north bennington news and events

Merchants Bank donates its historic building in the Village center to
Preservation Trust of Vermont and The Fund for North Bennington, Inc.

On May 20, Merchants Bank generously donated its historic bank building in the Village center to a partnership of Preservation Trust of Vermont and The Fund for North Bennington, Inc. The partnership -- known as The Left Bank, LLC -- intends to preserve the building's historic facade while renting the interior for commercial use. The building, shown above circa 1900, will remain on the tax rolls.

Built in 1864, when Trenor Park incorporated The First National Bank of North Bennington, the building has been used continuously as a bank since then. At various times, parts of the building have served as the village post office, public meeting hall and the judicial chambers of United States District Judge James S. Holden.

The inventory of the North Bennington National Historic District described the building as "the pivotal component" of the Historic District. Built in a high Victorian Italinate style, the two-story brick building is trimmed with brownstone.

Merchants Bank has operated the bank since its merger with Catamount Bank in 1980. Catamount was the successor name (1968) to The First National Bank of North Bennington. Merchants will continue to operate its branch in North Bennington through the fall, and intends to maintain its ATM machine. Prospective commercial tenants may contact The Fund for North Bennington here for more information.

More information about the acquisition from the Preservation Trust of Vermont is here.

Press: Photos of bank now and bank then.