Bank of J.H. Fitts, circa 1890

Title

Subject

Banks and banking

Fitts, James Harris, 1830-1912

Description

The J. H. Fitts Bank was established in 1865 by James Harris Fitts. After the the State Bank of Alabama failed and its charter allowed to expire, Fitts purchased the State Bank Building as the home of his private bank and residency.

In 1887, the bank moved to its second home shown in the photo above. It was located at 2312 Broad Street (now University Blvd.) The new structure utilized a cast-iron facade. It included an acroteria that featured a statue of Mercury based on the bronze statue by Giovanni in Bolgna.

In 1867 Fitts also started an insurance agency which was bought by two employees Joe A. Duckworth and Charles Morris in 1918. The name of the agency was changed to Duckworth-Morris. In 1969 Joe B. Duckworth assumed management of the real estate operations and changed the name to Duckworth-Morris Realty Company. The statue of Mercury that appears on the top of the bank in this photograph is now located in the office of the realty company at 1312 Greensboro Avenue.

Source

Tuscaloosa News Archive

Date

Circa 1887

Contributor

Betty Slowe (Description)

Elizabeth Bradt (Description)

Type

Photograph

Identifier

166

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)