The 6th and Grand area in downtown Okmulgee has been captured for decades as part of the city’s history.

The intersection, for many years, had banks on three sides, as the Creek Council House occupied the southwest corner. The area, known for it’s financial institutions, included Central National Bank, First National Bank (Central National Bank), Citizens National Bank and the Okmulgee National Bank, among others around the downtown area.

As the year’s went by, and with the changing landscape of downtown Okmulgee.

On the northwest corner of 6th and Grand stands a structure that has withstood the years, with some changes made to keep in step with the changing look of downtown.

On April 2, 1917, the Central National Bank of Okmulgee was granted their organizational certificate of banking. Two of the bank’s original founding members were Wait Phillips, Oil Tycoon of Phillips Petroleum, and William Pine, a Republican in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

Around 1929, the bank absorbed the old First National Bank in Okmulgee which was located at the northeast corner of 6th and Grand (now Mabrey Bank).

Central National Bank’s last remodel was in 1965. The name was changed to First National Bank on Jan. 1, 1968.

A historic marker is still located near the corner of the building.

The inscription reads: Near this site in 1900, The First Bank of Okmulgee opened for business and, about 1907, changed its name to The First National Bank. In 1924, First National Bank was merged into the Central National Bank, which was chartered in 1917, with the main office continuing at this site. In 1968, The Central National Bank changed its name to First National Bank and Trust company and in 1983 the bank moved to its current location on 8th street. The First National Bank and Trust Company is the oldest surviving bank charter in Okmulgee County, successfully surviving the various bank failures of the Depression Era.

Most residents are familiar with the white building, which after First National Bank moved into their new home on 8th Street, was occupied by several businesses and ventures. Those included Xanadu’s, Kat Man Jo’s, The Rock, and others.

Now, the newly-purchased building is getting a makeover, with the owners planning to remodel the building, and started last week with uncovering the rock and brick that has been covered for many, many years.

Coming by the end of May is the Mall of Okmulgee.

In a social media post, one of the owners stated that the new Mall would have businesses such as “Flowers on Main and Red Dirt Rags, Tees, Transfers, Gang Sheets & More there as well as several vendors … We will have nails, lashes, tanning, photography, balloon grabs and boutique vendors. We’re so excited to bring this building back to life and hope the community continues to support us!”

It will be great to see the corner of 6th and Grand once again a vibrant, bustling part of downtown Okmulgee.

This picture of the corner of 6th and Grand shows the old First National Bank Building in the early 1920s. Crews began taking off the facade of the structure this week, as work begins to restore the building and prepare the new Mall of Okmulgee, which is planned to be ready around May this year.