FMB Legacy

Every time a wall is opened, a floor is uncovered, or a century-old detail is revealed, we’re reminded how close this building came to being just another forgotten piece of history.

What stands at 100 N. Washington today isn’t just a construction project—it’s a commitment to preserving a piece of Pilot Point’s story.

The work isn’t always glamorous. It’s engineering reports, structural repairs, dirt removal, and careful planning. But it’s all part of bringing this 1896 landmark back to life.

The best chapters are still ahead.

More FMB treasures 💜

This set is part of the Temple Shakespeare, a popular series first published in the late 1800s to make Shakespeare’s works more accessible in compact, collectible form. Bound in red leather with gold lettering, these volumes were considered a mark of education and refinement at the time.

An inscription inside by what we believe to read Nathan Holff, 2nd dated 1899-1901, identifies an early owner, placing the books firmly in their original era of use.

What started as a few discoveries has turned into something bigger—an entire box of original deposit slips from October 1904, all found inside the historic Farmers & Merchants Bank.

These documents show money moving though Pilot Point, tied to local businesses like the Cotton Oil Mill and larger trade cities like New Orleans and Galveston.

Beneath one of Pilot Point’s oldest buildings, a story is being uncovered layer by layer.

Our feature in the May/June issue of 380 Guide shares a deeper look into the restoration journey behind the historic Farmers & Merchants Bank — from preserved bank slips hidden beneath the dirt for over a century to the intentional work happening below the surface to protect this building’s next 100 years.

What’s happening here is more than restoration. It’s discovery, preservation, and the beginning of something unforgettable.

Read the full feature in the latest issue of 380 Guide or online at 380guide.com.

If you missed last week’s construction update video, here’s a peek at the current basement beneath the 1896 bank.

All of the dirt has now been removed to reach the new floor depth — and that line running across the brick walls shows where the original dirt level sat for decades underground.

What was once a low, cramped crawlspace is finally revealing the true scale of the basement as restoration work continues below. Every inch uncovered tells more of the building’s story… from the original brickwork and support columns to the artifacts hidden beneath it all.

As the dirt was removed, old bank slips, receipts, and papers dating back over a century were discovered perfectly preserved in time underground — protected for decades beneath the original lobby floor. Small pieces of history that likely hadn’t seen daylight since the early days of the bank itself.

This phase may not be the glamorous part, but it’s one of the most important. The work happening beneath the surface is what will allow the next chapter of this historic building — and The Vault — to take shape the right way.

More updates coming soon.

Hidden in the basement of the historic Farmers & Merchants Bank, we uncovered a bundle of original promissory notes from 1923–1924, issued to the Turner family. One note alone exceeds $1,500, with smaller notes—$50, $120, $48.30—issued throughout the year, forming what we’d now call a line of credit.

Each note is signed by hand and sealed with red revenue stamps, making them legally binding contracts. But the real weight sits behind them—an accompanying chattel mortgage that put everything on the line: livestock, equipment, the very means of making a living. If the debt wasn’t paid, it wasn’t just numbers that were lost—it was everything.

Real people. Real risk. Real decisions made in rooms just above where we now build.

As The Vault takes shape below ground, these discoveries are more than history—they are the foundation of what this space will become.

Because when those doors open, you won’t just be stepping into a speakeasy—you’ll be stepping into a place where every story has already been lived.

Another treasure found in great condition! A handwritten postcard dated November 2, 1897, addressed to a Mr. J. V. Scivally in Aubrey, Texas from a sender in Bonham.

In the message, the writer explains that a note has been sent to the Farmers & Merchants Bank in Pilot Point ‘as per your instructions,’ and requests that exchange be issued for its value.

This postcard shows how money and instructions moved between towns - entirely by handwritten communication sent through the mail.

A 1904 letter from the T. V. Munson Collection reveals the leadership of the Farmers & Merchants Bank in its early years—listing G. E. Light (President), D. W. Light (Vice President), C. L. Stone (Cashier), and Joe B. Burks (Assistant Cashier).

In it, D. W. Light corresponds with T. V. Munson about sourcing sand and gravel by rail—showing how closely the bank’s leadership was tied to the growth and development of Pilot Point.

Preserved through the Portal to Texas History, this document offers a direct glimpse into the people and decisions that helped shape the town over 125 years ago.