambersburg, in a colonial-style building that formerly housed Valley Bank and Trust Company. Unitas was one of six subsidiaries of United National Bancorporation based in Huntingdon with Joseph W. Goodwin as corporation president. Formerly United National Bank and Trust Co., the name was changed to Unitas, a Latin word meaning united, on October 1st. The change was necessary because bank officials were unable to register the names union or united with the Regional Administrator of National Banks because of the many duplications nationwide. The new Chambersburg facility would serve as regional office for Unitas' Willow Hill branch and an office that would open soon in Harrisburg. Other branches were located in Mount Union, Petersburg, Plaza, Saxton, Three Springs and Pine Grove Mills. The bank, founded in 1866, had $90 million in assets according to Goodwin.[21]

In June 1989, Robert C. Williams was the new president of Unitas National Bank, Memorial Square, Chambersburg. He succeeded Joseph W. Goodwin who served as president for more than 12 years. Williams was a graduate of Huntingdon High School and the University of Virginia Graduate School of Consumer Banking. William C. Huston, board chairman, said "In view of Mr. Williams' over 25 years of experience in the bank and his knowledge of the bank's market are, the board looks forward to his leadership."[22]

  • 12/22/1982 Main Office moved to Route 75, Willow Hill, PA 17271 (FDIC #7534).
  • 10/01/1983 Changed Institution Name to Unitas National Bank.
  • 02/05/1988 Main Office moved to 15 South Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
  • 11/13/1995 Merged and became part of First Commonwealth Bank (FDIC #7468) in Indiana, PA.

Official Bank Titles

1: The Union National Bank of Huntingdon, PA

2: Union National Bank and Trust Company of Huntingdon, PA (2/1/1930)

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $10 bank note
1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of R.J. Mattern, Cashier and J.C. Hazlett, Vice President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with the bank's first title and printed signatures of R.M. Watson, Cashier and John White, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with the bank's second title and printed signatures of R.M. Watson, Cashier and John White, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $2,458,010 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1894 and 1995. This consisted of a total of 197,785 notes (150,984 large size and 46,801 small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 5560
1: 1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 2680
1: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 1000
1: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 1001 - 29506
1: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1224
1: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 414
2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 3972
2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 1056
2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 5355
2: 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 1450

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1894 - 1995):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Huntingdon, PA, on Wikipedia
  • Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
  • Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
  • Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://bbdata.banknotehistory.com
  1. ↑ The Hazleton Sentinel, Hazleton, PA, Thu., June 28, 1894.
  2. ↑ Mount Union Times, Mount Union, PA, Fri., July 13, 1894.
  3. ↑ Altoona Times, Altoona, PA, Mon., Jan 20, 1919.
  4. ↑ Altoona Tribune, Altoona, PA, Tue., Nov. 28, 1922.
  5. ↑ Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Dec. 27, 1922.
  6. ↑ Lebanon Daily News, Lebanon, PA, Fri., Dec. 29, 1922.
  7. ↑ Altoona Mirror, Altoona, PA, Fri., Jan. 17, 1930.
  8. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Wed., Jan. 9, 1946.
  9. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Fri., Jan. 18, 1946.
  10. ↑ Mount Union Times, Mount Union, PA, Fri., Jan. 13, 1956.
  11. ↑ Mount Union Times, Mount Union, PA, Fri., Mar. 11, 1960.
  12. ↑ Mount Union Times, Mount Union, PA, Fri., Apr. 15, 1960.
  13. ↑ Mount Union Times, Mount Union, PA, Fri., Apr. 29, 1960.
  14. ↑ Mount Union Times, Mount Union, PA, Fri., Jan. 17, 1964.
  15. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Sat., July 17, 1976.
  16. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Wed., Jan. 19, 1972.
  17. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Fri., Oct. 6, 1978.
  18. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Sat., Feb. 10, 1979.
  19. ↑ The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA, Wed., Feb. 21, 1979.
  20. ↑ Public Opinion, Chambersburg, PA, Thu., Dec. 8, 1983.
  21. ↑ Public Opinion, Chambersburg, PA, Thu., Dec. 8, 1983.
  22. ↑ Public Opinion, Chambersburg, PA, Fri., June 16, 1989.
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