By Carol Fisher-Linn
Buildings tell stories, and these walls are talking…
When Cattaraugus County was formed in April 1817, the commissioners decided that the geographic center of the county would serve as the County Seat. Ellicottville was chosen. Being a scene of much legal and financial business, the village needed a bank. Dutch bankers, who were a real presence in the community in those early years sold land and mortgages to several local bankers and speculators with the circa 1838 Farmer’s Loan and Trust Company of NY owning a sizeable portion. Coleman and Smith operated this enterprise until 1852. In 1868 the county seat, which largely helped in the development of Ellicottville was moved to Little Valley because the Erie Canal was opened in 1825 allowing more direct routes to the west along the Allegheny River and Chautauqua Turnpike. The final blow for Ellicottville was the opening of the New York and Erie Railroad in 1851 which bypassed the uneven topography of Ellicottville. Afterward, Ellicottville had to depend on local industry (mainly lumber at that time) to sustain the community.
In The History of Cattaraugus County, we find that Eleazer Harmon carried on a bank of discount for two or three years about 1855, in a small brick building in rear of the courthouse. J. King Skinner, Jan. 1, 1858, opened a bank of discount in the second story of the Brick Block (Dina’s), and remained there until November of that year, when he moved to Mr. Devereux’s land-office as clerk, and continued the bank until 1878. An application was made to the Legislature of the State of New York in 1863 for a bank to be called the Cattaraugus County Bank of Ellicottville, with a capital stock of $20,000. An application was made also for a bank with capital stock of $55,000 in 1875. Imagine!
In an article about Ellicottville Business Places in 1876, we find reference to the George W. Senear Hotel which stood on the location where The Banq presently stands. It seems the Senear Hotel burned the ground about this time. The Bank of Ellicottville, first incorporated November 24, 1801, was later organized as a bank of discount July 15, 1878, and opened for business August 1, with capital of $25,000. Directors were E.S. Stewart, C. McCoy, J.O. Clark, J.D. Case, C.P. Vedder, C.A. Case, and T. Case. Some of those names appear throughout the history and present day of Ellicottville. The bank was in the building that was erected and used for the county clerk’s office. Later in the late 1800’s or early 1900 (ads found from 1903) it had its own building, quite possibly on the location where the Senear Hotel once stood.
As with many communities that sprung up in those early days, the buildings were mainly built of logs or sawn lumber, making them easy prey for the ubiquitous fires that leveled parts of the historic communities. Ellicottville was no exception. In 1890 much of the architecture on the east side of the village was lost to a major fire. The Ellicottville Bank was rebuilt that same year and then was replaced by a 1927 Building, which appears to be the final iteration of the bank building, until purchased by entrepreneur Dina DiPasquale and converted in 2020 to what is now known as The Banq, a stylish lounge in the heart of Ellicottville with a massive vault which likely leads to many entertaining conversations and stories.
The building not only served as a prominent bank (eventually M&T – now moved north a few blocks), but a very long flight of stairs led apprehensive dental patients up to the offices of Dr. D.C. Northrup, DDS in those earlier years. When Wilbur Northrup (Edna’s husband, D.C.’s son) graduated from UB Dental School, he joined his dad (D.C. – DeWitt Clinton) and they worked together until their retirements. Dr. Steven Illig then filled the dental chairs in that floor of the building until his retirement. Buildings truly do have stories. This one in particular may have fascinating ones since we are mixing together money (banks), gold (tooth fillings) and alcoholic libations. Do drop into The Banq and enjoy the vintage surroundings, imagining the stories those walls could tell. Appreciate the art on the walls and their delicious delights, alone or with a crowd. All are welcome.
Thank you to Dina DiPasquale, John Northrup and the Ellicottville Historical Society for their contributions to this article.