Historic bank building still a beauty after 100 years on the square

The First National Bank of McKinney celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. Located at 110 N. Tennessee St., the building is now the home of The Gallery, a gift shop owned by Gretchen McKenney.

With its original marble staircase, wood, crown molding and furniture, McKenney said her store is in the prettiest building on the square.

"People come in here with their husbands and the husbands may not want to shop, but they love to come in and hear about the history of building," she said. "The whole ambience of the building is what makes my store so unique and different from everybody else on the square."

Shops like The Gallery have called the former bank building home throughout the decades, and its interior still exhibits its original, beaux arts architecture. In fact, the building is one to have had the fewest changes to the exterior, said Guy Giersch, historic preservation officer for the city of McKinney.

"These historic buildings are well built, durable, flexible and can be adaptively reused," Giersch said. "They're lovable because they are attractive, not just a big box store nobody cares about, and people appreciate that. Those things make a huge difference. They're authentic, the real deal. It makes you feel like you're at home."

Several factors have lent to the story of the square's success. Growth began early in McKinney, thanks to the arrival of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1872, followed by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad, and the East Line and Red River Railroad in the 1880s. These linked McKinney to major markets in St. Louis, Chicago, Dallas and Galveston, Giersch said. The population doubled from 2,489 in 1890 to 4,342 in 1900. By 1902, McKinney had two flour mills, five cotton gins, two ice plants, two daily and five weekly newspapers, three banks and two schools, Giersch said.

"The neighborhoods and buildings associated with this past serve to guide the direction of future re-growth and re-development within the Town Center," stated Giersch in May-August 2012 issue of The Town Center Connection, a publication of the City of McKinney Planning Department and McKinney Main Street. "This atmosphere has led to the renaissance at the Cotton Mill and the emergence of home-grown companies like Zynga With Friends."

The Town Center Study is an extension of the city's 2004 Comprehensive Plan, which was developed using community input to guide decision making for the city's future growth and development. The Town Center Study builds on the work of the Comprehensive Plan by focusing on a single sector of McKinney - the town's center. The study itself is a planning and design process intended to promote and encourage the revitalization of the older sections of McKinney, bounded by Redbud Trail, U.S. Hwy. 380, Eldorado Pkwy. and Airport Dr.

Being a part of the next outgrowth ring of the Dallas expansion, McKinney's population growth and the fact that McKinney's downtown square has remained in tact have given it a "natural jumping off place," Giersch said.

"Our city leadership has been very forward thinking and progressive," Giersch said. "The square is surrounded by a diverse residential district and a lot of people are very invested and passionate. I think it's really a combination of all those things that have made us very successful."

A strong base of private investors is another important source of value for keeping the downtown area alive. For these efforts, the city received an International Downtown Association award last year, and will accept a citation of honor award from the Texas Society of Architects next month. The award recognizes exceptional members, firms, individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of architecture, the built environment and the quality of life in Texas.

"It's very rewarding to be recognized for your efforts. It makes you proud," Giersch said. "McKinney is truly unique by nature in that respect."

Current Rating: 0 of 0 votes!

Rate File: Select Rating: * ** *** ****

 Plano Apartments
 Plano Attorneys
 Plano Auto Dealers
 Plano Auto Parts
 Plano Auto Repair
 Plano Beauty Salons
 Plano Car Rental
 Plano Dentists
 Plano Doctors
 Plano Flowers
 Plano Hotels
 Plano Insurance
 Plano Loans
 Plano Mortgages
 Plano Movers
 Plano Pizza
 Plano Realtors
 Plano Restaurants
 Plano Storage
 Plano Tax Preparation
 Plano Travel
 Featured
 More...