Rich with History

Historic Moments to be Made

One of the founding fathers of Middletown,  Stephen Vail, had his log home located on this very location in the 1800's. By 1847, William B. Oglesby and George C. Barnitz, operated a general store (mercantile and grain-buying) in this same location.  Located two blocks from the river and canal system, their place was headquarters for farmers who often deposited their money with the firm for safekeeping. The business became so big that Oglesby and Barnitz decided to open a bank in the corner room of this building.

The business continued as a private bank until 1889, when it was reorganized as The Oglesby & Barnitz Company at this same location. At the turn of the 20th century, the Oglesby and Barnitz Company was the oldest bank in the town and claimed to be the first banking organization in Butler County. In 1929 the current building was built on the same site. It operated as the Oglesby-Barnitz Bank until 1960 when it converted to the Barnitz Bank. In the late 1960s Bank One bought out Barnitz Bank and added the L shape that was home to the loan, trust, and executive departments. In 2000 Chase bought out Bank One and shut down this existing branch. The main part of the building remained vacant from 2001 till 2015 when the current owners purchased it from the City of Middletown. Renovations began in June of 2015 and in 4 short months the first event was held on October 20th, 2015. The owners were very adamant that they reuse everything that could be recovered in the renovations.

Rich with history, this venue is an exceptional choice for couples that envision a unique and elegant wedding celebration.

1850 - Ogelsby Barnitz Mercantile with the county’s first “bank”

1850 - Ogelsby Barnitz Mercantile with the county’s first “bank”

 
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Ogelsby Barnitz Bank built in 1929