Organized: October 3,1911

Date Closed: December 20,1930

Reason Closed: Failed

Location(s): 204 Howard Street(1913-Temporary Location)

124 Howard Street(1928)

Bernstein Bros. have moved into their spacious new quarters on the corner of Howard and Market Streets, where they are ready to extend their friends and customers a most cordial greeting. Call and see them.

From The Greenwood Enterprise, March 15, 1895

STORE CHANGES HANDS

Bernstein Establishment Sold to the Lamar Allen Co.

The big store of L. Bernstein & Co., familiarly known as the “Famous”, has been sold to the Lamar Allen Co., of Tunica, which will continue the business at its present location.

The Lamar Allen Co. will at once assume an important position in the commercial affairs of Greenwood. Mr. Lamar Allen, the head of the company, is one of the best merchants in the State, and has been for a long time desirous of obtaining a location in Greenwood. He is progressive and enterprising and THE COMMONWEALTH predicts that his splendid success in Tunica will be more than duplicated here.

Mr. Bernstein says that he expects to enter the wholesale trade, but he has not yet decided as to whether he will remain in Greenwood. The “Famous” has prospered under his management and he has many warm friends here who would regret to see him leave the city.

From The Greenwood Commonwealth, January 9, 1904

Stein Grocery Will Move

The Stein Grocery Company has leased the building now occupied by the Lamar Allen Co. on the corner of Howard and Market streets and will move into its new quarters as soon as the building is vacated. The Stein Grocery Company has always been one of the largest and handsomest retail grocery stores in the State, and will be greatly enlarged and improved in its new location.

From The Commonwealth, April 9, 1904

The Stein Grocery Co. has moved into the storehouse on the northwest corner of Howard and Market streets. The building has been thoroughly renovated and repainted inside and is now one of the prettiest and largest exclusive grocery stores in Mississippi.

From The Greenwood Enterprise, July 1, 1904

Billhead from Stein Grocery Company, 1911.

THE WILSON BANKING CO.

The Wilson Banking Co. will open for business next Monday morning at 204 Howard Street, which will be the temporary quarters of this new financial institution. Within the next six months a handsome building will be erected expressly for this staunch concern, definite arrangements having been made to this effect. The Wilson Banking Co. has paid up capital of $25,000; Hon. G. A. Wilson is President and Mr. G. A. Wilson, Jr. is cashier. With strong financial backing, extensive banking experience and thorough business qualifications combined, the Wilson Banking Co. starts out with the absolute confidence of the public, and its success is assured.

We direct your attention to the advertisement of this new banking house in another column of this paper, and take pleasure in commencing the institution to those who are seeking a safe place to do their banking business.

From The Commonwealth, February 28, 1913

WILSON BANKING CO. TO ERECT HOME

New Structure will Occupy Site of Stein Grocery Co.

The Wilson Banking Co. has purchased the building now occupied by the Stein Gro. Co. and will shortly let the contract for the erection of a handsome home for their rapidly growing banking institution. The structure will be two stories, modern in every way and will be one of the handsomest buildings in the city.

Standing at the intersection of two of the most prominent business streets and being in the heart of the business district, the new building will improve the appearance of the city in addition to having a most favorable location.

The Wilson Banking Co. has only been in business for a few months, but under the guiding hand of Mr. G. A. Wilson, Sr., ably assisted by Messrs G. A. Wilson, Jr., and Calhoun Wilson, it has grown and prospered as has no other institution of its kind in the history of Greenwood and is numbered among the strongest banking concepts in the south.

From the Greenwood Enterprise, May 13, 1913

Wilson Banking Co., 1911.

WILL ERECT HANDSOME BANK BUILDING

The Wilson Banking Company has purchased the building now occupied by the Stein Grocery Co. at the corner of Howard and Market Streets, and will within the next thirty days, begin the erection of a handsome two-story bank building on the same.

President Wilson informs The Commonwealth that this new structure will be completed and ready for occupancy by the Wilson banking Company by September 1st, and that it will be one of the most modern bank buildings in Mississippi.

A more desirable or valuable location could not have been secured for the domicile of this popular new banking institution, and we congratulate its owners upon their splendid purchase.

From The Commonwealth, May 23, 1913

NEW BANK BUILDING

Contractor F. R. McGeoy put a force of men to work Monday morning tearing down the one-story building formerly occupied by the Stein Grocery Co., at the corner of Howard and Market streets, preparatory to beginning the construction of the handsome new two-story home of the Wilson Banking Company. This splendid new banking house will be arranged and finished in the most modern and up-to-date style, and the second floor will be used for offices. The location is ideal; and the building will be completed and ready for occupancy not later than the first of next January.

From The Commonwealth, August 8, 1913

WILSON BANK NOW ENLARGED

Addition To Building Makes Bank One Of The Most
Commodious In City of Greenwood

Wilson Banking Company are today announcing the completion of the enlargement of their bank building and the installation of new fixtures and safety deposit boxes in the new vault, and are extending a general invitation to the public to call and inspect the new quarters and convenience.

The building, which was constructed in 1913 and occupied by the Wilson Banking Company since its organization, has been doubled in size by an addition built on the north, making the building one of the most beautiful in the city. The interior of the bank and the fixtures are of marble, and the lobby furnishes accommodation for the customers of the bank. G. A. Wilson is president of the organization; Calhoun Wilson is vice-president; G. A. Wilson, Jr. is vice-president and cashier; F. R. McGeoy, Jr. and William Yandell, Jr. are tellers; G. L. Wright and J. R. Fergeson, Jr. are bookkeepers, and J. P. McGeoy and Douglas Vance are clerks.

Frank R. McGeoy, architect, who designed the original building, also designed the addition and supervised its construction.

From The Greenwood Daily Commonwealth, July 1, 1925

Planter's Bank,circa 2007, formerly Wilson Banking Co., 1911.

Planter's Bank & Trust Co., Greenwood, MS.

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