15 in 1878. The nearest established banks were in Winchester and Front Royal, a dusty several hour trip by horse and buggy. The only other bank-type services were found in private homes and were very limited and often unpredictable. The Clarke Courier, on January 6, 1881, reported that efforts were being made to again establish a bank in Berryville. The matter was being canvassed to potential investors and more than $6000 worth of stock had been raised. The parties involved in the organization were not going to consider opening for business until $10,000 of paid up stock was ready to be put into it. A “meeting of gentlemen” was held on January 22, 1881 and included Major S. J. C. Moore, A. S. Lippett, A. Moore Jr., A. M. Moore, Marshall McCormick, J. E. Barnett, S. Scollay Moore, J. L. Davis and M. W. Jones. The decision was made to open a commercial bank and a vote was taken to call the new financial institution BANK OF CLARKE COUNTY. A. Moore Jr. was instructed to correspond with Judge Turner for the purpose of obtaining a charter. Bank of Clarke’s original board included seven local gentlemen: A. M. Moore, A. Moore, Jr., Marshall McCormick, S. Scollay Moore, J. L. Davis, M. W. Jones and J. E. Barnett. By the end of January, the project of starting a new bank in Berryville had been received with such local favor that 100% of required capital had been guaranteed by investors anxious to see a new bank operating in Clarke County. Messrs. McCormick and Davis were appointed to determine at what cost a lot could be purchased and a building suitable for banking business could be constructed. They considered renting suitable rooms but that idea was quickly dismissed in favor of construction of a bank branch with a fire-proof vault and burglar-proof safe. Mr. Moore, Jr. was appointed the bank’s first President and Captain John R. Nunn was appointed Cashier (whose duty it was to receive deposits and cash checks, as well as keep the books of the Bank in good standing). In the March 3, 1881 edition of the Winchester Times, the editor (speaking of Moore as President and Nunn as Cashier) said “The directors did well to secure the services of the gentlemen named, who are eminently trustworthy and well-qualified for their responsible duties.” Captain Nunn’s annual salary was set at $300. The first Assistant Cashier was Mr. I. Willie Luke who made $250 per year. A correspondent banking relationship was established through the banking house of J. J. Nicholson and Sons of Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Moore, Jr. traveled to Cushing and Bailey in Baltimore to purchase ledger and bookkeeping logs and stationery. Mr. Millhollen of Winchester was hired to print checks and other paper products. The first order of checks was 2 dozen books at 50 checks each. Finally, on April 1, 1881, Bank of Clarke County opened for business. Bank business was conducted through the office of Am. Moore, County Treasurer, until the bank building was ready to be occupied. Vault reserves were kept in the Union Bank on North Loudoun Street in Winchester, Virginia. The Board purchased a lot from the Crow estate on North Church Street for $600 and began the process of building a bank “with suitable character.” Thompson and Ogden, local contractors, were awarded the project totaling $2,800. Barnes Safe and Vault Co. charged $865 for the safe and $125 for the