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The Gila Bank building in downtown Globe has remained one of Globe’s most striking architectural jewels in the downtown district since 1904 when it was first constructed by Isadore E. Solomon, a , which saw over two dozen grand buildings erected from 1904 to 1920. It was constructed in
Isadore E. Solomon arrived in Gila Valley in 1876 and began developing a business empire. In 1900, he added the Gila Valley Bank and Trust Company to his store which provided numerous services such as wood cutting and freighting. The bank expanded, opening branches in Morenci and Clifton, and a fourth branch on North Broad Street in Globe.
The Gila Valley Bank on North Broad soon became the leading bank in Globe. This support allowed for a new bank location to be built in 1909. The building was constructed in two distinct architectural styles, the Beaux Arts Neoclassical style and fired bricks and housed offices for trainees and two large vaults. The building was covered in terra cotta blocks decorated with elaborate detail. The building remains in mint condition today, making it one of only four terra cotta buildings west of the Mississippi in good condition.
In 1922, Gila Valley Bank and Trust Company merged with the Valley Bank of Phoenix and formed the Valley National Bank which served Globe until 1952.
On April 25, 1933 the bank was robbed under the management of “Tuck” White. The robbers locked two men in a vault and pushed two tellers into a storage closet. Mr White was told to unlock the vault, and the robbers sped off with $34,000. One of the culprits was caught and his half of the stolen money recovered, but the other robber was never captured.
After the Valley National Bank moved in 1952, the building became the National News Stand then a number of different service and merchandise stores. Partial restoration was done in the 1980s, but it wasn’t until Michael and Sarah Day purchased the building in 1989 that it was fully restored and renovated. The building housed “Simply Sarah’s” before she re-located her shop in the old Cubitto building.
