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Bank vault door combination engraved on its door knob.
Images (click to enlarge)
  • Early view of Peoples Bank before the new building was finished.
  • Combination lock for the Peoples Bank vault.
  • Upper frame of bank vault door.
  • Peoples Bank building built beside courthouse.
    Bank photos used with permission from the Floyd County Historical Society.
County Life, Cultural Objects

Peoples Bank Vault Door

People
Maker/Creator: Unknown
Date
1903-1910
Places
Floyd (Courthouse District)
Material/Medium

Steel

Specifications
  • Frame width: 35 ½ inches
  • Frame height: 78 inches
  • Door width: 28 ½ inches
  • Door height: 75 ½ inches
Description

This frame was set into a thick wall in the Peoples Bank building creating a vault room. In addition to the steel door with the combination lock, there was also a barred door securing the room. The frame is painted black with “Peoples Bank of Floyd County” lettered in gold above the door. The combination lock is still functional.

 

Keywords
Peoples Bank of Floyd County, bank vault door
Notes

The Peoples Bank of Floyd County was chartered in 1904 and was first housed in the lower level of the Brame Hotel. This vault door was purchased for a new bank building which was built beside the courthouse. After the Bank of Floyd took over, the Peoples Bank building was torn down and replaced by the structure currently housing Skyline National Bank. Other county banks included Floyd County Bank  and Citizen’s Bank (both of which occupied the Blue Ridge Diner building), the Bank of Check (Check), Blue Ridge Bank (Willis), and Farmers’ Bank of Floyd (near Shooting Creek and the Blue Ridge Parkway).

Shortly after the Bank of Floyd donated this door to Old Church Gallery, Mary King Peters (1933-2009), a forty-five year employee of the Bank of Floyd, came to an exhibit. When she saw the vault door she remarked, “Many a day I opened this door. I wonder if I still know the combination?” She then proceeded to rotate the dial to 69-94-47. The combination clicked, Mary smiled, and pointed to the digits “6947” engraved on the door knob for all to see.