Early Banking
Early financial business in Searsport was transacted in Counting Houses. The growth of commerce and industry in the mid 19th Century created the need for a bank. On August 1, 1853, Jeremiah Merithew organized the Searsport Bank which was probably located on the second floor of the Merithew Block on the corner of Leach Street. It issued its own paper notes until the bank closed. The picture shows a note and Mr. Merithew. The next bank, the Searsport National Bank, was organized in 1891 and occupied a newly constructed building. It remains largely unchanged with the original vault on site. The Bank underwent several ownerships and in 1979 moved into larger accommodations across the street.
Marker is at the intersection of East Main Street (Rt. US-1) and Mosman Street, on the right when traveling east on East Main Street (Rt. US-1).
Courtesy hmdb.org
