319 North Lafayette Street
Shelby, NC, USA

319 North Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC, USA

Original Owner: Jesse Jenkins
Architect: G.S.H. Appleget

In 1874 H.D. Lee and Jesse Jenkins organized a private bank known as J. Jenkins and Company, the only bank between Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina. A few months after the bank was organized Burwell Blanton became an investor and partner with Jenkins and Lee. Burwell Blanton would become the first of many in the Blanton family to lead the bank. In 1879 the name was changed to H. D. Lee & Company and on July 10, 1895 the name was changed once again to B. Blanton & Company. The bank was composed of Burwell Blanton and his two sons Charles and George. In 1903 the bank received a national charter on May 9th and it became First National Bank of Shelby. The bank survived the depression of the 1930s. The President during this time, Charles Blanton, paid $100,000 from his personal assets to depositors of the bank so that no customer would lose any money. First National through the years developed an extended family of loyal and community oriented employees. The banks slogan “Your Ho