SWPA Rural Exploration: Monongahela National Bank

The Monongahela National Bank

The Monongahela National Bank is one of the many buildings along Market Street in Brownsville, PA that has a troubled future. Currently located beside the old Monongahela Hotel (or Towne House apartments), it’s one of many buildings on Market Street that could be facing demolition if no one comes in to save it. The current Market Street location is the last in a line of four locations for the Bank.

Monongahela Bank, as viewed from Union Station

The first bank was opened in 1812 on 221 Front Street in mixed commercial/residential zone. It’s first President, Jacob Bowman, lived only a short distance from the small brick building. The bank would stay in this original location for 61 years, moving to its new home at 320 Market Street in 1873. The bank moved again in 1902, to a two-story, Italian Renaissance style brick building located at 41 Market Street. The President at this point was Charles Snowdon. The building at this location still resembles the original – however, it is missing its first-floor façade. This façade was taken to be used for another Brownsville building – the Brownsville Public Library on Seneca Street.

The third location of the bank.

The Brownsville Public Library, with the Monongahela National
Bank first-floor facade

In 1923, bank was ready to move again – this time to 46 Market Street – its last move before it would close. The owners of the Monongahela National Bank, still under Bank President Charles Snowdon, approached Samuel Leff, the current owner of the Monongahela Hotel (rebuilt in 1911) about selling to the bank. An agreement was reached, and the new bank and hotel were both finished in 1925. The bank had an upstairs annex to the hotel – twenty rooms for overflow guests – and was reached only through an enclosed tunnel/bridge that extended from the top of the hotel to the bank. When the Monongahela National Bank became insolvent and closed in April 1931, these rooms were closed off from the hotel to cut back costs on insurance.

Located in the right part of the bank's facade is the opening to an old soda shop. Currently the bank and soda shop are used for storage - like the buffet and other pieces of the former Uniontown Rax.