Getting Down To Business By: Lisa Ferguson Above: A photo from the late 1940s of the cafe owned by the Nelson family. (Photo courtesy of Jane Willard/Celina Area Heritage Association)
As new businesses continue to set up shop in Celina, let’s take time to recall a few of those that opened their doors here decades ago and provided much-needed goods and services to the city’s early residents. According to information found in the book Reminiscences of Celina, which is available at the Celina Museum, the city’s first bank was established in 1902. First National Bank “was housed in a small wooden structure at the corner of Second and Main. The building had been moved to the new town from Old Celina” after the entire city relocated two miles north of its original site to be nearer to the railroad. The bank’s next home “was a brick structure on the corner of West Pecan and Second Street on the square.” In 1908, Farmers’ State Bank was formed by J.E. Lipscomb, an original officer of First National Bank. Following its first year of operation, it merged with First National Bank and became First State Bank. Celina State Bank, which reportedly opened around 1910, later became known as Farmers, Merchants and National Bank. It “operated in various locations,” the first of which was on Pecan Street. “The next location was in the building that later was occupied by Hester’s Garage on First and Walnut Streets” (Hester’s Garage is now known as Hester Rebuilders). The bank also once occupied the building at 302 W. Walnut St., which decades later served as Celina City Hall (it currently houses the Celina Economic Development Corporation and Main Street offices.) 12
OurCelina.com | December 2018
In 1927, Farmers, Merchants and National Bank merged with First State Bank, which moved in February 1971 to a building at 405 Second St., on the northwest corner of the square. Its facility offered “modern banking with old fashioned friendliness with a community room for civic and social activities.” Choate Pharmacy was, according to the book, “one of the oldest firms of Celina … and it was also one of the most modern.”
Brothers Bill and T.S. Hunter ran their grocery store from the early 1900s through the 1930s. (Photo courtesy of Jane Willard/Celina Area Heritage Association)
