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Building History

This institution was known prior to 1909 as the state-chartered "Bank of Sonoma County." In 08/1909, shareholders met and decided to obtain a national bank charter. The Petaluma Argus newspaper wrote: "At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Sonoma County on Tuesday, a resolution declaring it to be the sense of the stockholders of the Bank of Sonoma County that the bank be converted into a National Bank and that a savings bank should be organized and conducted under the same ownership. The new bank will be known as the Sonoma County National Bank. Steps will be taken immediately to transform the bank from a state to a national institution. The meeting of the shareholders was held in the bank parlors Tuesday afternoon. The election of directors resulted in the returning to office of all of the former board of directors, with F.A. Mecham elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late Harrison Mecham. The directors are: Geo. P. McNear, Frank A. Mecham, H.P. Brainerd, H.M. LeBaron, Frank A. Meyer, Henry Meyerholtz, J.F. Parker. Following the meeting of the stockholders, the directors met and organized, electing the following officers: President, Geo. P. McNear; vice president, F.A. Meyer; cashier, W.T. Sprigged. The reports of the bank officers were highly satisfactory, and showed the past year to have been a prosperous one.” (See “Bank of Sonoma County To Be Made a National Bank,” Petaluma Argus, vol. XX, no. 104, 08/10/1909, p. 1.)

The Bank of Sonoma County and the Petaluma Savings Bank (founded 08/30/1870) combined in 05/1910 to become the Sonoma County National Bank. The Petaluma Argus said of this combination: The important move of Tuesday will make the pioneer bank stronger than ever and will virtually combine the two pioneer concerns in which the oldest, wealthiest and most prominent local people are interested. It is a most important step in local banking circles and the step has for some time been contemplated. An elegant new home will be ere long provided for the affiliated banks.” (See “Bank of Sonoma County Increases Its Capital Stock,” Petaluma Argus, vol XX, no. 343, p. 1.)

The merged Sonoma County National Bank received a national charter #9918 in 01/1911. (See Sonoma County National Bank ad, Petaluma Daily Courier, vol. 50, no. 8, 01/11/1911, p. 1.) Directors of the new national bank were George P. McNear, Frank H. Denman, William B. Haskell, William C. Keig, Scott Bowles, A. Lackey, Dr. J.T. O’Brien, William H. Hartman and C. Poehlmann. Officers were Frank H. Denman, president; George P. McNear, vice president; John Lawler, Jr., cashier; R.W. Turner, assistant cashier; and A.P. Behrens, accountant. (See "Bank of Sonoma County Receives National Charter," Petaluma Daily Courier, vol. 50, no. 8, 01/11/1911, p. 1.) It commenced operations on 01/12/1911.

This was the Sonoma National Bank's second location, completed in 04/1926. The Petaluma Argus wrote of its architect, engineer and building contractor: “H.H. Winner of the Winner Co., bank architects of San Francisco, is the designing and supervising architect, and has builded [sic] an enduring monument for himself and he is proud of his achievement. He knows bank building as does few men. It is his life work and his hobby, and there is not a finer detail man in the profession. E.E. Reese of San Francisco is the engineer and he, too, did his work to perfection. R.H. Clony was in charge of construction and made for himself an enviable reputation and so well are the people pleased with his work during the past year, that he has been retained to supervise the construction of the new St. Vincent’s church, to cost the sum of $200,000, and on which work has already been commenced.” (See “The Builders of the Bank,” Petaluma Argus, vol 70, no. 197, 04/26/1926, Section 3, p. 9.)

The former bank building became a multi-use events center, "Hall of the Above," in 2024.

Building Notes

Tel: 707.774.6013 (2025).

PCAD id: 25702