Wells Fargo Building

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National Bank
National Bank, now Wells Fargo Bank 123 East Main Street

The Wells Fargo Building (formerly the Wachovia Building and originally the National Bank building) is an 8-story office building at 119-123 E. Main Street built in 1919.[1] One of Charlottesville's two early 'skyscrapers' (along with the Monticello Hotel), it holds the distinction of being the tallest building on the Downtown Mall.[2]

History

National Bank and Trust Company, founded in 1914, constructed the building in 1919. Intended to out-class the bank's chief business rival People's National Bank across the street, the building was designed by architect William Johnston Marsh of Washington, D.C. firm Marsh & Peter with a soaring 2-story lobby featuring mahogany and marble, with a pink granite base and sandstone block front.[3][4][5]

On July 1, 1919, George G. Polley, a.k.a. “The Human Fly” scaled the exterior of the building.[6][7]

National Bank merged with Jefferson National Bank in 1985, which in turn was acquired by Wachovia in 2007.[8]

In 2005, First States Group LP bought the building from Wachovia for $4 million.[2]

Under the firm 11th and Cochran LLC, Hunter Craig purchased the building from First States Group for $6.65 million on October 1, 2008 – one day before the sale of Wachovia was announced.[2] The building was assessed at $17 million at the time. [9] [10]

References

  1. Web. Historic Resources Committee - Transit Station Exhibits, City of Charlottesville, retrieved 2018-11-26.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Web. Hunter Craig buys Wachovia building for $6.7M, Will Goldsmith, C-VILLE Weekly, Portico Publications, October 22, 2008, retrieved July 2, 2022.
  3. Web. More than a Mall: A Guide to Historic Downtown Charlottesville, Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, 2010, retrieved July 2, 2022.
  4. Web. Look up, Virginia!, Doug Gelbert, retrieved May 16, 2024.
  5. Web. A Walking Tour of the Geology of the Building Stones of Downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, Mary Loose DeViney, Virginia Rockhounder, retrieved 2018-11-26.
  6. Web. 'The Human Fly' scaled the 'Old Bank Building' in Charlottesville in 1919, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, Jul 1, 2017, retrieved July 2, 2022.
  7. Web. Historic Charlottesville Tour Book, Charlottesville's Historic Resource Task Force in conjunction with the Albemarle County Historical Society, retrieved July 2, 2022.
  8. Web. A Guide to the Papers of the Jefferson National Bank ca. 1914-1998, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, retrieved 2018-11-26.
  9. Web. 119-123 E MAIN ST, Property Information, City of Charlottesville, retrieved July 2, 2008.
  10. Web. UVA loses half a billion, Charlottesville deals, Lisa Provence, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, Oct 24, 2008, retrieved July 2, 2022. Print. Oct 30th, 2008 , #0744, .