The Robinson Bank Building is a brick commercial building with Romanesque Revival detailing and is classified as a One-Part Commercial Block. Located near the center of Palestine’s historic downtown, the 1-story building features a rectangular plan with load-bearing masonry construction. It has a 3-bay façade that displays elaborate and finely crafter brickwork and a large round archway, which marks the primary entrance. It also has a stepped 3-part parapet with corbelling which are distinctive architectural elements.
Dr. James Isaac Bonner and William Brice Robinson were the two founders of the Robinson Bank. Originally from Alabama, Dr. Bonner was one of the earliest citizens of Freestone County. South Carolina native William Brice Robinson (1850-1905), moved from his home state to Fairfield Texas as a young man, and it was there, while practicing law and teaching school that he met Bonner. In 1879 Robinson married Bonner’s daughter, Sallie Belle Bonner. Around 1880, Bonner and Robinson decided to go into business together and open a public banking facility in nearby Palestine. It is said that they were encouraged to open a banking house by their close friends, the Moody family of Galveston. Construction began on a building for the new bank about 1880 in Palestine’s then-bustling New Town commercial district. The bank officially opened on April 1, 1881, under the name Bonner & Robinson, Bankers, and Dealers in Exchange. Robinson was the principle manager of the bank, and following the death of Bonner around 1900, the younger brothers and sister of Robinson came to Palestine from South Carolina to help him run the family bank. At this time, the institution was renamed Robinson Brothers, Bankers. The name of the bank was changed two more times: first to Robinson Guaranty State Bank & Trust Company and then to Robinson State Bank & Trust Company. On December 30, 1937, the bank merged with Royall National Bank, which had been formed in 1904 in Palestine by Nathaniel R. Royall. The bank was moved into the Royall bank facility and no banking operations have been conducted at 213 W. Main since then. Over the years, various tenants occupied the space, including jeweler William Geyer, the R.G. Abernethy & Son general insurance firm, and the Rushing Jewelry Store. A prominent neon sign from the Rushing Jewelry store hung on the façade for many years. Thanks to the current owner, Phil Jenkins, a descendant of James Wisdom Ozment, who was an extremely important figure in mid and late 19th century Palestine, it is among the best preserved buildings in the downtown and maintains its historic character to an unusually high degree. He has done a fine job of having this building renovated. It sets a wonderful example, showing that just because a building is old, it is not worthless. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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